Oct. 18, 2008

NU at Purdue Box Score

2008 Northwestern Volleyball Statistics

Box Score

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Northwestern fell behind early to 21st-ranked Purdue and dropped a three-set match to the Boilermakers 19-25, 20-25, 23-25 at Holloway Gymnasium. The loss drops the Wildcats to 7-12 on the season and 1-7 in Big Ten play, while Purdue improves to 16-4 on the year and 5-3 in conference action.

Coming off its upset victory of 17th-ranked Illinois Friday evening, the Wildcats were looking to carry that momentum into West Lafayette. Both teams traded points through the early part of the opening set before Purdue opened up a three point advantage at 14-11. The Boilermakers pushed that lead to eight at 22-14, then held off a late NU rally to take the opening set 25-19. Sophomore Sabel Moffett (Temecula, Calif./Chapparal) got off to a blistering start for the `Cats, recording six kills and was complimented by three from freshman Alexandra Ayers (Playa del Rey, Calif./Marymount).

After seeing Purdue get out to a quick start in the second set, Northwestern used a 6-1 run to get on top 14-12. The Boilermakers would rally back to knot the set at 19 a piece, then used a 6-2 run to close out the Wildcats and take the 25-20 victory. Senior Chelsy Hyser (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere) was the offensive leader for NU with four kills as Moffett added three more of her own. Junior Ariel Baxterbeck (Menlo Park, Calif./Castilleja) and sophomore Naomi Johnson (Bloomington, Minn./Kennedy) also added a pair to add to the offensive charge. Sophomore Elyse Glab (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) dished out 12 assists for the second-straight set while junior Kate Nobilio (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) anchored the defense with five digs.

Northwestern came out the aggressor in the third set, pouncing out to a quick 5-1 lead. Purdue kept trimming into lead, taking the lead at 23-22 after a 5-1 run on the `Cats. A block by the Boiler's Stephanie Lynch and Mandy Nichols completed the sweep for Purdue as it takes the final set 25-23. Lynch and Carrie Gurnell combined for 31 kills on the night to lead the Boilermakers.

Moffett and Hyser once again paced the Wildcat offense, recording 11 and 10 kill respectively with Hyser adding three blocks on the night as well. Glab dished out 36 assists on the evening with Nobilio notching 14 digs. Ayers had seven kills and six digs as well for the Wildcats, while Baxterbeck added four kills and seven digs.

Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena to complete the first half of the Big Ten Conference slate this coming weekend, hosting Indiana on Friday, Oct. 24. NU then welcomes top-ranked and defending national champion Penn State to Evanston Saturday, Oct. 25. Both matches get underway at 7 p.m.