Northwestern is sitting at a brutal 7-16 overall record this season, but it is their 0-12 mark in Big Ten play that is just soul-crushing. After dropping two more matches last week, both in agonizing five-set fashion, the Wildcats have cemented their spot as the absolute worst team in the conference. Seriously, after watching these two games, it feels like any chance of them snagging a Big Ten win this season is probably gone. It’s been a year of “so close, yet so far” for the ‘Cats, and these latest heartbreakers just add to a mountain of frustration and missed chances.
40 of 61 Points Lost: How Illinois Took Over
Thursday night against Illinois, you had over 2,000 fans packed into Huff Hall, ready for a battle. The ‘Cats had scrapped their way to a 2-1 set advantage and were literally on the brink of getting their first conference win. But then, a switch flipped, and it was brutal to watch. Northwestern lost an absolutely staggering 40 of the final 61 points. Illinois grabbed the momentum and just never let go. The Fighting Illini roared to a 15-4 lead in the fourth set and then stomped out the decider 15-6. The quality just wasn’t there to match their in-state rivals. The Wildcats finished with 12 fewer kills and zero service aces, which tells you everything about their aggression and ability to force mistakes. Even sophomore outside hitter Bella Bullington, who put up 18 kills, was super inefficient, hitting just .179. Yeah, Illinois is a good team, sitting at 16-7 overall and 8-4 in Big Ten, so a win would have been a massive upset. But still, the way they ran out of gas, especially after putting in an inspiring effort earlier, stings.
One Point Away on Senior Night: Rutgers Twist the Knife
If the Illinois loss was disappointing, what happened Saturday against Rutgers? That one just flat-out *hurt*. It was senior night at Welsh-Ryan Arena, over 1,000 people there, and the ‘Cats had momentum after going up two sets to one. You could feel it, everyone thought they were going to celebrate their seniors the right way. They were dominating early in the fourth set, leading 17-12, then 19-14. They fought off a Rutgers run and pushed right to the edge, leading 24-21. Think about that: *one point away* from winning their first conference game. One point from breaking this curse, one point from avoiding the embarrassment of a winless Big Ten season. It was all right there! But then, Rutgers pulled off a perfect bump, set, and spike to cut it to two. They survived a Paris Campbell attack, capitalized on a free ball to make it a one-point game. The tension in that stadium must have been insane. And then, a poor serve received by Bullington… you just know how that ended.
This team has been defined by being so close, yet so far, and watching them cough up that lead, *one point away* from victory, on senior night of all nights, perfectly encapsulates the frustration of this entire 0-12 season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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