Oct. 18, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern seized lone possession of third place in the Big Ten Friday night as it defeated Michigan 30-28, 30-25, 28-30, 30-21 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The teams came in tied for third in the conference, but the Wildcats took advantage of a 19-kill, nine-block night from Erika Lange (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) to dispose of the Wolverines.
The victory improves NU to 12-7 overall and 5-2 in the Big Ten, while Michigan falls to 10-7 and 4-3.
The Wildcats also got double-double performances from outside hitters Christie Gardner (West Bend, Wis./East) and Iwona Lodzik (Tarnobrzeg, Poland/Tarnobrzeg). Gardner recorded 13 kills and a match-high 15 digs, while Lodzik posted 15 kills and 11 digs.
Northwestern held a 14-9 lead in the opening game before Michigan rallied to tie the game 17-17. The Wildcats scored the next three points to take a 20-17 advantage, but the Wolverines came back to take a 23-22 lead.
However, NU answered with four straight points for a 26-23 edge. The 'Cats held a 29-26 lead, but UM trimmed it to one on a Northwestern service error and a kill by Katrina Lehman. But following a Wildcat timeout, Kelli Meyer (Madison, Wis./Edgewood) secured Game 1 for NU by recording a kill.
Lange recorded seven kills for Northwestern in the game as it posted a .314 hitting percentage.
Game 2 was close throughout the opening stages, with the Wildcats holding a 16-15 lead mid-way throught the game. NU used a 9-4 run to eventually take a 25-19 lead. Michigan would close to within 28-25, but the Wildcats took a two games-to-none lead on a pair UM attack errors.
Northwestern appeared ready to complete the sweep in the third game, taking a 17-14 lead. But Michigan would answer with a 10-4 run to go ahead 24-21, prompting an NU timeout. The Wolverine lead was 27-25 when a kill by Gandolph and a Wildcat error gave the vistors game point. The Wildcats managed to score the next two points before Michigan forced a fourth game thanks to a Gandolph kill.
The Wolverines took the momentum of their win into Game 4, cruising to a 16-9 lead. With a deciding fifth game looming, Northwestern miraculously turned the game around. Michigan lost its composure as the Wildcats went on a remarkable 21-5 run to close out the game and the match. UM hit just .061 in the fourth game.
Gandolph led Michigan with a match-high 23 kills while Chantel Reedus added 19.
Northwestern will host another foe from Michigan tomorrow night when it takes on No. 23 Michigan State at 7 p.m.