Efficient Outing from Becker Not Enough as Wildcats fall to Indiana 3-2

BLOOMINGTON, IN – Desiree Becker totaled 11 kills with a .625 attack percentage, but the Northwestern volleyball team fell in five sets (20-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-16, 13-15) to the Indiana Hoosiers Friday on the road at Wilkinson Hall.

The loss dropped Northwestern’s record to 17-12 overall and 6-11 in Big Ten action.

The Wildcats were led by a double-double from Temi Thomas-Ailara, who registered 20 kills and 11 digs on the day. Becker also added 11 kills to help the attack. On the defensive end, Ellee Stinson chipped in for with 21 digs to go with six blocks from Leilani Dodson.

Game Notes

» Northwestern had three players in double figures in kills.

» Northwestern had four players in double figures in digs.

» Desiree Becker was efficient in attacking situations in the match, accumulating 11 kills while hitting .625.

» Alexa Rousseau had a team-high two aces in the loss.

» Temi Thomas-Ailara registered a double-double with 20 kills and 11 digs

» Northwestern never trailed on the way to winning the fourth set 25-16.

» Temi Thomas-Ailara had a match-high 20 kills for Northwestern.

» Northwestern got a team-high 21 digs from Ellee Stinson.

» Northwestern attackers were helped by a match-high 39 assists from Alexa Rousseau.

How It Happened

SET 1 | The Wildcats found themselves in an early deficit, dropping the first set 25-20. Northwestern trailed by as many as seven points as Indiana never surrendered the lead in a set that was tied up zero times before the Hoosiers took control.

SET 2 | Northwestern fired back after dropping the first set to take set two 25-21, evening the match at 1-1. The Wildcats never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 10-9 in a set that had just one lead change before the Wildcats took over the lead.

SET 3 | Indiana went up 2-1 after defeating the Wildcats in the third set. The Wildcats fought back from a seven-point deficit at 23-16, but Indiana held on to win the set 25-22.

SET 4 | Northwestern then responded to secure the fourth set 25-16 to force a fifth set. The Wildcats led from the first point on in the set to earn the victory. Northwestern opened up as much as a nine point lead at 24-15 before finishing off the stanza. Northwestern got a solid defensive performance from a front row that blocked five…