CHICAGO, Ill. – Northwestern started the 2015 season about as well as possible, shutting out Wake Forest 3-0 at the Rambler Challenge Friday morning. The Wildcats were led by Symone Abbott, Sofia Lavin and Kayla Morin, each of whom finished with double-digit kills and Taylor Tashima, who handed out 36 assists.
Moments that Mattered
Northwestern got off to quick starts in the first two sets, from which Wake Forest was unable to recover. The Wildcats jumped out to a 7-2 advantage in the first set and led 10-6 at one point in the second.
After trailing 7-3 in the third set, Chicago's Big Ten Team rallied to go on a 10-4 run to grab the lead and never relinquished it in what proved to be the decisive set.
Abbott scored the first two kills of the match, setting the tone for the rest of the match. Northwestern finished with 42 kills to Wake Forest's 28, and Abbott led all players with 12.
Notable
Caroline Niedospial reached 1,300 career digs during the third set. The senior currently ranks eighth in program history with 1,301 and needs 47 more to pass Stephanie Holthus for seventh all-time.
In her first game in a Northwestern uniform, Lavin notched 11 kills and hit at a .500 clip. The junior also added three digs and a block.
Freshman Rachael Fara recorded her first career point with a solo block late in the second set. Fara's point was part of a 9-1 run to close out the set.
Quotable:
Head coach Keylor Chan - "We have evolved our offense. Tempo is something we really focus on, and that tempo created problems for Wake Forest. That was really fun to see."
Sofia Lavin - "I found a weakness in their defense, and I exploited it until the end of the match because they didn't adjust."
Stats to Know
Northwestern hit .374 as a team, committing only eight errors in 91 chances. Lavin led the way with a .500 clip, and Abbott hit .400.
The Wildcats' biggest deficit at any point was only four, and Northwestern never trailed late in any set.
Up Next
Northwestern plays New Hampshire at 5 p.m. tonight in the second session of the Rambler Challenge.
Moments that Mattered
Northwestern got off to quick starts in the first two sets, from which Wake Forest was unable to recover. The Wildcats jumped out to a 7-2 advantage in the first set and led 10-6 at one point in the second.
After trailing 7-3 in the third set, Chicago's Big Ten Team rallied to go on a 10-4 run to grab the lead and never relinquished it in what proved to be the decisive set.
Abbott scored the first two kills of the match, setting the tone for the rest of the match. Northwestern finished with 42 kills to Wake Forest's 28, and Abbott led all players with 12.
Notable
Caroline Niedospial reached 1,300 career digs during the third set. The senior currently ranks eighth in program history with 1,301 and needs 47 more to pass Stephanie Holthus for seventh all-time.
In her first game in a Northwestern uniform, Lavin notched 11 kills and hit at a .500 clip. The junior also added three digs and a block.
Freshman Rachael Fara recorded her first career point with a solo block late in the second set. Fara's point was part of a 9-1 run to close out the set.
Quotable:
Head coach Keylor Chan - "We have evolved our offense. Tempo is something we really focus on, and that tempo created problems for Wake Forest. That was really fun to see."
Sofia Lavin - "I found a weakness in their defense, and I exploited it until the end of the match because they didn't adjust."
Stats to Know
Northwestern hit .374 as a team, committing only eight errors in 91 chances. Lavin led the way with a .500 clip, and Abbott hit .400.
The Wildcats' biggest deficit at any point was only four, and Northwestern never trailed late in any set.
Up Next
Northwestern plays New Hampshire at 5 p.m. tonight in the second session of the Rambler Challenge.