WACO, Tex. — It was a tough start for the Gaels (1-3) to open play at the Baylor Classic. Getting a chance to face off with a Big 10 foe for the first time since 2017, the Gaels took on a red-hot Northwestern (3-1) squad, whose only loss was to 20th ranked Baylor an evening ago. The Gaels duked it out with the Wildcats, staying competitive early in two of the three sets, but ultimately fell in their first sweep of 2025.
Both teams were evenly matched through the first 22 points, playing to an 11 all stalemate with neither team ever leading by more than one.