Aug. 26, 2011
Site: Salt Lake City, Utah (Utah Classic)
Score: Northwestern 3, Cal State Northridge 0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-15)
Records: NU (1-0), Cal State Northridge (0-1)
Next NU Event: Saturday, Aug. 27 -- vs. Weber State (Utah Classic), 11 a.m. CT
SALT LAKE CITY -- Northwestern opened its 2011 season Friday night at the Utah Classic with a three-set sweep of Cal State Northridge (25-20, 25-22, 25-15).
The Wildcats used a stellar .353 hitting percentage in the first set to out-pace Northridge before battling to a three-point victory in the second. NU closed out the sweep by holding CSUN to a -.026 hitting percentage in the third for the runaway win.
"Stephanie Holthus was good tonight and Madalyn Shalter was very good," head coach Keylor Chan said. "We have lots of freshmen on the floor right now figuring it out still. Tonight was a great start but we still have much to improve on heading into tomorrow."
Holthus -- a preseason All-Big Ten selection of the conference coaches -- recorded a match high 16 kills on 38 attempts for a .211 hitting percentage. She added eight digs and three blocks. Shalter started at setter and recorded 36 assists (12 per set) for the Wildcats.
Four different freshmen saw the floor for NU, including Yewande Akanbi who notched eight kills on 26 swings. Junior libero Julie Chin had a match-best 16 digs for the Wildcats.
As a team, Northwestern hit .182 on the night while holding CSUN to a mere .027 percentage. NU also kept its foe to an under 50 percent sideout percentage in the match (48 percent).
Northwestern returns to action twice tomorrow, Saturday, Aug. 27, first taking on Weber State at 11 a.m. CT before then facing host Utah at 8 p.m. CT.
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