Oct. 5, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - It looked like things were going well for the Northwestern volleyball team after the Wildcats took the first game from undefeated Ohio State, but the No. 11 Buckeyes soon returned to their "A" game and defeated the Wildcats 3-1 (27-30, 30-21, 30-15, 30-19).
Northwestern (6-5, 3-2) drops its second Big Ten match of the year and its second match this season to a nationally ranked team.
Game 1 was a tight battle, with the 'Cats coming out on top. NU sported 13 kills, a .310 hitting percentage and two service aces for the game.
Then the Buckeyes (13-0, 5-0) kicked into gear. Freshman outside hitter Stacey Gordon could do no wrong, eventually ending the match with 20 kills and a .412 hitting percentage, a testament to her Big Ten Player of the Week status. OSU teammate Suzie Stiling added 15 kills.
The Wildcats were held to negative hitting percentages in Games 3 and 4, and no NU player recorded double-digit kills.
NU did outblock Ohio State, as sophomore middle blocker Erika Lange (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg) had nine total blocks and the team sported 13. But 10 service errors and 12 receiving errors helped add to OSU's momentum.
Junior middle blocker Sarah Ballog (Coto de Caza, Calif./Santa Margarita) continued to score solid points for the 'Cats. She had six kills and two solo blocks for the match.
Tonight's match was played in McGaw Fieldhouse, due to main court renovations in Welsh-Ryan Arena. The intimate seating and season-high attendance for Northwestern made the match a rowdy affair.
The Wildcats are in action again Saturday night, taking on No. 10 Penn State at McGaw Fieldhouse. Match time is 7 p.m.