Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats Look to Climb Big Ten Ranks
11/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 11, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - With just six games remaining, the Wildcats (16-10 overall, 7-7 Big Ten) still have a chance to finish in the top half of the Big Ten standings if they can carry last weekend's momentum into Champaign, Ill. on Wednesday for a match against No. 25 Illinois, and at home Friday to take on No. 23 Wisconsin.
Last weekend the 'Cats swept Iowa and then-No. 20 Minnesota at home. The win against the Gophers, who beat NU 3-0 in their previous meeting, was Northwestern's first against a ranked team this season.
In those two competitions, senior Iwona Lodzik (Tarnobrzeg, Poland/Tarnobrzeg) racked up 35 kills, which included a match-high 21 against the Hawkeyes, as well five aces,14 digs and six blocks. The NU outside hitter is currently fourth in the Big Ten in both kills and service aces, averaging 4.48 and .41 per game, respectively.
Other Wildcats who aided in last weekend's triumphs were senior Erika Lange (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg), who tallied 18 kills and 12 blocks, and junior Jill Buschur (New Bremen, Ohio/New Bremen), who compiled 20 kills and seven blocks.
Northwestern will attempt to avenge its 3-1 loss on Sept. 24 to Illinois when the two teams meet midweek. The Illini (19-5, 10-4), who also are coming off sweeps of Minnesota and Iowa, will find their offensive power from outside hitter Rachel VanMeter, who racked up 46 kills last weekend, including a career-high 25 against the Gophers.
Another Illini with impressive statistics was setter Erin Virtue, who totaled 103 assists, four aces and 25 digs. Her 13.36 assists per game put her fourth in the Big Ten, while her .39 services aces per game rank her sixth.
Wisconsin (18-7, 10-4) fell in five games to Michigan State last Saturday, dropping the Badgers into a three-way tie with Illinois and Minnesota for second place in the conference. The Badgers have a tough schedule remaining and will be looking to get as many wins as possible to try to unseat first place Penn State.
Northwestern will have to keep in check several Badgers, including outside hitters Aubrey Meierotto (36 kills, 16 digs last weekend), Jill Odenthal (35, 13) and Lisa Zukowski (30, 18), to have a chance to repay the 3-2 loss on Sept. 26.
Both matches this week are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
