Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Closes Nonconference Slate This Week
9/16/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
| Wildcat Challenge |
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| Dates | September 18-21 |
| Location | Welsh-Ryan Arena | Evanston, Ill. |
| Live Stats | vs. Ohio | vs. Green Bay |
| Watch Live | vs. Ohio | vs. Green Bay |
| Social Media | @NUVball  | Northwestern Volleyball  | @nu_volleyball  |
| Match Notes | Northwestern (PDF) |
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern closes out the nonconference portion of its 2014 regular season schedule this week with the Wildcat Challenge at Welsh-Ryan Arena featuring matches against the Ohio Bobcats and the Green Bay Phoenix.
The 'Cats welcome OU for their only Thursday-night contest of the season on Sept. 18. The event concludes on Sunday, Sept. 21 when the Green Bay Phoenix make their first-ever visit to Evanston. The two visiting teams will square off at Welsh-Ryan on Friday, Sept. 19 at 4:30 p.m.
Niedospial Nets Weekly Award
After claiming MVP honors at the 33rd Wildcat Classic over the weekend, Northwestern redshirt junior Caroline Niedospial was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, Sept. 15. She is the first Wildcats player to earn Defensive Player of the Week honors since 2011 and the first NU libero to do so since 2009. It is her first weekly accolade. The Evergreen Park, Ill., native recorded 6.7 digs per set during NU's three victories. On Saturday, Sept. 13, she registered 26 digs in her team's three-set victory over Virginia, the second-highest output in such a match in program history. Niedospial enters the week ranked fifth in the conference with 4.58 digs per set.
Abbott Achieves Early Success
Newcomer Symone Abbott was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday, Sept. 15. The outside hitter led the Wildcats with 3.8 kills per set during the Wildcat Classic, posting double-digit efforts in all three matches. Abbott had a career-best performance on Friday, Sept. 12 against Youngstown State when she exploded for 16 kills at an impressive clip of .481 in a three-set win over the Penguins. The Northville, Mich., native ranks second among all Big Ten freshmen with 3.27 kills per set this season.
Three 'Cats Earn All-Tournament Honors
Three 'Cats were named to the Wildcat Classic All-Tournament after Northwestern claimed the tournament crown over the weekend. In addition to tournament MVP Carks Niedospial, fifth-year senior Katie Dutchman and senior Monica McGreal were also recognized for outstanding performances throughout the weekend. McGreal played all six rotations throughout the tournament and notched 3.5 kills per set and 2.7 digs per set for NU. The Louisville, Ky., native also recorded seven aces, including a career-high five against Loyola on Sept. 12. Dutchman posted 2.6 kills per set and 0.9 blocks per set, while hitting .447 on 47 attempts.
Presence in the Polls
Northwestern has received votes the last three AVCA top 25 coaches polls. The Wildcats received votes in four editions of the poll a year ago, most recently on Nov. 18, 2013 following wins against 18th-ranked Purdue and Indiana at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The `Cats have not appeared in the top 25 since Nov. 15, 2010 when they were recognized for the eighth consecutive week.
Scouting Ohio
Ohio comes to Evanston with six wins on the season, including five in a row, and three last weekend at the Millennium Hotel Invitational in Cincinnati, Ohio. One of those wins came against another Big Ten team, Ohio State, in four sets on Sept. 12. The Bobcats, under the direction of first-year head coach Deane Webb, have been led offensively by Cary, Ill., native Kelly Lamberti. Lamberti is averaging 4.09 kills per set, a number that ranks second in the Mid-American Conference. Junior libero Meredith Ashy is the reigning MAC East Defensive Player of the Week after averaging 4.64 digs over the weekend. Northwestern is 2-0 all-time against the Ohio Bobcats.
Scouting Green Bay
Green Bay is 2-7 under its own first-year head coach, Sean Burdette, with both wins coming in five sets. Burdette was most recently an assistant coach at Mississippi from 2011-13. Last month, libero Lillian Bauer was named the Horizon League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. She currently ranks fourth in the conference with 4.56 digs per set. Sunday's match marks the first-ever between the Wildcats and Phoenix.
Up Next
Northwestern continues its nine-match homestand next weekend at Welsh-Ryan Arena as Big Ten play begins. The Wildcats will be the first team to welcome Rutgers to the conference on Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. before hosting another newcomer, Maryland on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. NU has never faced neither the Scarlet Knights nor the Terrapins.
