Despite the partial return of graduate outside hitter Julia Sangiacomo, Northwestern was swept by Illinois in an in-state battle Wednesday night. It was a tight game, with both teams swapping leads throughout. The Wildcats (11-12, 5-8 Big Ten) and the Fighting Illini (13-10, 8-5 Big Ten) were tied 20-20 at one point in all three.
In its third match without graduate outside hitter Julia Sangiacomo, the team’s leader in kills, Northwestern fell to Ohio State in three sets Wednesday. The match began with the Wildcats (10-11, 4-7 Big Ten) and the Buckeyes (8-12, 5-6 Big Ten) trading points until a 9-1 run by Ohio State. Four kills from sophomore outside.
Revenge is a dish best served cold, and it got chilly in Evanston just in time for a Saturday rematch with Northwestern’s maize and blue foe — a Michigan squad that prevailed 3-1 the last time the two teams faced. The Wildcats (10-10, 4-6 Big Ten) took the first set but surrendered the next two.