Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcat Volleyball Hosts Iowa, No. 6 Minnesota This Weekend
10/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 3, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern women's volleyball team looks to stay undefeated in the Big Ten as it hosts a pair of matches at Welsh-Ryan Arena this weekend. The Wildcats (9-5 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) welcome Iowa at 7 p.m. on Friday in the Cats' conference home opener. NU will then look to knock off No. 6 Minnesota at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Northwestern is currently in a three-way tie for first place in the Big Ten with Penn State and Minnesota. The Wildcats enter play this weekend fresh off victories on the road over Illinois and Purdue. It is the first time that NU has won its first two conference road matches since 1987.
Wildcat junior middle blocker Erika Lange (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) continues to lead the Big Ten in blocks, averaging 1.50 per game. Senior middle blocker Sarah Ballog (Coto de Caza, Calif./Santa Margarita) leads the Big Ten in conference-only matches with a .433 hitting percentage. Junior outside hitter Iwona Lodzik (Tarnobrzeg, Poland/Tarnobrzeg) averaged 4.7 kills and 3.6 blocks per game in NU's victories last weekend, including team season highs of 26 kills and 22 digs against Purdue.
The Hawkeyes (6-6, 0-2) are coming off a pair of four-game losses at home last weekend, falling to No. 21 Michigan State and Michigan. Renee Hill, who recorded 32 kills in the losses, leads Iowa with a 3.46 kills-per-game average.
The Wildcats and Hawkeys are tied 22-22-1 in the all-time series. The teams split their two meetings in 2001, with each team winning on its home court. A Northwestern victory would mean the school's first 3-0 Big Ten start since 1988.
Minnesota (15-2, 2-0) has been one of the biggest surprises in the nation so far this season. After being picked to finish sixth in the Big Ten preseason poll, the Golden Gophers have already posted five victories over ranked opponents.
Junior Cassie Busse earned her second Big Ten Player of the Week honor earlier this week after helping Minnesota to three-game sweeps Michigan State and Michigan last weekend. Busse posted 15 kills against the Spartans and 16 against the Wolverines. Paula Gentil leads the conference in digs, averaging 4.82 per game.
Minnesota leads the series with Northwestern 30-13. The Gophers have won the last 17 meetings with the Wildcats.
Sunday is Wildcat Camper Day, as all 2002 Northwestern youth volleyball campers will receive up to four free admissions.
