Northwestern University Athletics
Volleyball Team Opens 2000 Campaign at U.S. Bank Tournament
8/31/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 31, 2000
A new era begins for the Northwestern volleyball program when the regular season opens at the U.S. Bank Tournament. New head coach Keylor Chan, a former NU assistant, given the task of with filling the void left by four departed seniors. Easing that transition is the return of Kelli Meyer, a sophomore setter who recorded 1,101 assists in 1999. The Wildcats will be jumping straight into the fire, as their opening opponent is the host Huskers, who are ranked sixth in the nation. On Saturday, NU will face No. 13 Colorado State in addition to SEC foe Georgia.
Wildcats vs. the Field The 'Cats are 1-10 against the U.S. Bank Tournament field. Nebraska is 3-0 all-time against NU. The last time the two teams met was Sept. 16, 1988, when the Huskers defeated NU, 7-15, 7-15, 8-15 in the Illini Classic. The Wildcats are 0-6 against Colorado State, with the last meeting coming in 1994 at the Colorado State Invitational. The Rams won in four (17-15, 13-15, 15-3, 15-4). NU and Georgia are tied at one win apiece. NU defeated Georgia, 15-2, 15-5, 15-2 at the Rhode Island Classic in 1987.
Scouting the U.B. Bank Tournament Field
#6 Nebraska: The Huskers are the defending Big 12 champions and are ranked sixth in the USA TODAY/AVCA preseason poll. Nebraska returns four starters from a 1999 squad that finished 27-6 overall and 17-3 in the Big 12 Conference. The Huskers will be without two-time AVCA All-American Nancy Meendering, who will redshirt during the 2000 season. Big 12 Freshman-of-the-Year Greichaly Cepero highlights the Nebraska roster this year. Last season she started at outside hitter and finished third on the team in kills (218).
#13 Colorado State: The 13th-ranked Colorado State Rams enter the weekend 2-0 after upsetting ninth-ranked Florida and top-ranked UCLA in the State Farm Classic last weekend. The Rams defeated the Bruins, 15-8, 8-15, 15-12, 11-15, and 17-15 in the championship match. The Rams return eight letterwinners, including five starters from a team that went 30-3 last season.
Georgia: The Lady Bulldogs return seven letterwinners, including three starters from a year ago. Last season the Lady Bulldogs were 10-16 overall and finished fifth in the SEC. Georgia has a new skipper this season as Mary Buczek takes over the program. Buczek, the 1999 ACC Coach of the Year, comes to Georgia from Wake Forest. The last time NU and Georgia met was in 1987, when the 'Cats defeated the Bulldogs in three games.
Season Openers: The Wildcats are 18-5 (.783) all-time in season openers. The Wildcats have won seven of their last 10 season openers dating back to 1990. NU's last loss in a season opener was in 1999 when it dropped a three-game match to Miami-Ohio.
