PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers volleyball and Northwestern clawed and scratched to 24 ties throughout three units, however it was in the end the Wildcats getting by the Scarlet Knights 25-23, 25-18, 30-28 at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Friday night time.
The loss dropped RU to 10-7 total and 1-4 in Big Ten play. The Scarlet Knights additionally moved to 1-1 within the Big Ten Discover Volleyball Challenge. Northwestern moved to 12-5 total and 2-3 in league motion.
Both junior Aspen Maxwell and junior Zora Hardison attacked their approach to 12 kills whereas sophomore Natalie Robinson was simply shy of double-figure kills with 9 on 18 assaults and just one error to hit .444 for the night time.
Hardison additionally led RU on the web with six block assists. She is now one block away from her 200th profession block and 7 away from becoming a member of the rally-era profession prime 10 checklist.
Sophomore Lily Bolen was one dig shy of a double-double in recording 31 assists and 9 digs. She additionally tied her profession excessive with three blocks, together with the 5-7 setter’s first solo block.
Junior Jenna DeLaMater and sophomore Alleigh Dutton each served up a pair of aces. DeLaMater additionally added eight digs for the protection.
SET 1 (23-25) | Rutgers and Northwestern have been tied 9 instances to kick off motion because the opener was even at 18-18 following stops from the arms of Zora Hardison and Tara Garvey. The Wildcats punched in a pair of factors from Ayah Elnady to take the lead for good. The two squads traded the following 10 factors. A kill from Lexi Visintine on a rocket from the left pin denied Northwestern set level, however Elnady completed out the body for Northwestern with a swing of her personal.
SET 2 (18-25) | The Scarlet Knights poured on a 7-1 run to path 20-18, however the Wildcats closed with 5 unanswered to take a 2-0 lead. Northwestern opened outscoring RU 8-2 and pushed out to a 16-8 benefit. From there, the 2 squads went forwards and backwards with the Wildcats forward 19-11 earlier than the Scarlet Knights’ burst. During the run, Alleigh Dutton added an ace and kills have been collected by Natalie Robinson, Aspen Maxell and Lexi Visintine. A swing by Hardison had RU down 20-18, however Northwestern posted a trio of kills and a pair of block assists to complete.
SET 3 (28-30) | Altogether, the body endured 13 ties, 4 lead modifications and 7 set level alternatives for either side. One of Hardison’s 5 swings within the body gave RU a 24-22 benefit, however the Wildcats got here again with the following three factors to serve for match level up 25-24. An errant serve for the Wildcats knotted the rating at 25-25 and Northwestern had one other likelihood for the match, however it was thwarted on a kill from Tara Garvey. The Wildcats denied Visitine’s try serving for match level at 27-26, however setter Aly Borellis received within the sneaky assault to tie up the set as soon as extra. Hardison and Visintine teamed up for a cease, giving RU the possibility on the body up 28-27, however back-to-back kills from NU’s Elnady put her group in place for the win. At first, it regarded like Hardison’s assault was blocked out of bounds to maintain play going, however after Northwestern’s problem, the evaluate gave the Wildcats the purpose and the win.
Rutgers volleyball is again on the courtroom on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at Jersey Mike’s Arena towards Illinois, a squad receiving votes on this week’s AVCA Top 25. Free Rutgers headbands on the door whereas provides final and the group can be on the concourse for post-match autographs. Click here to buy tickets.