Northwestern's volleyball team is making a habit of winning close matches on the road. The Wildcats improved to 3-0 in five-game Big Ten road matches this season, winning a thriller at Indiana on Friday night 19-30, 30-27, 30-25, 34-36, 15-13.

Erika Lange (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) recorded 17 kills and posted 10 total blocks as the Wildcats (11-6 overall) improved to 4-1 in the Big Ten for the first time since 1987. Lange's nine block assists move her past Stephanie Kammes and Shawn Karey into second place on NU's all-time list.

Northwestern totaled 34 block assists in the match, one shy of the school record. NU recorded 35 block assists against LSU on Sept. 17, 1988. The Cats posted 19 total team blocks, compared to six for the Hoosiers. Iwona Lodzik (Tarnobrzeg, Poland/Tarnobrzeg) led the Cats with 18 kills and 11 digs.

After dropping the opening game of the match, the Wildcats hit .353 in the second game to even the match 1-1.

NU kept up the hot hitting in the third game, posting 16 kills with only two errors while hitting .500 to take the two-games-to-one lead.

The fourth game proved to be a marathon. However, the Hoosiers managed to outlast the Wildcats and stayed alive, forcing the fifth and deciding game.

Despite having Indiana carry the momentum into the final game, NU showed its experience in the fifth game, taking the close game and the victory.

Sarah Ballog (Coto de Caza, Calif./Santa Margarita) totaled nine kills and eight total blocks for the Wildcats. Drew Robertson (Long Beach, Calif./Poly) tied a career high with six block assists to go along with 51 set assists.

Northwestern returns to action at 6 p.m. on Saturday night when it travels to No. 24 Ohio State.

Box score - <a href="http://nusports.ocsn.com/sports/w-volley/stats/101102aaa.html" target="_blank">http://nusports.ocsn.com/sports/w-volley/stats/101102aaa.html</a>

Erika Lange recorded nine block assists Friday night to move into second place on NU's all-time list.