Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Close Out Regular Season Hosting Spartans, Wolverines
11/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 25, 2010
Northwestern (18-11, 8-10 Big Ten) vs. Michigan State (14-16, 6-13 Big Ten)
Parents' Night
Friday, November 26 • Welsh-Ryan Arena (Evanston, Ill.) • 7 p.m.
Northwestern (18-11, 8-10 Big Ten) vs. No. 19 Michigan (23-8, 12-7 Big Ten)
Senior Night
Saturday, November 27 • Welsh-Ryan Arena (Evanston, Ill.) • 7 p.m.
Gametracker: •
In-Match Twitter Updates: @NU_SportsLIVE
Northwestern Volleyball Match Notes (PDF)
Opening Serve
Northwestern closes out the 2010 regular season with two final matches at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Wildcats host Michigan State Friday evening before playing host to 19th-ranked Michigan on Senior Night Saturday. Both matches get underway at 7 p.m.
Five Wildcats Honored on Senior Night
Saturday's home finale against 19th-ranked Michigan marks the final regular season home match for five Wildcats. Elyse Glab, Brittani Gray, Naomi Johnson, Sabel Moffett and transfer Christina Kaelin will be honored prior to the opening serve against the Wolverines.
Scouting the Spartans
2010: 14-16 overall, 6-13 Big Ten, 2-9 on road.
Last Week: W vs. Indiana (3-1), L vs. Purdue (2-3), W vs. Michigan (3-0).
Head Coach: Cathy George (Illinois State, 1985). Sixth season at Michigan State (98-93, .513), 24th season overall (463-316, .594).
Key Players: Megan Schatzle (Sr., OH): 296 kills, .239 hitting pct., 47 total blocks; Jenilee Rathje (R-Jr., MB): 289 kills, .339 hitting pct., 89 total blocks; Becca Zlabis (Jr., OH): 253 kills, 284 digs, 39 total blocks; Kyndra Abron (Jr., OH): 247 kills, .253 hitting pct., 70 total blocks; Natalie Emro (Jr., S): 631 assists, 140 kills, 18 service aces, 82 total blocks; Allyson Karaba (Sr., LIB): 265 kills, 19 service aces.
Scouting the Wolverines
2010: 23-8 overall, 12-7 Big Ten, 5-7 on road. Ranked 19th in this week's AVCA poll.
Last Week: W vs. Purdue (3-1), W vs. Indiana (3-0), L at Michigan State (0-3).
Head Coach: Mark Rosen (Cal State Northridge, 1985). 12th season at Michigan (239-150, .614), 19th season overall (448-287, .610).
Key Players: Alex Hunt (Jr., OH): 493 kills, .254 hitting pct., 44 service aces, 46 total blocks; Claire McElheny (R-So., OH): 246 kills, .320 hitting pct., 60 total blocks; Jennifer Cross (Fr., MB): 241 kills, .320 hitting pct., 15 service aces, 104 total blocks; Courtney Fletcher (Jr., MB): 179 kills, .284 hitting pct., 14 service aces, 64 total blocks; Lexi Zimmerman (Sr., S): 1,219 assists, 164 kills, .255 hitting pct., 26 service aces, 320 digs; Sloane Donhoff (Jr., LIB): 424 digs, 23 service aces.
Series Information
Northwestern and Michigan State get together for the 60th time Friday night with the Wildcats leading the all-time series 32-27. The Spartans had the upper hand earlier this season, earning a 3-0 decision at Jenison Field House on Oct. 16, but Northwestern has held strong at Welsh-Ryan Arena in recent years, winning four of the last five in Evanston. Saturday also marks the 60th meeting between Northwestern and Michigan as the Wolverines hold a 35-24 edge in the all-time series, including a five-match winning streak. The Wildcats last victory was a 3-2 decision in 2007 in Evanston where Northwestern has won three of the last five.
Moffett Moves Into Fourth All-Time In Blocks In Program History
Senior Sabel Moffett continues to establish herself among the Wildcats' all-time greats. With her nine blocks over the weekend, Moffett moved into sole possession of fourth-place in program history with 487 career blocks while also moving into fourth-place all-time in block assists (404), becoming the fourth player in program history to reach the milestone. Moffett, who holds the program single-season record for hitting percentage with .349 in 2009, has matched that production for the 2010 season and sits first in the Northwestern record books with a career .313 hitting percentage, nine points higher than second-place Erika Lange (2000-03). She also checks in at 17th all-time in career kills with 1,082.
Glab Moving Up Wildcat Assist Leaders
Senior Elyse Glab continues to make a name for herself in the Wildcat record books, becoming just the third player in Northwestern history to notch 1,000 assists in four consecutive seasons. Glab also became the third Wildcat to reach 4,700 career assists, accomplishing the feat Saturday night at Ohio State. Glab, who has started at setter for Northwestern since her freshman season, currently sits third all-time in program history, needing 44 helpers to surpass Liz Renius (1995-98) to move into second. She has also established herself as one of the best in the Big Ten as well, ranking third in assists per set at 11.06 and has recorded 50-or-more assists in seven matches.
Record Watch
With one week left to go in the regular season, a handful of team and individual records remain in jeopardy of falling. Northwestern's .233 hitting percentage currently ranks third in program history, three points shy of the .236 set by the 1984 team. The Wildcats have committed 527 hitting errors on the season, which is threatening the program's single-season low of 613 set last year. Individually, Sabel Moffett enters the weekend hitting .349, which is tied with her program-best .349 set last year. Naomi Johnson's .317 attack percentage currently sits fourth all-time in program history for a single-season total. Moffett's 125 block assists is the eighth-highest single-season total while her 148 total blocks is just shy of cracking the single-season top-10 list as well. Elyse Glab, who already owns the seventh and eighth-best assist performances in program history, is back into the top-10 for a third time as her 1,194 assists is the 10th-best single-season performance in Northwestern history.
NCAA Tournament Selection Show Set For Sunday
Following the matches against Michigan State and Michigan, Northwestern await its postseason fate as the Wildcats look towards their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2005. The 2010 NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship Selection Show takes place between 2 and 2:30 CT on ESPNEWS as the Wildcats appear in a great position to be among the 64 teams selected to this year's tournament.
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