Rousseau Notches Triple-Double in Wildcats 3-1 Victory Over DePaul

CHICAGO – Alexa Rousseau put up a triple-double with 11 kills, 11 digs, and 44 assists to lead the Northwestern volleyball team to a 3-1 win (23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-16) against the DePaul Blue Demons )3-7) Friday evening at the Flames Athletic Center. The Wildcats improved their record to 9-1, their best start to a season since the 2017 team began the year 10-1.

Rousseau had an outstanding day, notching her second career triple-double, while also posting a career-high 11 kills. Temi Thomas-Ailara added a match-high and season-high 19 kills to help the attack. On the defensive end, Megan Miller chipped in for with 19 digs to go with five blocks from Desiree Becker.

Gallery: (9-16-2022) Volleyball – Northwestern vs. DePaul

Game Notes

» Thomas-Ailara recorded her second double-double of the season and tied her season-high with 19 kills. She took a season-high 52 swings. Her 11 kills are a career-high.

» Rousseau posted her second career triple double and first since last year’s season-opener against Northern Colorado (10 kills, 15 digs, 43 assists). Her 44 assists against the Blue Demons are a season-high.

» Megan Miller posted a career-high 12 assists and recorded her first career double-double.

» As a team, the Wildcats logged a season-best 68 digs.

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Triple-double for Alexa Rousseau and we are 9-1 to start the year ?? pic.twitter.com/9B4vPYQZAj

— Northwestern Volleyball (@NUVball) September 16, 2022

How It Happened

SET 1 | The Wildcats found themselves in an early hole, dropping a tight first set 25-23. Northwestern trailed by as many as six points as DePaul grabbed the advantage for good at 24-23 in a set that was tied up four times before the Blue Demons took over in the second half of the stanza.

SET 2 | Northwestern responded to pick up a 25-23 victory in set two, evening the match at one set apiece. The Wildcats earned the set victory propelled by a strong showing on the attacking end. Northwestern registered a .314 attack percentage with 16 kills in the set win. After the lead changed hands one time, the Wildcats took control for good at 24-23 and rode that advantage to victory. Northwestern’s front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking four DePaul attacks in the stanza.

SET 3 |…