Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Unveils Challenging 2009 Volleyball Schedule
6/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
June 26, 2009
2009 Northwestern Volleyball Schedule
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head volleyball coach Keylor Chan announced today the Wildcats' 2009 volleyball schedule. The slate, which includes six teams that finished in the top-25 and 11 NCAA tournament participants, should provide a good challenge as the `Cats pursue their first postseason berth since 2005.
"We strived to put together a good balance in the schedule this year, and I'm excited for the upcoming season," said Chan. "The goal of the non-conference schedule is to challenge us and get us ready for Big Ten play, and we go up against a number of great teams in the non-conference portion of the schedule. The Big Ten is what it is - one of the top conferences in the country, and I know our girls are looking forward to going up against some of the nation's best teams."
The 2009 campaign gets underway the final weekend in August, as Northwestern heads south to Lexington, Ky., to compete in the Kentucky Classic. It will be the battle of the Wildcats as NU faces Kentucky, who finished second in the SEC in 2008, was ranked 20th with a 26-5 record and advanced to the NCAA tournament. Northwestern also meets up with Florida International, another tournament participant, and Western Carolina.
Indianapolis is the next stop for the Wildcats, participating in the Hampton Inn Invitational hosted by IUPUI on Sept. 5 and 6. NU faces another pair of NCAA tournament participants in Miami (Ohio) and Western Kentucky, while meeting the host Jaguars in the Saturday night primetime match.
Northwestern returns to the southeast for its final pre-season road trip competing in the Comfort Suites 49er Tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 11 and 12. The Wildcats face Presbyterian Friday and James Madison Saturday morning before the tournament finale against Charlotte Saturday evening.
September 18 and 19 marks the 28th annual Wildcat Classic at Welsh-Ryan Arena, with Akron serving as the `Cats' opening opponent on Friday, Sept. 18. Saturday pits Northwestern against a pair of NCAA tournament foes, as the Wildcats host Long Island and Cincinnati in the final regular season tune-up.
The 2009 Big Ten schedule opens with a bang, as Northwestern hosts two-time defending national champion Penn State in the conference opener on Sept. 25. Ohio State then makes its annual trip to Evanston on Sept. 26.
Following a two-game Michigan road swing, the Wildcats host Purdue on Oct. 10. The Boilermakers finished 2008 ranked 17th with a 24-8 record and advanced to the round of 16. Indiana then visits Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sunday, Oct. 11, followed by Minnesota, who finished 10th nationally at 26-6.
The Wildcats then embark on a four-game Big Ten road swing, taking them to Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana, before hosting Michigan State on Nov. 6. The Wildcats took a thrilling three-set victory over the Spartans at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Nov. 1, 2008, and have won three of the last four against MSU in Evanston. Michigan, who also advanced to the round of 16 after a 24-8 2008 campaign, takes on NU Nov. 7.
After another road trip to take on the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions, Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena for the final three home matches of the season, beginning Wisconsin on Nov. 20 and then Iowa on Nov. 21. The Wildcats close out the home slate hosting rival Illinois on Wednesday, Nov. 25, as the Illini ended 2008 ranked 14th following a 24-7 campaign and becoming the fourth Big Ten team to advance to the NCAA's round of 16.
For ticket information regarding this year's Northwestern volleyball schedule, contact the Wildcat ticket office at (847) 491-CATS or visit NUsports.com.
