Volleyball suffers 2nd home loss of season

The IU volleyball team lost at home for just the second time this season.

No. 24 Northwestern swept the Hoosiers in three sets, 25-23, 25-16 and 25-23.

The win gave Northwestern two wins against IU after defeating the Hoosiers in four sets on Sept. 24 in Evanston, Ill.

The Wildcats had three different players earn double-digit kills.

Graduate student middle blocker Sabel Moffett, senior middle blocker Naomi Johnson and graduate student outside hitter Christina Kaelin recorded 13, 11 and 10 kills, respectively.

Senior middle blocker Ashley Benson was the lone Hoosier to register double- digit kills, leading all players with 15.

“Benson did a good job of putting balls away,” IU coach Sherry Dunbar said.

The game was tied at 22-22 in the first set, but the Wildcats took the next three of four to win the set.

The Hoosiers got off to an early 8-3 lead in the second frame, but the Wildcats rallied back and took control midway through the set.

After Northwestern took the lead at 13-12, they won the next 12 of 16 points to win the set.

“There were key errors in the game, especially down the stretch in the later part of the sets,” Dunbar said.

Then, in the final frame, the two teams were tied at 22, but just as the Wildcats did at the same point in the first set, they stole the last three of four points to win the match.

This upcoming weekend, the Hoosiers travel for matches at Michigan State and No. 16 Michigan.

IU defeated both teams at University Gym earlier this season.

Dunbar said the team must remain focused down the stretch.

“They have to stay positive, work on their blocks and kills because it doesn’t get any easier,” Dunbar said.