Illinois Edges Northwestern 3-2 in Champaign
Northwestern fell to 0-12 in Big Ten play after dropping the final two sets to the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Volleyball
Illinois defeated Northwestern 3-2 in Champaign on October 29, 2026, after Northwestern won sets two and three. The Wildcats lost the final two sets 15-25 and 6-15 and remain winless in Big Ten play.
Why it matters
The loss extends Northwestern's conference losing streak to 12 matches and keeps the team at 7-16 overall. For Champaign, the match was a home-region Big Ten contest that showcased Illinois at 16-7 overall and 8-4 in conference play.
Northwestern hit .307 across the first three sets compared to Illinois' .230, but hit .000 across the final two sets while Illinois hit .232. Illinois recorded six aces to Northwestern's zero, and the extraction does not explain the late-match hitting breakdown.
The players
Northwestern Wildcats
The Northwestern University women's volleyball program competes in the Big Ten Conference and is based in Evanston, Illinois.
Illinois Fighting Illini
The University of Illinois women's volleyball program competes in the Big Ten Conference and is based in Champaign, Illinois.
Bella Bullington
Bullington is a Northwestern volleyball player who led all players in the match with 18 kills and 10 digs.
Lauren Dignan
Dignan is a Northwestern volleyball player who returned from injury to record 17 digs in the match.
Ellie Stiernagle
Stiernagle is a Northwestern volleyball player who recorded 45 assists, tying her career best in a conference match.
The details
Northwestern won set two 25-22 and set three 25-22 before losing set four 15-25 and set five 6-15. Bella Bullington led all players with 18 kills and 10 digs, while Lauren Dignan returned from injury to record 17 digs and Ellie Stiernagle tied her career-best conference assist total with 45.
Timeline
October 29, 2026: Northwestern lost 3-2 to Illinois in Champaign.
October 29, 2026: Lauren Dignan returned from injury after sitting out two matches.
Season Trajectory
Northwestern's 0-12 start leaves it winless in the Big Ten women's volleyball standings with the conference season well underway. The result underscores how far the Wildcats remain from the conference pack as Illinois holds a 8-4 Big Ten record.
Northwestern's 0-12 Big Ten record means the team has no conference wins to build from as the season moves on. Fantasy and roster observers tracking Bullington's 18-kill output and Stiernagle's 45-assist night will see both players carrying a heavy offensive load.
The takeaway
Northwestern's three-set competitiveness against Illinois shows the team can contend for stretches, but the final two sets exposed a consistency problem that must be solved for any conference win. Fans tracking the Wildcats should watch whether late-match hitting efficiency improves in upcoming Big Ten matches.
Further reading
For more on the conference race, see Volleyball coverage of the Big Ten season.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Northwestern.
