Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats Set to Play Long Beach State
9/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 13, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - NU's trip to sunny California to face off against Long Beach State this Tuesday, Sept. 14 at 9:30 p.m. marks a homecoming for senior co-captain Drew Robertson. Robertson grew up in California, attending Long Beach Poly High School before making her way east to play for the Wildcats.
"It will be nice to go back home and play in my hometown," Robertson said. "I'll have some friends and family in the stands, who will get to see my play, so it will be fun."
During her career with NU, Robertson has been a key cog in the resurgence of the Wildcat volleyball program and its two consecutive NCAA tournament appearances in 2002 and 2003.
In 2004's quest for a third-consecutive NCAA tournament trip, Robertson has done her part as a senior leader for a young team -- featuring four freshman starters -- and by filling up the stat sheet. She has recorded 214 assists in the `Cats first two weekends of competition. With those assists, Robertson now stands only 594 assists away from Liz Rennius' school record of 4,743.
But more importantly, she has the team out to a 4-2 start.
The `Cats will take that 4-2 record up against a strong, No. 23 ranked `49ers team that boasts a perfect 4-0 record. But with two weekend tournaments under their belt, the young `Cats have been gelling and coming together as a unit.
Sophomore Julie Purcell leads the `Cats with 75 kills on the season, averaging an impressive 3.57 kills per game. Freshman Stephanie Jurivich has been a triple-threat so far for the `Cats, owning the No. 2 spot on the team for kills, assists and blocks. Jurivich has posted 60 kills, 70 assists and 18 blocks.
Junior libero Christie Gardner and her 86 digs on the year will be key in the `Cats defense against Mountain West Conference stand out Robin Miramontes, who has 53 kills on the season.
With the match against Long Beach State, junior Lizzie Carlson and freshman Vanessa Bezic also get the chance to travel to their home state of California.
