Northwestern University Athletics
Big Ten Play Begins This Weekend at Welsh-Ryan Arena
9/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 19, 2006
Northwestern's Complete Game Notes in PDF Format
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern played nine matches during the nonconference portion of its schedule, including three against top-25 ranked opponents. Putting up a 6-3 record against one of the toughest slates among all of its conference brethren, the Wildcats are ready to begin play in one of the nation's top leagues: the Big Ten.
Perennial power Minnesota and No. 14 Wisconsin come to Evanston, Ill., this weekend to kick things off in Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Golden Gophers and the Wildcats -- both picked by the coaches in the preseason to finish at the top half of the conference -- are currently at the bottom of the standings after playing similarly tough schedules.
That will happen, however, when the Big Ten as a whole has such a stellar nonconference output, with every team entering conference play at .600 or better for the first time since 1998.
The Badgers opened the season with a loss to No. 5 Texas in the AVCA Volleyball Showcase, but have gone 8-1 since then to enter the weekend ranked 14th in the nation.
Northwestern went 10-10 in the Big Ten last season, limping to a 3-7 record during the first trip through the schedule before winning seven of its last eight matches to shoot up to sixth in the conference and qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years. One of the wins during that run came against No. 17 Minnesota at the Sports Pavilion, NU's first win in Minneapolis since 1990.
Northwestern hit its stride last weekend at the Wildcat Classic, running its current winning streak to four and capturing the Classic crown with a 3-0 record including a win over No. 24 Arizona. Junior Courtnie Paulus (Belgium, Wis./Ozaukee) was named tournament MVP while classmates Lindsay Anderson (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) and Stephanie Jurivich (LaGrange, Ill./St. Ignatius) picked up all-tournament team nods.
Gametracker and live streaming video will be available for both matches this weekend at NUsports.com. For Northwestern's complete game notes, click on the .pdf link at the top of the page.
This weekend is Wildcat Women's Sport Weekend, with admission for both matches just $2. Between the second and third games of Saturday's match against Wisconsin, the 2006 fall "Women Who Inspire Award" will be presented.
