Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Maryland
Northwestern Hosts Maryland, Ohio State at McGrath-Phillips Arena
10/12/2017 3:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
| NORTHWESTERN VOLLEYBALL: MATCH DAY INFORMATION | ||||||
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | LOCATION | BROADCAST | LIVE STATS | |
| Friday, Oct. 13 |
Maryland | 7 p.m. CT | McGrath-Phillips Arena Chicago, Ill. |
N/A | NUsports.com | |
| Saturday, Oct. 14 |
Ohio State | 7 p.m. CT | McGrath-Phillips Arena Chicago, Ill. |
N/A | NUsports.com | |
| Social: Twitter (@NUVBall and @NU_SportsLive) | Instagram (@NUVBall) | Facebook Northwestern Match Notes McGrath-Phillips Arena Information |
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EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern volleyball, after splitting last weekend's Big Ten set, returns to conference play to host Maryland and Ohio State on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Both matches will be at 7 p.m. and are hosted at DePaul's McGrath-Phillips Arena due to a scheduling conflict at historic Beardsley Gym.
PRIOR RETURNS
Northwestern is having a hot start to the 2017 campaign, logging an 12-6 record through 18 competitions ... NU has surpassed their win output from last season ... The 'Cats have a 38-23 set record this season, and posted a nine-match winning streak from Aug. 26 to Sept. 16.
SCOUTING MARYLAND
Maryland is 13-5 on the season and is 2-4 in conference play thus far. Last season, the Hoosiers finished with a 12-20 record, posting a 4-17 record in conference. Since joining the Big Ten in 2014, Northwestern is 3-2 against Maryland. In the team's most recent meeting last season on Nov. 19, NU won in straight sets at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
As a team, Maryland is ranked seventh in the Big Ten with 829 team kills. They are also ranked third in team service aces with 95 on the season. First-year outside hitter Erika Pritchard is currently ranked first in the conference for total service aces with 36. Junior libero Kelsey Wicinski is currently ranked first in the conference with 4.78 digs per set ... The Terrapins are currently ranked 39 in the NCAA RPI, compared to Northwestern's mark of 48.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
Ohio State is 10-7 on the season and is 3-3 in conference play thus far. Last season, the Buckeyes finished with a 22-13 record, posting a 10-10 record in conference, earning a trip to the NCAA tournament. Ohio State has the 11th best team hitting percentage in the nation, led by first-year Lauren Witte's .356 mark, which is 12th best in the Big Ten. First-year defensive specialist Hannah Gruensfelder currently ranks second in the conference in digs per set with 4.72. The Buckeyes are currently ranked 29 in the NCAA RPI, compared to Northwestern's mark of 48.
HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT
The 'Cats have been very efficient on firing away with their attacks, as their .272 team hitting percentage is 21st-best in the nation ... If you needed any reminder of how dominant the Big Ten is for volleyball, that mark is also sixth-best in the conference ... NU also ranks 52nd in the nation in kills per set, which is 11th in the conference.
CHART TOPPERS
Symone Abbott leads the Big Ten with 265 kills while Nia Robinson is tied for sixth with 182.
Abbott is first in the Big Ten and 20th in the nation with 4.42 kills per set while Robinson is 10th in the conference with 3.38 kills per set.
SHE'S HAZEN A GREAT SEASON
Gabrielle Hazen's .395 hitting percentage is in the top-30 in the country and sixth-best in the Big Ten. Hazen also is fifth in the Big Ten with 76 total blocks. Her 2.33 kills per set is the senior's highest average in her four years at Northwestern.
#FRIDAYFEELING
The Wildcats are undefeated in seven Friday matches this season and seek to extend their mark to 8-0 against Maryland.
AT THE PACE SHE'S ON...
Senior Taylor Tashima is ranked 16th in the country and fourth in the Big Ten with 11.34 assists per set ... That rate is the best of Tashima's career ... In addition, Tashima's 692 total assists are in the top-60 in the nation and is the fourth in the Big Ten.
AT YOUR SERVICE (ACE)
The Wildcats have been strong at their service game this season, as their 1.82 aces per set mark is the best in the conference and is the third best in the nation ... Four NU players (Tashima, Hazen, Abbott and Sarah Johnson) are currently ranked in the top-15 of the conference for aces per set.
AN EYE ON THE RECORD BOOK
Symone Abbott (kills-tied 6th, kills per set-2nd) and Taylor Tashima (assists-4th, assists per set-4th) both are poised to etch their names into Northwestern history with productive senior seasons.
Gabrielle Hazen is now in sixth place in career hitting-percentage, having just crossed the 1,000 TAs mark for qualification.
Abbott needs just one kill to move into sole possession of sixth place and 10 kills to pass to move into sole possesion of fifth place (Madelyn Meneghetti, 1,490), while Tashima has moved into fourth place in NU history in assists.
THERE'S A CORRELATION
Northwestern is 12-1 when leading in attack percentage, while the Wildcats are winless in five matches in which they trail in attack percentage.
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