Northwestern splits matches against Alabama and Mississippi State

Northwestern finished its trip to Starkville with a 1-1 record during the Big Ten-SEC Challenge. The Wildcats defeated Alabama in four sets on September 3, recovering from a first-set loss behind an efficient.303 hitting performance. Mara Štiglic led the team with 18 kills and four aces in the win, while Bella Bullington contributed 15 kills. Northwestern followed the performance with a loss to Mississippi State on September 4. Despite a strong second set where the team hit.514, the Wildcats struggled with hitting errors and were ultimately dispatched by the Bulldogs. Coach Tim Nollan utilized Lauren Dignan as the primary libero for both contests as the team continues to integrate new personnel. Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena to host Butler on September 8.

• 2:49 AMYahoo Sports — Volleyball: NU splits Big Ten-SEC Challenge