Sept. 11, 2009
Northwestern vs. Presbyterian College Box Score 
2009 Northwestern Volleyball Statistics
Box Score
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Northwestern's stay in the Tar Heel State got off to a positive start as the Wildcats take a 25-17, 25-16, 25-12 victory over Presbyterian College in the opening match of the Comfort Suites Charlotte Tournament. NU improves to 4-3 on the year, having won four of its' last five matches.
With the opening set tied at 10, Northwestern took control, rattling off seven unanswered points to take control at 17-10. Leading 22-14, the Blue Hose (3-5) attempted a late comback, but three straight from the Wildcats slammed the door on the 25-17 victory.
Sophomore Alexandra Ayers (Playa del Rey, Calif./Marymount) dominated the net for Northwestern, knocking down seven kills on 11 attempts to pace the Wildcat attack. Junior Sabel Moffett (Temecula, Calif./Chapparal) added four of her own to go along with three blocks, with junior Naomi Johnson (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) knocking down three kills.
The momentum carried into set two as the Wildcats pounced to the early 12-5 advantage. Northwestern pushed that advantage to double-digits at 19-9 and again at 21-11, taking control of the match with a 25-16 second-set decision.
Once again, it was Moffett who came up huge for NU, knocking down five kills and adding three blocks, with senior Ariel Baxterbeck (Menlo Park, Calif./Castilleja) adding four kills of her own. Redshirt freshman Kathryn Chrystal (Crystal Lake, Ill./Central) and junior Elyse Glab (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) each had four blocks, with Glab also dishing out 11 assits.
Northwestern kept the pressure on Presbyterian, knocking down the first six points of set three to take control. The Wildcats refused to let up, extending the advantage to 11 at 14-3 and kept the Blue Hose at bay for the remainder of the match. Leading 22-10 late, Moffett drilled a pair of kills, with junior Brittany Gray (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) knocking down the match-sealer in her 2009 Wildcat debut.
It was one of the Wildcats' best offensive performances on the year, hitting a season-high .392, including an amazing .464 in set three. Northwestern had 45 kills on 97 attempts with just seven errors, setting the new program record for fewest errors in a match.
Moffett again paced Northwestern's offensive charge, recording 14 kills on 24 attempts with only two errors for a .500 hitting percentage to go along with six blocks. Ayers and Baxterbeck each had nine kills apiece for the 'Cats, as both players hit over .470. Johnson finished with six kills and four blocks, while Chrystal led all players with seven blocks to go along with three kills. Glab dished out 33 assists while senior Kate Nobilio (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) finished with 18 digs.
Northwestern returns to the court at Halton Arena for a Saturday double-header, beginning with James Madison bright and early at 9 a.m. CT. The Wildcats are 1-0 all-time against the Dukes, taking a 3-0 decision in 1996. NU then closes out the Comfort Suites Charlotte Tournament against the host 49ers at 6 p.m. CT. The 'Cats are also 1-0 against the Niners, defeating them 3-0 in 2002.