Northwestern University Athletics
This Week in Wildcat Volleyball
9/26/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 26, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill.--The Wildcats dropped their Big Ten opener to Indiana, 3-1, last Friday evening, but memories of that loss were short-lived. The Wildcats rebounded on Saturday by handing No. 3 and defending NCAA champion Penn State a 3-2 defeat, marking NU's first victory over the Nittany Lions since Nov. 23, 1991. The Wildcats were led against PSU by Sarah Ballog, who tied the game high with 25 kills - also a career high for the sophomore middle blocker. Freshman Erika Lange tallied 13 blocks as the Wildcats dominated the Nittany Lions at the net, 20.5 blocks to 9.5. Northwestern only briefly trailed in the decisive fifth game, but never led by more than three points before finally prevailing 15-12. The Wildcats scored the match's final three points with the score tied at 12-12 to seal the win. The 'Cats are enjoying their best conference start since 1998 when they opened the first week of Big Ten play 1-1. NU looks to claw above the .500 mark with its match against the Badgers.
NU's standout freshman Lange is doing it all. The 6-3 middle blocker has adjusted to collegiate volleyball without any problems and has turned into the 'Cats leading hitter and blocker. Lange is averaging 3.36 kills and 1.36 blocks per game. She ranks second in the Big Ten with 64 total blocks and has led the team to third in the conference in blocking. Another freshman on the rise is Lindsay Pavlik. She is NU's leading defensive player, averaging 3.04 digs per game. Pavlik checks in on the Big Ten charts at No. 9 in digs. Both Lange and Pavlik have started each of the Wildcats' 12 matches.
Scouting the Badgers No. 10 Wisconsin enjoyed a banner week, as the Badgers swept defending NCAA Champion Penn State on Friday and then gave head coach Pete Waite his 300th career victory with a sweep over Indiana on Saturday. The Badgers' first victory served to break two long-standing Penn State records. The Nittany Lions had not lost a Big Ten match since losing to the Badgers on Oct. 31, 1997. It was also the first time Penn State had lost on the road 3-0 since losing to Michigan State, on Nov. 17, 1995. The Badgers hit .308 percent, while the Nittany Lions hit .111. Wisconsin also led in kills, 53-36, digs, 60-38, and assists, 49-28. Against Indiana, hitter Jenny Maastricht posted 14 kills to pace the Badgers to victory and give Waite his 300th career victory. Sherisa Livingston and Maastricht lead the Badgers offensively, averaging 4.40 and 3.85 kills per game, respectively. On defense, Erin Byrd averages 2.84 digs per game. The Badgers have outhit their opponents this season .276 to .088. They are currently ranked 10th in the nation.
T
he Series: Wildcats vs. Wisconsin
S
eries Record: Wisconsin leads 27-23
Most Recent Meeting: Nov. 19, 1999 in Madison (UW 3, NU 1)
First Meeting: Sept. 30, 1978 in Evanston (NU 3, UW 0)
Last NU win in Madison: Nov. 5, 1986 (15-11, 17-15, 15-4)
Last UW win in Madison: Nov. 19, 1999 (6-15, 15-10, 15-5, 15-11)
Return to Sender After 12 matches, it's clear that one of the strengths of the Wildcats will be their defense at the net. Freshman middle blocker Erika Lange leads NU with 64 total blocks and sophomore middle blocker Sarah Ballog is a close second with 59 total blocks, 10 of which are solo. Lange is averaging 1.36 and Ballog 1.28 per game. The duo rank second and third, respectively in the conference in blocks. As a team, the Wildcats are averaging 2.82 blocks per game to rank third in the Big Ten behind Minnesota (2.89) and Michigan State (2.88).
56 and Counting Carmen Burbach is on track to join six other Wildcats in the 1,000-1,000 club. Burbach already has 1,051 kills, and she is 56 digs shy of becoming the seventh member of this elite club. Burbach is averaging 3.00 digs per game, and at that rate should reach 1,000 digs in 19 games.
Making History Senior outside hitter Carmen Burbach joined the prestigious 1,000-kill club at the Wahine Challenge. Against Oregon, Burbach became the 15th Wildcat in history to reach the milestone with her fourth kill of the night. She currently has a career total of 1,068.
The Ruhling Is In Sophomore middle blocker Adriana Ruhl has earned a spot in the Wildcats' starting lineup. Ruhl has started seven matches and played in 27 games this season. In her start against the Nittany Lions last weekend, Ruhl recorded a season-high six kills, one assist, two service aces, eight digs and two block assists - her best match to date. Expect to see a lot more of this Stockton, Calif. native as the season progresses.
Ballog Sets Career-High Sophomore middle blocker Sarah Ballog recorded 25 kills in the 'Cats win over Penn State last weekend for a career and season high. Ballog has been one of the Wildcats' most consistent players and was a starter last season as a freshman. This season she is averaging 2.50 kills and 1.28 blocks per game.
Freshmen Put Up Big Numbers The 2000 freshmen class has put up big numbers already this season. Three of the six freshman have earned starting spots. As a class, they have combined for 327 kills, averaging 7.00 per game. In addition to their prowess on offense, they have 129 blocks this season.
Making a List, Checking it twice - for Meyer Sophomore Kelli Meyer can be seen in two statistical categories on the Big Ten leaderboard. She is eighth in assists, averaging 10.89 per game. Meyer checks in again at No. 8 in service aces, stunning the opposition 19 times in 46 games.
Lange Named 'Most Outstanding Player' Erika Lange was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2000 Hampton Inn & Suites Wildcat Classic on Sept. 15-16. She recorded 55 kills and 19 blocks during the tournament.
All-Tournament Team Erika Lange was named to the Aston Imua Wahine Challenge all-tournament team (9/8-9/10) for her outstanding play. Lange led the 'Cats during the tournament with 33 kills and 15 blocks. One week later, Sarah Ballog and Carmen Burbach were named to the Hampton Inn & Suites Wildcat Classic all-tournament team.
Around the League Wisconsin head coach Pete Waite recorded his milestone 300th victory as the Badgers topped Indiana in Madison on Saturday ? The Badgers' victory over Penn State on Friday, and the Nittany Lions' subsequent loss to Northwestern on Saturday, marked the end of a long ist of Penn State streaks. The Lions open the conference slate at 0-2 for the first time since joining the Big Ten in 1991 ? The Penn State loss to Wisconsin was its first conference defeat since 1997, a span of 49 matches ?Two Big Ten teams remain undefeated as the collegiate volleyball season enters its fifth week. No. 6 Minnesota is off to a 13-0 start. No. 19 Ohio State was won 12 straight and is also off to its best start in school history.
2000 Captains named Seniors Jennifer Armson and Carmen Burbach were named co-captains for the 2000 volleyball season.
Fresh(men) Faces The 2000 Northwestern volleyball team features seven new faces. Jill Buschur, Leah Delcourt, Molly Kamp, Erica Knavel, Erika Lange, Traci Lato and Lindsay Pavlik join seven letterwinners from a year ago, including three starters. Lange, a 6-3 middle blocker, headlines the group. She was one of the most highly-touted players in Illinois. In her junior year at Carl Sandburg, Lange helped lead the team to its first-ever state championship title. The Volleyball Magazine National Fab 50 honoree holds the Sandburg record in kills in a season (362), career kills (901) and career solo blocks (284).
Heavy Competition The Wildcats will have a tough row to hoe this season as they have another arduous schedule. In all, Northwestern will take on nine nationally ranked teams. NU opened the 2000 schedule with then-No. 6 Nebraska and followed that with a match against then-No. 13 Colorado State. The 'Cats travelled to Hawai'i to take on the then-No. 6 Rainbows. Not suprisingly, those three teams are ranked 1-2-3 in the national poll this week. Last weekend, the Wildcats took on another of them - No. 3 Penn State, and handed them a loss. It doesn't end there, as the conference boasts five other teams in the Top 25 with Minnesota checking in at No. 6, Wisconsin at No. 10, Ohio State at No. 19, Michigan State at No. 20, and Michigan at No. 25.
Chan, Briefly Keylor Chan is in his first season as head coach at Northwestern after spending a year at the helm of the Furman University program. In his only season at Furman, Chan guided the Paladins to an 18-15 overall mark, including a 13-7 conference mark. While under Chan's direction, the Paladins climbed 22 positions from 167th to 145th in the Sagarin Power Rating. Prior to his tenure at Furman, Chan was an assistant coach for the Wildcats for two seasons. During his time at Northwestern, Chan helped improve NU's rank in the Sagarin Power Rating from 175th to 38th.
Chan Names Volleyball Assistants Josh Grau and Valerie Jones were named assistant volleyball coaches at Northwestern University by head coach Keylor Chan. Grau comes to Northwestern from Texas, while Jones comes from the University of California-Davis. Grau, a native of Tampa, Fla., spent last season as the volunteer assistant coach at the University of Texas. Grau is a 1997 graduate of the University of Florida, where he was a four-year member of the Gator volleyball team. Jones brings a wealth of experience to the Wildcat coach staff. Last season she was the assistant at UC-Davis. Prior to her tenure at UC-Davis, Jones spent a season at Utah State University as an assistant. Jones was a three-sport athlete at Tampa, playing volleyball, basketball and softball.
Big Ten
Statistical Leaders
Hitting Pct.
Jessica Sanborn, MSU
.452
Kills
Nicole Branagh, Minn
4.93 kpg
Assists
Laurie Gardiner, Ind.
13.91 apg
Blocks
Stephanie Hagen, Minn.
1.74 bpg
Digs
Alija Pittenger, UM
4.66 dpg
Service Aces
Jessica Hayden, PSU
0.95 sapg
Double Trouble Five Wildcats have recorded double-doubles 18 times this season.
Kelli Meyer
9/2 vs. Georgia (37 assists, 14 digs)
9/7 vs. Creighton (48 assists, 12 digs)
9/8 vs. Oregon (47 assists, 12 digs)
9/15 vs. Towson (58 assists, 16 digs)
Lindsay Pavlik
9/5 at UC Irvine (12 kills, 13 digs)
9/7 vs. Creighton (11 kills, 27 digs)
9/8 vs. Oregon (10 kills. 14 digs)
9/15 vs. Towson (12 kills, 12 digs)
9/16 vs. Cleveland St. (15 kills, 15 digs)
9/23 vs. Penn State (15 kills, 19 digs)
Carmen Burbach
9/5 at UC Irvine (12 kills, 13 digs)
9/7 vs. Creighton (18 kills, 14 digs)
9/8 vs. Oregon (14 kills, 12 digs)
9/15 vs. Towson (13 kills, 16 digs)
9/16 vs. Buffalo (12 kills, 12 digs)
9/23 vs. Penn State (10 kills, 14 digs)
Sarah Ballog
9/15 vs. Towson (11 kills, 12 blocks)
Erika Lange
9/23 vs. Penn State (20 kills, 13 blocks)
USA TODAY/AVCA
Division I Coaches Top 25
September 25, 2000
| Rank School | Record | |
| 1. | Nebraska(48) | 11-0 |
| 2. | Hawai'i (10) | 10-0 |
| 3. | Colorado State | 14-1 |
| 4. | USC (2) | 9-0 |
| 5. | UCLA | 9-3 |
| 6. | Minnesota | 13-0 |
| 7. | Pepperdine | 9-2 |
| 8. | Arizona | 10-1 |
| 9. | UC Santa Barbara | 8-3 |
| 10. | Wisconsin | 12-1 |
| 11. | Penn State | 11-3 |
| 12. | Florida | 8-3 |
| 13. | Long Beach State | 8-3 |
| 14. | BYU | 9-3 |
| 15. | Stanford | 7-4 |
| 16. | Utah | 10-1 |
| 17. | Pacific | 8-3 |
| 18. | Santa Clara | 11-1 |
| 19. | Ohio State | 12-0 |
| 20. | Michigan State | 8-3 |
| 21. | Notre Dame | 9-4 |
| 22. | Texas A&M | 8-3 |
| 23. | Loyola Marymount | 9-3 |
| 24. | Kansas State | 8-3 |
| 25. | Michigan | 8-3 |
2000 Wildcat Statistical Leaders
Kills: 158, Erika Lange
Kills Per Game: 3.36, Erika Lange
Attack Attempts: 391, Lindsay Pavlik
Hitting Percentage: .309, Erika Lange
Assists: 501, Kelli Meyer
Assists Per Game: 10.89, Kelli Meyer
Service Aces: 19, Kelli Meyer
Digs: 140, Lindsay Pavlik
Digs Per Game: 3.04, Lindsay Pavlik
Block Solos: 10, Sarah Ballog
Block Assists: 55, Erika Lange
Total Blocks: 64, Erika Lange
