Wildcats Fall To 12th-Ranked Georgia Tech In Season Opener
Aug. 29, 2003
ATLANTA, Ga. - In the first match of the Georgia Tech Courtyard by Marriott Classic, held at O'Keefe Gymnasium in Atlanta, the Wildcats took on 12th-ranked Georgia Tech for the first time in school history. Northwestern fought off seven match points in the third game, but could not prevent the Yellow Jackets' 3-0 victory, as Tech was won by scores of 30-22, 30-25, 37-35. Senior middle blocker Erika Lange (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) led Northwestern with 15 kills, four digs and a .448 hitting percentage, while Iwona Lodzik (Tarnobrzeg, Poland/Tarnobrzeg) added 14 kills and five digs. Junior Drew Robertson (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Poly) led the Wildcats in assists (45) and digs (9). Georgia Tech's All-America setter, Lynnette Moster, led the Yellow Jackets, as she recorded 17 kills, nine digs and a hitting percentage of .469. Lauren Sauer, a junior on the Georgia Tech team, notched an additional 13 kills and three block assists. Setter Kele Eveland led the Ramblin' Wreck in assists with 44. Georgia Tech got off to a quick start as they took a 2-0 lead early in the first game. After gaining possession of the ball, the Wildcats tied the score at two. The two teams swapped points until the midpoint of the game, when NU led by a score of 15-14. The Yellow Jackets went on a 16-7 run to take game one by a score of 30-22 Early in game two, the Ramblin' Wreck led by as many as four points, but the Wildcats were able to cut Georgia Tech's lead to just two points and were down 15-13 halfway into the game. The 'Cats picked up some momentum and tied the score at 18, but the Jackets fought back and regained the lead. NU tied the game at 21, but that is as close as the Purple and White would come, as Georgia Tech won 30-25.
The Wildcats came out of the intermission with a purpose. Northwestern got off to a quick start in game three, scoring three unanswered points, but the Yellow Jackets battled back and tied the score at five. The two teams swapped points through the duration of the game and at the midway point of the game, NU led 15-14.
Georgia Tech added to their lead late in the game, leading by as many as three points, but the Wildcats fought and tied the third game at 27. The teams continued to swap points, but Northwestern could not hang on, as the Ramblin' Wreck won the game 37-35. The 'Cats return to action tomorrow, taking on Alabama at 1 p.m. and Coastal Carolina at 4 p.m. Both matches are scheduled to take place at O'Keefe Gymnasium. |
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