FORT COLLINS, Co. – Playing its first non-conference matches since 2019, Northwestern split its pair of opening weekend matches in Colorado this weekend.
After dropping a five-set contest at Northern Colorado on Friday, the Wildcats bounced back the following day with a four-set win at Colorado State. It marked the 'Cats' first win over the Rams in program history.
A pair of Wildcats tallied 30+ kills over the two matches as Hanna Lesiak finished with 32 kills while Temi Thomas-Ailara finished just behind with 31.
Lesiak led all players in Friday's match at Northern Colorado, logging a career-high 22 kills to go along with a .318 hitting percentage, two blocks and seven digs. She turned in a double-double performance in the 'Cats following match on Saturday, recording 11 digs and 10 kills.
Thomas-Ailara notched a double-double on Friday, posting 15 kills to go along with 10 digs. She followed that performance up on Saturday with a match-high 16 kills as well as a career-best eight services aces. It marks just the third time in program history a Wildcat has logged eight or more service aces and the first time in 32 years (also Patty Walsh in 1980; 9 and Kara McManaman in 1989; 8).
Alexa Rousseau also turned in a standout performance on Friday, notching the first triple-double of her collegiate career with 10 kills, 15 digs (both of which are career highs) along with 43 assists.
As a team, the 'Cats outhit Northern Colorado in Friday's match (.273 to .233) and won the first and fourth sets by a score of 25-19. In the fifth and final set, the Bears rallied with three-consecutive points to claim the set (18-16) and the match.
The 'Cats turned in an efficient attack in Saturday's win, posting a .260 hitting percentage while stifling the Rams to just a .139 clip.
NU was originally scheduled to open its season with a match vs. South Dakota on Friday afternoon, however that match was canceled due to due to COVID-19 protocols with South Dakota's program.
Northwestern returns to action on Friday as the Wildcats travel to the southwest for a trio of matches in Las Cruces, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. Their first match is slated for New Mexico State on Friday with first serve at 11 am CT.
After dropping a five-set contest at Northern Colorado on Friday, the Wildcats bounced back the following day with a four-set win at Colorado State. It marked the 'Cats' first win over the Rams in program history.
A pair of Wildcats tallied 30+ kills over the two matches as Hanna Lesiak finished with 32 kills while Temi Thomas-Ailara finished just behind with 31.
Lesiak led all players in Friday's match at Northern Colorado, logging a career-high 22 kills to go along with a .318 hitting percentage, two blocks and seven digs. She turned in a double-double performance in the 'Cats following match on Saturday, recording 11 digs and 10 kills.
Thomas-Ailara notched a double-double on Friday, posting 15 kills to go along with 10 digs. She followed that performance up on Saturday with a match-high 16 kills as well as a career-best eight services aces. It marks just the third time in program history a Wildcat has logged eight or more service aces and the first time in 32 years (also Patty Walsh in 1980; 9 and Kara McManaman in 1989; 8).
Alexa Rousseau also turned in a standout performance on Friday, notching the first triple-double of her collegiate career with 10 kills, 15 digs (both of which are career highs) along with 43 assists.
As a team, the 'Cats outhit Northern Colorado in Friday's match (.273 to .233) and won the first and fourth sets by a score of 25-19. In the fifth and final set, the Bears rallied with three-consecutive points to claim the set (18-16) and the match.
The 'Cats turned in an efficient attack in Saturday's win, posting a .260 hitting percentage while stifling the Rams to just a .139 clip.
NU was originally scheduled to open its season with a match vs. South Dakota on Friday afternoon, however that match was canceled due to due to COVID-19 protocols with South Dakota's program.
Northwestern returns to action on Friday as the Wildcats travel to the southwest for a trio of matches in Las Cruces, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. Their first match is slated for New Mexico State on Friday with first serve at 11 am CT.