Facing off for the second time in history, Northwestern fell to UCLA in three sets Sunday.
The Wildcats (4-12, 2-6 Big Ten) were swept by the Bruins (9-8, 3-5 Big Ten) at Welsh-Ryan Arena in the teams’ first matchup since 2008.
“I thought we defended well,” head coach Tim Nollan said. “I thought our block showed up. Kennedy Hill’s offense was blistering tonight. I think that the takeaway is that we have to build on that.”
Hill, NU’s junior middle blocker, tallied a team-leading 12 kills and six blocks, while junior outside hitter Rylen Reid added another nine kills and six digs. Graduate student setter Alexa Rousseau logged 20 assists, and sophomore libero Drew Wright racked up 14 digs.
After conceding the first point of the match, UCLA started the first set on a 5-0 run, prompting an early timeout call from Nollan. Two blocks and a kill from Hill padded the ’Cats score, but service errors and the Bruins’ dominant offense allowed UCLA to pull ahead 14-7. Straight out of another timeout, a rally led by NU’s block and Hill’s offense allowed the ’Cats to chip away at the Bruins’ lead, tying the set at 18.
“Our middles were doing a really great job for us,” Rousseau said. “Our pins were taking really high swings. So the whole time we were right there, which was really important to us.”
The game stayed tight through the red zone — points after 20 — with Hill tying the score again on a UCLA set point, then giving NU the lead 26-25. An overpass attack error by Hill tied the score once again at 26, followed by an ace from the Bruins and an NU attack error that handed the first set to UCLA 28-26.
The second set started as a game of catch-up for the ’Cats once again. NU tied the score at five and kept things tight until a 19-19 stalemate, helped by three kills from junior outside hitter Kathryn Randorf. The ’Cats and UCLA traded points, with a kill from Reid bailing NU out of a Bruin set point. But UCLA battled back and took the set on a kill 28-26.
“You can get frustrated with the fact that we definitely could have ended those two sets on our own, and I think that was something that we could have controlled better,” Rousseau said. “But at the same time, I think we tried to shift our focus into it’s a good thing that we are able to control those … and we’re capable of winning those two.”
The beginning of the third set mirrored the first two, with the Bruins pulling ahead 6-2, prompting a lineup change from Nollan. Redshirt sophomore Sienna Noordermeer checked in for the first time since the ’Cats Oct. 6 matchup at Illinois, followed by junior outside hitter Rachel Johnson, who hadn’t played since mid-September. Despite the changes, UCLA retained its lead, winning on a block, 25-10.
Nollan highlighted NU’s ability to get Hill the ball and passing prowess early in the match but said the team needs to focus on finishing strong.
“Just working on finishing after 20 (points),” said Nollan. “I thought we did some really good things early. … The whole focus is going to be on our side of the net.”
Sunday also marked former ’Cats middle blocker Leilani Dodson’s return to Welsh-Ryan Arena. Dodson became a Bruin following the 2023 season and tallied 10 kills and three blocks in the weekend matchup.
NU will be back in action Wednesday at No. 14 Minnesota.
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