By Zach Wingrove
Northwestern Athletics
RICHMOND, Va. – Northwestern extended its winning streak to eight games after sweeping Seton Hall to kick off the VCU Invitational on Friday at E.J. Wade Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.
Senior setter Taylor Tashima registered her team-leading third double-double of the season, finishing with 12 digs and 35 assists. She led the match with four service aces, tying a career high.
After falling behind 14-9 early in the first set, a 9-0 scoring run by the Wildcats helped wipe away the deficit and take control. Northwestern would go on to win the set, 25-21. Symone Abbott led the attack with nine kills in the set, while Tashima added 14 assists, five digs, and two service aces.
A balanced attack helped propel Northwestern to another 25-21 victory in the second set. Five different Wildcats recorded kills, and a late 9-4 run by the 'Cats helped to finish off the set. Northwestern carried that momentum into the next set en route to a resounding 25-14 third set victory.
NU dominated the match in almost every statistical category, finishing with a .308 hitting percentage and 44 kills while holding the Pirates to 30 kills and a .151 clip on the match.
Abbott led the match with 16 kills, while senior Gabrielle Hazen posted match highs with a .538 hitting percentage and five blocks.
The win improves Northwestern to 9-1 on the season and the Wildcats' eight game winning streak is the program's longest since 2012. Chicago's Big Ten Team will be back in action Saturday in Richmond as they play a double-header against Bowling Green (9:30 a.m.) and VCU (6:00 p.m.).
Northwestern Athletics
RICHMOND, Va. – Northwestern extended its winning streak to eight games after sweeping Seton Hall to kick off the VCU Invitational on Friday at E.J. Wade Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.
Senior setter Taylor Tashima registered her team-leading third double-double of the season, finishing with 12 digs and 35 assists. She led the match with four service aces, tying a career high.
After falling behind 14-9 early in the first set, a 9-0 scoring run by the Wildcats helped wipe away the deficit and take control. Northwestern would go on to win the set, 25-21. Symone Abbott led the attack with nine kills in the set, while Tashima added 14 assists, five digs, and two service aces.
A balanced attack helped propel Northwestern to another 25-21 victory in the second set. Five different Wildcats recorded kills, and a late 9-4 run by the 'Cats helped to finish off the set. Northwestern carried that momentum into the next set en route to a resounding 25-14 third set victory.
NU dominated the match in almost every statistical category, finishing with a .308 hitting percentage and 44 kills while holding the Pirates to 30 kills and a .151 clip on the match.
Abbott led the match with 16 kills, while senior Gabrielle Hazen posted match highs with a .538 hitting percentage and five blocks.
The win improves Northwestern to 9-1 on the season and the Wildcats' eight game winning streak is the program's longest since 2012. Chicago's Big Ten Team will be back in action Saturday in Richmond as they play a double-header against Bowling Green (9:30 a.m.) and VCU (6:00 p.m.).