Boise State
3-3
Northwestern
4-2
Boise State Sweeps Big Ten's Northwestern
9/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Final Match Box (PDF)
BOISE, Idaho (9/5/2015) - Boise State used a balanced team effort to sweep the Northwestern Wildcats 25-12, 25-21, 25-23 Saturday afternoon in the final match of the Boise State Invitational. It is the first sweep for the Blue and Orange in program history over a Big Ten member school. The win improved the Broncos to 3-3 overall and 2-1 at their tournament this weekend.
Four Broncos recorded between 10 and seven kills in the win led by Sierra Nobley with 10, followed by Kaitlyn Oliver and Maddy O'Donnell with eight each and Katelyn Kinghorn with seven.
"I am really excited that we had the opportunity to play a Big Ten team her in Boise in front of our fans," said head coach Shawn Garus. "I think everyone saw from the warm ups on that they were a big physical team and it was going to be a good match-up. I give our players a lot of credit for coming out with great intensity and sustaining it throughout the whole match to get the big win."
Oliver hit 42.9 percent to get her eight kills and added a season-high six blocks against the Wildcats. She was also named to the Boise State Invitational All-Tournament Team for her performance over the three matches helping the Broncos finish the weekend 2-1.
Sarah Baugh joined Oliver on the all-tournament team having a solid weekend as the Bronco setter, she dished out 34 to go with five kills and four blocks Saturday in leading Boise State past Northwestern.
Nobley once again led the Broncos in kills making it six straight times to open the season. She hit 36.4 percent in recording her 10 kills, in addition to one assist, one service ace, a team-second-best nine digs and two blocks.
Boise State came out strong from the start as they quickly jumped on Northwestern in the opening set winning it by 13 points.
The last two sets were closer but Boise State led most of the way in both frames as the Broncos saw a balanced offensive attack in their final home match of September.
O'Donnell was a factor in that balanced attack as well finishing the night hitting 50 percent in tallying her eight kills. The junior also added two digs and four blocks.
Kinghorn contributed seven kills one assist, one service ace, five digs and two blocks. Sabryn Roberts chipped in six kills and two blocks. Defensively, Maddi Osburn led the way with a team-high 12 digs.
Boise State finished the match hitting 37 percent for 44 kills to go along with 40 assists, three service aces, 37 digs and season-high 10.5 blocks.
Northwestern was held to 10.1 percent hitting and 30 kills. The Wildcats had 28 assists, six service aces, 33 digs and two blocks.
Boise State Invitational All-Tournament Team
Caroline Niedospial (NU)
Kate Klepetka (TAMUCC)
