Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Heads to Minnesota for Midweek Match
11/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
| Northwestern (15-10, 5-9 B1G) at Minnesota (15-10, 5-9 B1G) |
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| Date | Time | November 12 | 7:00 p.m. CT |
| Location | Sports Pavilion | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Live Stats | GameTracker |
| Watch Live | BTN Plus on BTN2GO |
| Social Media | @NUVball  | Northwestern Volleyball  | @nu_volleyball  |
| Notes (PDF) | Northwestern |
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern continues a three-match road trip on Wednesday evening when it travels to The North Star State to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in an important Big Ten battle at the Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis, Minn.
Tashima The Triple Threat
Freshman Taylor Tashima became the second Big Ten player to record a triple-double when she put up 10 kills, 23 assists and 11 digs against No. 9 Illinois on Nov. 5. The newcomer narrowly missed the feat twice previously this season with nine kills, 28 assists and a career-high 20 digs against Purdue on Oct. 24 and a career-high 14 kills, 26 assists and nine digs against Indiana on Oct. 25. Tashima is tied for third in the Big Ten and leads all freshmen with 11 double-doubles. Minnesota's Sarah Wilhite (vs. Ohio State, Sept. 24) owns the league's first triple-double this season, while Purdue's Val Nichol joined the club this past weekend (at Iowa, Nov. 8).
Top-Ten Takedown
In defeating No. 9 Illinois last week, the Wildcats slayed their first top-10 opponent since upsetting the second-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers in four sets on Nov. 26, 2011. The night before playing in Evanston, the Huskers had claimed their first-ever Big Ten Championship. The Ilini were the second nationally-ranked team to fall to the `Cats this season. Northwestern beat No. 18 Minnesota in straight sets in Evanston on Oct. 5.
Unfriendly Confines
Northwestern travels to Minneapolis looking for its first win at the Sports Pavillion since Nov. 11, 2005 when Northwestern defeated then-No. 17 Minnesota. In the five-set thriller, the Wildcats defeated a Gophers team who had lost the NCAA Championship to Stanford the previous year. Since 1990, Northwestern has won only two matches when playing on the road at Minnesota. The 'Cats have had much better success on their home floor with three wins in the last four matches at Welsh-Ryan Arena, dating back to Oct. 10, 2010.
Twice As Nice
Northwestern head coach Keylor Chan opted to employ a 6-2 offensive system for the first time this season when the Wildcats hosted No. 13 Purdue on Oct. 25. Freshman setter Taylor Tashima, who had started 16 matches at that position, shared time with sophomore Caleigh Ryan, while also filling the role of an attacker in the front row. Ryan is averaging 6.0 assists per set and 1.72 digs, while Tashima is chipping in with 5.46 assists per set, 2.04 kills and 2.27 digs per frame since the lineup change. Tashima posted career-highs in kills (14 vs. Indiana) and digs (20 vs. Purdue) over the first weekend and she registered her first collegiate triple-double against No. 9 Illinois on Nov. 5 behind 10 kills, 23 assists and 11 digs. Kayla Morin has also benefitted from a move from the right side to the left. The sophomore is averaging 3.00 kills per set in the last six matches after averaging 2.60 through the first 19 contests. Morin went for a career-high 22 kills against Purdue on Oct. 24.
Stuff `Em, Slater
Sophomore middle blocker Maddie Slater put together two of the best defensive performances in her young career against then-No. 9 Illinois last week. The Woodlands, Texas, native recorded a career-best nine total blocks against Illinois at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Nov. 5. She then added six more blocks on the road against the Fighting Illini on Nov. 8. Slater leads the `Cats with 1.02 blocks per set this season, and is ranked 15th in the conference in that category.
Career-High Clips
Several Wildcats turned in career-best performances during the `Cats' homestand against Purdue and Indiana. Libero Caroline Niedospial notched a career-high 34 digs against No. 13 Purdue, tying her for fourth place on NU's all-time, single-match, record list. Outside hitter Kayla Morin notched 22 kills on 59 swings against the Boilermakers, both career highs. In the same match, setter Taylor Tashima finished with 20 digs, nine kills (career highs) and 28 assists. The following night against Indiana the freshman eclipsed her short-lived high in kills by five for a new best mark of 14.
Digging In
Libero Caroline Niedospial has been a strong anchor for Northwestern's back row this season. The Evergreen Park, Ill., native ranks first in the Big Ten with 5.25 digs per set in conference play and second overall with 4.95. On Oct. 24 against No. 13 Purdue, the libero notched a career-high 34 digs in a five-set match against the Boilermakers. She has posted double-digit digs in 23 of 25 matches this season and 21-or-more digs 11 times. She is also the only Big Ten player to eclipse to 30-dig mark in a match this season.
Looking Ahead
Northwestern will conclude its road trip on Saturday, Nov. 15 at No. 16 Purdue. The Wildcats went ahead 2-0 on the then 13th-ranked Boilermakers at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Oct. 24, but the visitors stormed back to win in five sets. Saturday's match begins at 6 p.m. CT and can be seen live though BTN on BTN2GO.
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