For Northwestern volleyball, the last four games have represented a stretch of “ever-so-close.”
The ‘Cats fell in four sets to then-No. 17 USC on Nov. 6, and since then, they’ve lost each of their last
three matches in five sets, losing to UCLA, Iowa and Washington. The latter two contests took place over this past week, and in both, NU competed throughout before wilting in the final frame. With another pair of losses under its belt, Northwestern falls to 5-11 in Big Ten play and 15-13 overall on the season.
NU 2, Iowa 3 (Nov. 13, 2025)
The ‘Cats won a home five-set thriller against Iowa on Halloween night, bolstered by an incredible 27-kill performance from Rylen Reid. NU wasn’t nearly as fortunate last Thursday, suffering a five-set loss despite leading 2-1 after the third frame.
The ‘Cats started off slow in the first set, falling behind 15-9 to the Hawkeyes and struggling to garner momentum. Kills from Reid and Campbell Paris along with two Iowa attack errors helped cut the deficit to 16-13, but from there, the Hawkeyes slowly pushed ahead to a 22-16 advantage. Northwestern cut its deficit to 23-19 after two kills from Ayah Elnady sandwiching another from Paris, but ultimately, Iowa was too much to stop — Hannah Whittingstall came through on set point to secure a 25-20 win.
The second set began much more competitively, with the Wildcats holding a narrow 10-9 lead after four straight Hawkeyes points that featured three kills and a Claire Ammeraal ace. After the teams took one more point each, the ‘Cats caught fire, rattling off six of the next eight points to gain a 17-12 advantage. From there, Iowa was unable to adequately respond, and it was Paris finishing off the Hawkeyes to give the ‘Cats a 25-17 victory.
The third set ended up being the tightest battle between the two squads to that point. Iowa jumped out to a 10-9 edge, but NU responded with an incredible 7-0 run, punctuated by a Lauren Carter ace. Iowa hopped immediately into the driver’s seat with a 12-2 run of its own, but the ‘Cats punched back, eventually coming back from a 24-21 set point to tie the contest at 24 with an ace from Reid. Alyssa Worden secured a kill for the Hawkeyes, but it only served to delay the inevitable, as NU ripped off three straight points courtesy of an Elnady kill and a couple of attack errors to take the set 27-25.
The ‘Cats and the Hawkeyes continued to grind out each point, and set four proved to be even more competitive than the last. This time, it was Iowa jumping to a 17-11 lead, but the ‘Cats tore off eight straight points featuring four Elnady kills. The squads went back and forth to tie things at 25, 26 and 27, but at last, the Hawkeyes managed to pull away for a 29-27 win behind two Ammeraal kills.
As the marathon contest entered its fifth set, it appeared Iowa had successfully tired NU out. The ‘Cats trailed just 7-6 midway through the set, but from there, Iowa scored eight of the next nine points to take a 14-8 advantage that ultimately morphed into a 15-9 set win and match victory.
Worden, Carmel Vares and Whittingstall all had 15+ kills for the Hawkeyes, while Elnady and Paris recorded 20 and 19, respectively, for the Wildcats. Reid had 15 kills as well, and Carter added three aces.
NU 2, Washington 3 (Nov. 16, 2025)
There was only more heartbreak in store for the ‘Cats last weekend.
Things started off on the wrong foot for NU against Washington, as it got stomped 25-12 in the first set. Things rebounded somewhat in the second frame, as the ‘Cats and Huskies were locked in a 16-16 tie before NU picked up nine of the next 11 points to win the set 25-18. Things ended with an ace from first-year Bella Bullington and a kill from Reid to knot the match at one.
The third set shifted back in Washington’s favor, as the Huskies dominated the latter half of the frame after NU took a 12-11 lead behind a Bullington kill. Washington proceeded to run away with the set. Though the Wildcats cut their deficit to 22-20 at one point, two straight kills from Kierstyn Barton and an ace from Alexis Haury proved too much to endure. After their 25-20 win, the Huskies led the match 2-1.
Set four was a hotly-contested battle as the ‘Cats sought to keep their slim hopes alive. The teams went back and forth into a tie at 19-19 and 20-20, and the Wildcats capitalized from there with two straight aces from Carter. Washington bounced back with a pair of points of its own before Elnady retook the lead with a kill. Though the Huskies tied the frame at 23, NU emerged victorious 25-23 behind a Husky attack error and an Elnady finishing kill.
Unlike in the Iowa contest, NU had been playing from behind in the fourth set. That didn’t ultimately change the Wildcats’ fortunes, however, as they dropped the final set 15-11. The frame was tied at 11 at one point, but four straight kills (two from Alexa Markley and two from Simona Mateska) allowed the Huskies to emerge victorious at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Reid and Elnady led the way with 18 and 16 kills against Washington. On the other side, it was Barton, Mateska and Markley delivering 17, 14 and 14 respectively. Once again, Carter added three aces, but it was not enough for the Wildcats to secure a win.
Next up, the ‘Cats will travel to Columbus, Ohio to face the Ohio State Buckeyes on Friday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. CT. That contest is followed by a road bout with Purdue on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. CT.
