EVANSTON, Ill. (Nov. 10, 2018) – Rutgers volleyball led in the digging department and took a set off Northwestern, but ultimately dropped a Big Ten match to the Wildcats in Welsh-Ryan Arena on Saturday evening.
 
THE LINE
Northwestern (15-13, 5-11) 3, Rutgers (6-23, 0-16) 1 – 25-20, 25-17, 21-25, 25-14
 
STANDOUT STATS

• Senior outside hitter Sahbria McLetchie led the Rutgers offense for the 19^th time this season with 13 kills, adding 10 digs for her fifth career double-double.
• Freshman outside hitter Anastasiya Kudryashova finished with seven kills on .227 hitting with five digs.
• Freshman setter Inna Balyko had an active evening with a double-double of 26 assists and 11 digs, to go with six blocks.
• Junior libero Karysa Swackenberg paced the defense for the 16^th time this season with 12 digs, joining her three assists.
• Freshman middle Merle Weidt threw up seven blocks along with four kills and digs apiece.

KNIGHT NOTES

• Rutgers led an opponent in digging (58-56) for the 12^th time in 2018.
• The Scarlet Knights had 12 blocks in four sets, improving on their 2.68 blocks per set mark, which ranked 20^th in the nation heading into this weekend's action.
• McLetchie notched her 50^th career double-digit kill match.
• Balyko got her eighth double-double of her rookie year.
• Swackenberg's double-digit digging effort was the 41^st of her career.

THE MOMENTS

• Set 1 | Rutgers led as deep into the set as 15-14 thanks to a hot start to the first. An early 5-2 run saw Weidt get two kills for the first two points of the match.
• Set 2 | Another fast start had RU up 4-2 with Weidt getting in on two blocks. Later, the Scarlet Knights used a 4-0 rally to pull within one at 10-9 after kills by McLetchie and Kudryashova.
• Set 3 | For the third set in a row, Rutgers held a lead midway through. This time, standout defense led to an 11-10 lead as Weidt punished an over pass.
• Set 3 | In a set with 12 ties and five lead changes, Rutgers took a 21-20 lead on Weidt and sophomore right side Beka Kojadinovic's block. After a 21-21 tie, three straight Wildcat miscues led to set-point at 24-21, which Kojadinovic clinched on a kill from a pass from Weidt.

UP NEXT
The Scarlet Knights begin a four-match homestand to conclude the 2018 season on Wednesday, Nov. 14 against Michigan State at 7 p.m. in the College Ave. Gym.
 
 
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