Northwestern University Athletics
Volleyball Wraps Up Regular Season on the Road
11/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
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Nov. 27, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern takes on two other teams with NCAA Tournament aspirations this weekend as the regular season comes to a close. The Wildcats, Michigan State and Michigan are all on the bubble for NCAA bids and each could help its own cause this weekend. NU faces off against Michigan State Friday and takes on Michigan Saturday. Both matches begin at 6 p.m. Central time.
The 'Cats defeated the Wolverines during their Oct. 18 meeting in Evanston 30-28, 30-25, 28-30, 30-21. The following day, NU dropped a 26-30, 31-29, 19-30, 17-30 decision to the Spartans. The Wildcats lead their all-time series with Michigan State 26-17. Michigan holds a 23-20 series edge against Northwestern.
Scouting the Spartans
Michigan State (18-10, 10-8 Big Ten) posted a pair of road victories last weekend to keep its postseason hopes alive. The Spartans recorded a 22-30, 30-27, 30-28, 32-30 win at Illinois Friday. Co-Big Ten Player of the Week Kim Schram recorded 26 kills and Jenny Rood added 25 in the victory. MSU had 88 digs, compared to 57 for Illinois, but was outblocked 17.5-7. Schram then put together a 32-kill, .538 hitting percentage performance in the Spartans' 30-15, 21-30, 30-19, 30-25 win at Purdue Saturday. Rood averages 3.71 kills per game, while Schram averages 3.70. Nikki Colson sports a 13.18 assists-per-game average. Emmy Miller averages 3.09 digs per game. Head coach Chuck Erbe is 210-110 in 10 seasons at Michigan State and 520-231-3 in 22 seasons overall.
Scouting the Wolverines
Michigan (15-13, 9-9 Big Ten) hurt its NCAA chances last weekend with two losses on the road. The Wolverines dropped a 30-17, 34-36, 30-21, 24-30, 9-15 decision at Purdue Friday. Michigan had five players with double-figure kills, including three with 17. The Wolverines held a 83-63 edge in the category, but still lost. Illinois then posted a 30-21, 30-28, 30-25 sweep of Michigan the following night. UM was outhit .295-to-.162 in the match and commited 17 more attack errors than the Illini. Jennifer Gandolph leads the team with a 3.79 kills-per-game average. Lisa Gamalski is hitting a team-leading .288 to go along with 12.99 assists per game. Katrina Lehman leads Michigan in blocks, averaging 1.38 per game. Mark Rosen is 63-56 in four seasons as the head coach of the Wolverines and 272-103 in 10 seasons overall.
Head Coach Keylor Chan
Keylor Chan is in his third season as head coach of the Wildcats after spending one season as head coach at Furman University. Last season, Northwestern recorded its best Big Ten Conference finish in more than a decade and won more conference matches than any NU team since the 1993 season. Chan has compiled a 34-53 record in three seasons with the 'Cats and is 52-68 overall in four seasons as a head coach. Chan is assisted by Josh Grau and Meggan Kohnen, in their third and first seasons with the Wildcats, respectively.
Last Time Out
Northwestern earned its first 10-win Big Ten season since 1988 last weekend thanks to knocking off No. 17 Penn State Saturday. Iwona Lodzik (Tarnobrzeg, Poland/Tarnobrzeg) recorded 25 kills, 20 digs and six blocks as the Wildcats defeated the Nittany Lions 27-30, 30-23, 30-24, 30-26. NU Female Athlete of the Week Erika Lange (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) added 21 kills and seven blocks while posting a .529 hitting percentage. Drew Robertson (Long Beach, Calif./Poly) contributed 61 assists. The 'Cats looked as though they would knock off No. 14 Wisconsin in Madison Wednesday, leading two games-to-none. However, the Badgers bounced back to post a 28-30, 25-30, 30-27, 30-25, 15-10 victory. Lange collected 21 kills, while Lodzik had 18 kills and 18 digs. Christie Gardner (West Bend, Wis./East) posted 17 kills and 12 digs. Robertson totaled 64 assists.
Lodzik Enjoys Productive Week
At the end of the season, when the Northwestern Wildcats needed it most, Iwona Lodzik has stepped up her game. The junior nearly led NU to a win at the intimidating UW Fieldhouse Wednesday, as she totaled 18 kills, 18 digs and six blocks. Saturday against Penn State, she put forth perhaps her best effort of the season, recording 25 kills and 20 digs in only four games. She nearly had a 20-20 effort after three games, having recorded 18 kills and 19 digs. Included in the effort was a .426 hitting percentage and six blocks.
Not Since...
With the victory over Penn State, the Wildcats earned their first 10-win Big Ten season since 1988. One victory this weekend would assure Northwestern its first winning record in Big Ten play since 1988 when it posted an 11-7 record. The 17 overall wins are the most since 1990 when the team went 18-16.
Getting Their Attention
For the second time this season, Northwestern is receiving votes in the USA Today/AVCA Top 25 Poll. The Wildcats received 16 votes this week to tie South Florida for 32nd. Friday night's opponent, Michigan State, received 23 votes and is 31st. The last time prior to this season that the 'Cats received votes in the poll was 1998. Northwestern last reached the Top 25 in 1987.
Battle Tested
If Northwestern is to reach the postseason tournament this year, it will have earned its way there. Seven of NU's opponents are currently ranked in the AVCA/USA Today Top 25 Coaches Poll. Four of the schools are Big Ten teams, whom the Wildcats have faced twice. The 'Cats are 2-8 this season against teams ranked in the Top 25.
By the Numbers
12
* When Northwestern junior outside hitter Iwona Lodzik records 12 or more kills in a match, the Wildcats are 12-3. When Lodzik totals 11 kills or less, the 'Cats are 5-10.
* The Wildcats are 14-2 in matches when setter Drew Robertson averages 12 or more assists per game.
.125
When freshman outside hitter Christie Gardner records a hitting percentage over .125 in a match, Northwestern is 12-2.
5
Consecutive number of matches in which NU setter Drew Robertson has recorded 60 assists or more.
.200
Northwestern is 15-1 this season when it boasts a team hitting percentage of .200 or better. The only loss came last Wednesday at Wisconsin when the team hit .201.
Lange Amongst the Leaders
Junior middle blocker Erika Lange continues to rank at or near the top of a number of Big Ten statistical categories. Lange's 1.50 blocks-per-game average ranks first in the Big Ten. Her .363 hitting percentage is good for second place and her 4.35 kills-per-game average ranks third.
Reaching Milestones
Saturday was a night with a number of historic milestones being reached. With her fourth kill, Sarah Ballog (Coto de Caza, Calif./Santa Margarita) recorded No. 900 of her career. She also moved into fifth place on the school's all-time total blocks list and into third place on the block assist list against Penn State. In addition, Erika Lange became the second player in NU history to record 400 block assists in a career when she reached the mark Saturday.
Next Time Out
Northwestern will learn its postseason fate Sunday night when the NCAA Tournament field is announced. Pairings will be announced at 8 p.m. Central time and will be televised by ESPNEWS. The opening two rounds of the tournament will be held Dec. 5-8.
