Northwestern University Athletics
Volleyball Hosts Michigan, No. 23 Michigan State This Weekend
10/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 17, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern's women's volleyball team (11-7, 4-2 Big Ten) hosts a pair of pivotal early-season Big Ten matches this weekend as it takes on Michigan on Friday and Michigan State on Saturday. The Wildcats are currently tied with Michigan for third place in the Big Ten, while No. 23 Michigan State is tied for fifth.
This weekend could go a long way in helping the Wildcats distinguish themselves as one of the upper-level teams in the Big Ten. Just two games currently separate third place from eighth place in the conference.
After defeating Indiana and falling to Ohio State on the road last weekend, NU finds itself behind Penn State and Minnesota in the Big Ten standings. With 19 total blocks last weekend, junior Erika Lange raised her blocks-per-game average to 1.59, first in the Big Ten. Lange also leads the Wildcats with 4.13 kills per game and a .360 hitting percentage.
Michigan (10-6, 4-2 Big Ten) is coming off a week which saw it go 1-1 in Big Ten play. The Wolverines swept then No. 18 Michigan State on Wednesday. Michigan hit .365 in earning the 30-25, 30-20, 30-24 victory. Jennifer Gandolph hit .600 while recording 13 kills and 12 digs.
However, the Wolverines managed to hit just .088 in a 21-30, 21-30, 24-30 loss at Penn State on Saturday. Chantel Reedus posted a match-high 12 kills for Michigan. Gandolph leads the team with averages of 3.79 kills and 3.37 digs per game. Lisa Gamalski averages 12.81 assists per game for UM.
The Wolverines lead their all-time series with NU 23-19. The 'Cats won their Big Ten opener over Michigan last season in Evanston, but UM won the meeting in Ann Arbor.
After winning six of its last seven matches, Michigan State (11-5, 3-3 Big Ten) went 0-2 last week. The Spartans lost in three straight games to Michigan on Wednesday. Kim Schram recorded a team-high 12 kills for MSU.
Angela Morley posted 10 kills in a 19-30, 24-30, 27-30 loss to Penn State on Saturday, including the 800th of her career. Jenny Rood's 12 kills were a team high. Schram leads Michigan State with 210 kills this season (3.68 per game). Morley ranks third in the Big Ten with a .384 hitting percentage and a 1.42 blocks-per-game average.
Northwestern holds a 26-16 series lead against Michigan State. Each team won last year's meetings on their home courts.
Both matches this weekend begin at 7 p.m. in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
