Northwestern University Athletics
Tough Michigan Road Trip Awaits 20th-Ranked Wildcats
10/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 14, 2010
No. 20 Wildcats (15-2, 5-1 Big Ten) at No. 15 Michigan (17-2, 6-1 Big Ten)
Cliff Keen Arena • Ann Arbor, Mich. • 6 p.m. CT
No. 20 Wildcats (15-2, 5-1 Big Ten) at Michigan State (10-8, 2-5 Big Ten)
Jenison Field House • East Lansing, Mich. • 5:30 p.m. CT
TV: Saturday's match at Michigan State will be aired tape delayed at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, on the Big Ten Network.
Gametracker: •
In-Match Twitter Updates: @NU_SportsLIVE
Northwestern Volleyball Match Notes (PDF)
Opening Serve
A pair of stiff challenges await 20th-ranked Northwestern as the Wildcats head to Michigan for a pair of Big Ten matches. First up is a first-place showdown against the 15th-ranked Wolverines at 6 p.m. CT Friday in Ann Arbor. Northwestern then makes the short trip to East Lansing to take on the Spartans at 5:30 p.m. CT Saturday evening.
Wildcats Return To the Big Ten Network
Northwestern's match at Michigan State Saturday evening will be broadcast tape delayed by the Big Ten Network at 5:30 p.m. CT Sunday, October 17. Lisa Byington will handle the play-by-play duties for the Network, with Megan Bower serving as the play-by-play analyst.
Scouting the Wolverines
2010: 17-2 overall, 6-1 Big Ten. Ranked 15th in this week's AVCA Top-25 poll.
Last Week: W vs. Wisconsin (3-0), W vs. Illinois (3-1), W vs. Michigan State (3-1).
Head Coach: Mark Rosen (Cal State Northridge, 1985). 12th season at Michigan (233-144, .618); 19th season overall (442-181, .709).
Key Players: Alex Hunt (Jr, OH): 302 kills, .297 hitting pct., 32 service aces, 35 total blocks; Claire McElheny (R-So., RS): 136 kills, .307 hitting pct., 39 total blocks; Jennifer Cross (Fr., MB): 132 kills, .327 hitting pct., 74 total blocks; Lexi Zimmerman (Sr., S): 721 assists, 112 kills, 20 service aces, 201 digs, 33 total blocks; Sloane Donhoff (Jr., LIB): 249 digs, 13 service aces.
Scouting the Spartans
2010: 10-8 overall, 2-5 Big Ten.
Last Week: L vs. Illinois (2-3), W vs. Wisconsin (3-2), L at Michigan (1-3).
Head Coach: Cathy George (Illinois State, 1985). Sixth season at Michigan State (95-84, .531); 24th season overall (459-308, .598).
Key Players: Megan Schatzle (Sr, OH): 193 kills, .276 hitting pct., 25 total blocks; Becca Zlabis (Jr., OH): 160 kills, 173 digs, 27 total blocks; Jenilee Rathje (Jr., MB): 157 kills, .388 hitting pct., 60 total blocks; Natalie Emro (Jr., S): 432 assists, 102 kills, 104 digs, 15 service aces, 51 total blocks; Allyson Karaba (Sr., LIB): 180 digs, 14 service aces.
Series Information
Northwestern and Michigan meet for the 59th time Friday night with the Wolverines holding a 34-24 advantage in the all-time series, including a four-match winning streak. The Wildcats are seeking their first win against the Wolverines since 2007, and their first win in Ann Arbor since a 3-0 decision in 2005. Saturday also marks the 59th meeting in the series between Northwestern and Michigan State, with the Wildcats holding the 32-26 edge. The Wildcats and Spartans have split the last 10 meetings in the series as Northwestern is seeking its first win in East Lansing since a 3-2 decision in 2006.
Wildcats Off To Best Start In Program History
Northwestern improved to 15-2 with the four-set victory over 16th-ranked Minnesota Sunday afternoon, setting a new mark for the best start in program history. The Wildcats won 14 of its first 17 matches in both 1987 and 1978, eventually improving to 17-3 in `87 and 25-3 in the `78 season. Northwestern improved to 5-1 in Big Ten play, its best conference start since it won the Big Ten Championship in 1984.
Northwestern Continues To Receive National Recognition
With the victories over Iowa and 16th-ranked Minnesota last weekend, Northwestern moved up four spots in the AVCA top-25 poll, checking in at 20th. It marks the first time the Wildcats have been among the nation's top-20 since reaching 15th on October 6, 1987. Northwestern also moved up four spots in the NCAA RPI index, sitting at sixth in this week's edition. The Wildcats are one of four Big Ten teams in the top-10 and are the second-highest rated, trailing only third-place Illinois.
Moffett, Holthus Earn Big Ten Weekly Accolades
After a pair of home victories over the weekend, a pair of Wildcats have been honored with Big Ten Player of the Week honors. Sabel Moffett was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Week, with Stephanie Holthus picking up Freshman of the Week honors. Coming off her career-best 14-block outing against 16th-ranked Minnesota Sunday, Moffett picks up the second Player of the Week honor of her career, also earning the Defensive nod on Nov. 9, 2009. Eight of her 14 blocks came in the final two sets, including sixth in the fourth as Northwestern notched a 3-1 victory over the Gophers Sunday afternoon. Holthus picked up the first Player of the Week honor of her career, sparked by her 14-kill, 13-dig performance against the Hawkeyes Friday night. It was the sixth double-double of her young career, as she also hit a career-best .480 with a service ace and a block. Against Minnesota Sunday, Holthus contributed eight kills, nine digs and four blocks in the four-set victory.
Experience Is The Key
One of the major factors to the Wildcats' success this season has been the amount of experience on the court for Northwestern. Sabel Moffett played in her 100th career match Sunday against Minnesota, becoming the fourth player on the team to reach the 100-match plateau. Setter Elyse Glab leads the team with 109 matches played, followed by Christina Kaelin (106) and Naomi Johnson (102).
For the full match notes, click the PDF link above.
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