Nov. 23, 2002

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. - On Senior Night at Welsh-Ryan Arena, it was a pair of juniors that stole the show. Iwona Lodzik (Tarnobrzeg, Poland/Tarnobrzeg) posted her second 20-20 match of the season, recording 25 kills and 20 digs and Erika Lange (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) added 21 kills and seven blocks as Northwestern defeated No. 17 Penn State 27-30, 30-23, 30-24, 30-27.

The victory improves the Wildcats to 17-13 overall and 10-8 in the Big Ten, while Penn State falls to 22-7 and 12-6.

Lange and Lodzik each recorded stellar hitting nights, with Lange posting a hitting percentage of .529 and Lodzik hitting .426. As a team, NU hit .317 while Penn State hit .189.

After being outblocked 16-4 in the first meeting between the teams on Oct. 25 in State College, the 'Cats held a 12-8 edge on Saturday night, including 22 block assists. In addition to Lange's seven, Lodzik added six blocks and Sarah Ballog (Coto de Caza, Calif./Santa Margarita) contributed five.

The Wildcats held a 24-22 lead late in opening game, before the Nittany Lions went on a 6-1 run to go ahead 28-25. After the teams traded the next three points, Syndie Nadeau finished off the game with a kill for PSU. Cara Smith led Penn State with six kills in the game, while Lodzik posted seven for the 'Cats.

NU jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead in Game 2 and never trailed. The Nittany Lions closed to within 13-12, but would never get any closer. A 9-2 run stretched Northwestern's lead to eight at 22-14. Lodzik posted another seven kills in the set and Lange added six.

A late rally in the third game gave the Wildcats the surge they needed. Trailing 20-19, the 'Cats scored five consecutive points to take a 24-20 lead, thanks to two kills apiece by Lange and Christie Gardner (West Bend, Wis./East).

Penn State closed within two on three occasions, but Northwestern held on for the victory. NU outhit the Nittany Lions .343-to-.083 in the game.

PSU appeared that it would force a fifth game, holding a seemingly comfortable 24-20 lead late in the fourth game. However, the Wildcats rallied again. A 5-0 run gave the hosts a 25-24 lead. The score was tied 26-26 when Ballog recorded a kill, Drew Robertson (Long Beach, Calif./Poly) served an ace, Penn State had an attack error and Ballog posted another kill to give NU the four-game win.

The match marked the final home match for Northwestern seniors Ballog, Kelli Meyer (Madison, Wis./Edgewood), Cassie McKnight (San Marcos, Calif./San Marcos), Brandy Stohl (Colona, Ill./J.D. Darnall) and Jill Fantozzi (Chicago, Ill./Lincoln Park.)

Northwestern hits the road for the final weekend of regular season play next weekend when it travels to Michigan State Friday and Michigan Saturday.

MGOLF: Alum Chris Wilson in PGA Debut
Lacrosse Championship Celebration Event
WLAX On Fox Chicago Morning News
BTN: Lax Championship Coverage
WLAX: NU vs. UNC Final Highlights
WLAX: Amonte Hiller Postgame Interview
WLAX: NU vs. Penn Semifinal Highlights
Fitz Sings Stretch At Wrigley Field
Fitz Shoots Puck At Hawks Clincher