Sept. 23, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- In its fourth match against a ranked opponent out of its first 11 this season, Northwestern fell to No. 14 Wisconsin in a sweep Saturday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena, 30-22, 30-24, 30-22.
With the loss, Northwestern falls to 6-5 on the season, 0-2 in the Big Ten. With the win, Wisconsin improves to 10-2 overall, 2-0 in the Big Ten.
With game one tied, 5-5, Wisconsin scored five-consecutive points to take the first lead, 10-5, and force the first timeout of the match from Northwestern. Trailing later in the game by eight, 19-11, the Wildcats pulled back within three, 21-18, thanks in part to a trio of kills by junior Lindsay Anderson (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier).
Again the Badgers extended their lead, however, to force another NU timeout with the hosts trailing by six, 24-18. From there, Wisconsin went on to win game one, 30-22.
Game two began nearly the opposite of game one, with the score tied, 5-5, before Northwestern went on a little run to take a three-point lead, 8-5, on a solo block by Brittney Aldridge (Hampshire, Ill./Hampshire). Wisconsin came right back to even the score, and eventually went on a run to open up a five-point lead, 23-18, and cause an NU timeout.
Again the Wildcats could not get any closer, falling by six, 30-24.
Wisconsin came out firing on all cylinders in game three, opening a six-point advantage immediately, 12-6, to force a Northwestern timeout. When that lead became seven, 16-9, NU head coach Keylor Chan used his second timeout of the game, but Wisconsin again proved to be too much, sweeping the match, 30-22.
Sophomore Chelsy Hyser (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere) led Northwestern with 14 kills and a .400 hitting percentage (14-4-25). Junior Stephanie Jurivich (LaGrange, Ill./St. Ignatius) had 32 assists to pace the 'Cats, while freshman Kate Nobilio (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) had a match-best 19 digs.
Northwestern returns to action at 7 p.m. Wednesday night, Sept. 27, against in-state rival Illinois at Welsh-Ryan Arena.