No. 12 Oregon Defeats Northwestern 3-1 in Volleyball Match

Northwestern’s volleyball squad faced a daunting challenge Sunday evening at Matthew Knight Arena, squaring off against a No. 12 Oregon team. While the Wildcats ultimately fell 3-1, the match proved to be a display of resilience, particularly in a third set that briefly shifted the momentum in favor of the visitors.

According to the official Northwestern Athletics report, the final scores settled at 25-20, 26-24, 18-25, and 25-11. The result brings Northwestern to a 7-18 record overall and 0-14 in conference play, while the Ducks improved to 20-4 and 11-3 against Big Ten opponents.

The statistical highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the performance of Bella Bullington. She led all attackers with 20 kills on .326 hitting, marking the second time in her career she has hit the 20-kill threshold. Her versatility was on full display, as she added eight digs, two blocks, and an ace to her stat line.

Northwestern at Oregon | Extended Highlights | Big Ten Volleyball | 11/08/2026

Bullington was not alone in her efforts. Mara Stiglic also contributed significantly to the offense, and together they achieved a notable milestone. Not since at least 2020 has a pair of Northwestern teammates each recorded two or more matches with 20+ kills.

The second set served as the most intense portion of the contest, defined by 11 separate ties. Neither side managed to pull away by more than two points, reflecting a level of defensive grit that kept the scoreline tight until the final moments. Northwestern held a set point at 24-23 following a kill by Stiglic, but the Ducks fought back, and ended up winning 26-24.

The Wildcats’ persistence paid off in the third set. After a 6-2 run heading into the media timeout, Northwestern secured a 25-18 victory to keep the match alive. This performance marked only the second time this season that Northwestern has taken a set from a ranked opponent, the first being an October 17 match against then-No. 22 Michigan State.

Beyond the individual attacking numbers, the team’s defensive coordination provided the foundation for their brief surge. Lauren Dignan anchored the back row with 12 digs, while Maya Stillwell remained a force in the front row, recording four blocks. Meanwhile, Ellie Stiernagle continued her climb in the record books, finishing the night with 36 assists.

Stiernagle’s performance pushed her season total to 873 assists. With this accomplishment, she has climbed to seventh place on the all-time list for Northwestern first-years, moving ahead of Taylor Tashima, whose 2014 campaign concluded with 871.

The final set saw Oregon regain control, limiting the Wildcats to 11 points to seal the victory. The Wildcats return to the court looking to build on the flashes of efficiency shown in Eugene, as they work to close out their season with the same intensity that forced a competitive second set and a third-set victory against the Ducks.