COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Northwestern moved to 2-0 in the Big Ten with a sweep of Maryland Saturday night at the XFINITY Center. The Wildcats have won five matches in a row, including three consecutive 3-0 decisions.
The first two games were as close as could be with both decided by just two points. Northwestern (10-3, 2-0) prevailed in the first, 28-26, to gain an early advantage and held off the Terrapins in the second, 25-23. The Wildcats then closed out the match with relative ease, winning the third and final set, 25-9.
Sofia Lavin led the way with 12 kills and hit at a .391 clip. Maddie Slater continued her impressive play, hitting .778 with seven kills on nine attempts. Symone Abbott and Gabrielle Hazen each added eight kills for Northwestern.
Taylor Tashima secured her fourth double-double of the season with a 36 assist, 13 dig performance. Tashima's 12.0 assists per set keeps her among the Big Ten's best in that category. The sophomore's 13 digs led the team, while Abbie Kraus chipped in another 11. With teams making an effort to keep the ball away from Caroline Niedospial, eight Wildcats tallied digs against Maryland.
Niedospial earned career dig number 1,500 in the match and now sits at 1,504. She trails Christie Gardner (2002-05) for second place. Gardner tallied 1,658 in her Northwestern career.
Kraus added to her aces streak, serving three of them Saturday to make it five straight matches with at least one.
Chicago's Big Ten Team has now played just three sets in 10 of its 13 matches this season with a 7-3 record in such matches. The Wildcats 3-0 in matches that go longer than three games.
Northwestern stays on the road next week with a match at No. 21 Minnesota on Wednesday and another at No. 16 Wisconsin on Sunday.
The first two games were as close as could be with both decided by just two points. Northwestern (10-3, 2-0) prevailed in the first, 28-26, to gain an early advantage and held off the Terrapins in the second, 25-23. The Wildcats then closed out the match with relative ease, winning the third and final set, 25-9.
Sofia Lavin led the way with 12 kills and hit at a .391 clip. Maddie Slater continued her impressive play, hitting .778 with seven kills on nine attempts. Symone Abbott and Gabrielle Hazen each added eight kills for Northwestern.
Taylor Tashima secured her fourth double-double of the season with a 36 assist, 13 dig performance. Tashima's 12.0 assists per set keeps her among the Big Ten's best in that category. The sophomore's 13 digs led the team, while Abbie Kraus chipped in another 11. With teams making an effort to keep the ball away from Caroline Niedospial, eight Wildcats tallied digs against Maryland.
Niedospial earned career dig number 1,500 in the match and now sits at 1,504. She trails Christie Gardner (2002-05) for second place. Gardner tallied 1,658 in her Northwestern career.
Kraus added to her aces streak, serving three of them Saturday to make it five straight matches with at least one.
Chicago's Big Ten Team has now played just three sets in 10 of its 13 matches this season with a 7-3 record in such matches. The Wildcats 3-0 in matches that go longer than three games.
Northwestern stays on the road next week with a match at No. 21 Minnesota on Wednesday and another at No. 16 Wisconsin on Sunday.