EVANSTON, IL – For the first time since November 5, 2014, Northwestern defeated #24 Illinois 3-1 to cap off the 2019 season.
The Wildcats started fast, taking the first set 25-18, outhitting Illinois .303 to a .108 clip.
The Wildcats were led by junior Nia Robinson and first-year Temi Thomas-Ailara who combined for 39 kills on the night to outhit the Fighting Illini 65-54 with Robinson reaching 369 kills for the season and Thomas-Ailara notching 389.
Illinois took the early lead in set two and despite the 'Cats best effort, UI took set two 25-20. NU rebounded quickly, outhitting Illinois 19-10 to take the third set, 25-18.
Sophomore Ella Grbac and first-year Desiree Becker each added four blocks to NU's total, marking the four game in a row where the duo has had multiple blocks.
Despite a late Illinois surge, Chicago's Big Ten Team was able to hold off their Big Ten foe and defeat them in front of a Welsh-Ryan senior night crowd. The Wildcats close out the season with a 14-18 record, closing out Big Ten play on a 4-2 run.
Northwestern graduates seniors Payton Chang, Olivia Viscuso, Allie Lindroth, Emily Ehman and Sarah Johnson.
The Wildcats started fast, taking the first set 25-18, outhitting Illinois .303 to a .108 clip.
The Wildcats were led by junior Nia Robinson and first-year Temi Thomas-Ailara who combined for 39 kills on the night to outhit the Fighting Illini 65-54 with Robinson reaching 369 kills for the season and Thomas-Ailara notching 389.
Illinois took the early lead in set two and despite the 'Cats best effort, UI took set two 25-20. NU rebounded quickly, outhitting Illinois 19-10 to take the third set, 25-18.
Sophomore Ella Grbac and first-year Desiree Becker each added four blocks to NU's total, marking the four game in a row where the duo has had multiple blocks.
Despite a late Illinois surge, Chicago's Big Ten Team was able to hold off their Big Ten foe and defeat them in front of a Welsh-Ryan senior night crowd. The Wildcats close out the season with a 14-18 record, closing out Big Ten play on a 4-2 run.
Northwestern graduates seniors Payton Chang, Olivia Viscuso, Allie Lindroth, Emily Ehman and Sarah Johnson.