After a weekend in Utah, Northwestern has done more than win every game. The Wildcats have also won every single set that they have played this season.
NU (3-0) completed its perfect run with a 25-19, 26-24, 26-24 victory over Utah on Saturday night, after demolishing Weber State earlier in the day.
The Cats haven’t necessarily dominated every set. Four of their nine set victories in the Utah Classic came by three points or less. But they have finished with skill. At no time was that more apparent than in their victory over Utah, in which NU took the last two sets by narrow margins.
In the third set, the Utes held a four-point lead on four different occasions, but the Cats scored seven of the last eight points to take the match.
NU also had to stage a comeback early in its match against Weber State. The Cats fell behind 14-9 in the first set, before a timeout by coach Keylor Chan helped turn the tables. After the break, NU went on a 16-5 run to take the set. The Cats rarely trailed again, taking the last two sets 25-22 and 25-20.
The Cats utilized an aggressive style Saturday, riding a surplus of kills to victories in both matches. Overall, the Cats had 100 kills on the day, compared to just 60 for the opposition.
In the finale against Utah, sophomore Stephanie Holthus led all players with 21 kills, while junior Kathryn Chrystal and freshman Katie Dutchman finished with nine kills apiece.
The Cats were dominant in other areas as well. Junior Madalyn Shalter led all players with 39 assists, more than twice what anyone else was able to muster, while junior Julie Chin led all players with 24 digs. Holthus tied for second with 14 digs.
Shalter and Chin were both named to the All-Tournament team for their efforts, while Holthus was named the Utah Classic MVP, after recording 53 kills in the Cats’ three victories.
NU will aim to keep its perfect record intact next weekend at a tournament a little closer to home. The Cats will take on Loyola (Chicago), a team they beat 3-0 last season, in the first round of the Chicago Challenge Friday night.
