Friday, September 1
Evanston, Ill.
5 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Illinois State
Photo by: GRIFFIN QUINN/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Opens Home Slate Friday Against Illinois State, Visits Milwaukee Monday
8/31/2023 10:46:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
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‘Cats, Redbirds to meet for first time since 1993 in Friday’s home opener
EVANSTON, Ill. (August 31, 2023) – After opening its 2023 season with a victory over a top-15 opponent this past weekend, Northwestern volleyball (1-2) returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena on Friday, September 1 to raise the curtain on its home slate against Illinois State. First serve between the Wildcats and Redbirds is set for 5 p.m. Northwestern will wrap up the holiday weekend on Monday, September 4 when it heads north to Milwaukee, Wis. to take on Milwaukee in a 6 p.m. matchup inside the Klotsche Center.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern kicked off its 2023 campaign at the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic in Honolulu, Hawai'i. The 'Cats pushed event host Hawai'i to the limit in last Friday's regular-season opener, dropping a 3-2 decision to the Rainbow Wahine. After falling to No. 9 Oregon in three sets on Saturday, Northwestern, which was paced by a match-high 21 kills from Julia Sangiacomo, wrapped up its stay on the island of O'ahu with a 3-1 upset of No. 13 San Diego, its fourth win over a nationally ranked opponent since the start of the 2022 season.
Sangiacomo dazzled throughout the weekend, racking up 48 kills (4.0 k/s) en route to earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Leilani Dodson also proved to be a force on both sides of the night, adding 1.83 kills per set and 1.25 blocks per set.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS STATE
Illinois State currently sits at 0-3 after dropping three matchups as part of the Mizzou Classic last weekend. The Redbirds took a set off host Missouri in a 3-1 defeat before falling to Central Arkansas and Colgate, respectively, in three sets.
Piloted by second-year head coach Allie Matters, the Redbirds were picked seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll. 2022 MVC All-Freshman Team selections Aida Shadewald (2.81 k/s in 2022) and Regan Haith (1.74 k/s in 2022) lead an Illinois Sate roster than features 10 newcomers. That group includes three graduate transfers in Mari Hinkle, Kara Cooper, and Bella Zeman.
SCOUTING MILWAUKEE
Like Illinois State, Milwaukee also resides at 0-3. The Panthers competed at the Western Michigan Tournament, dropping a 3-1 decision to the host Broncos ahead of defeats at the hands of Northern Iowa, 3-0, and Villanova, 3-2.
Prior to taking on Northwestern, Milwaukee, which was slotted fourth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll, visits St. Paul, Minn. this weekend for the Tommie Invitational Volleyball Tournament, which features matchups against California Baptist, Montana State, and St. Thomas.
Now in her 17th season as head coach, Susie Johnson welcomes back an experienced core, highlighted by the returning All-Horizon League trio of Ari Miller (3.20 k/s, 1.02 b/s in 2022), Madi Malone (2.75 k/s, 2.73 d/s in 2022), and Natalie Schmitz (2.73 k/s in 2022).
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and Illinois State will clash for the 29th time in Friday's home opener. The Redbirds lead the all-time series by a narrow 15-13 (.536) margin, with the last meeting coming back on October 12, 1993, a 3-1 Illinois State win.
The 'Cats hold an unblemished 5-0 (1.000) mark in five previous matchups with Milwaukee, the last of which came back on August 25, 2018 when Northwestern prevailed, 3-1, inside the Klotsche Center.
UP NEXT
Northwestern heads east to Boston, Mass. next weekend, where it will take part in the Northeastern Tournament. The 'Cats will open play against Northern Colorado on Friday, September 8 ahead of a matchup with the host Huskies (September 9). A meeting with Fairfield on Sunday, September 10.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern kicked off its 2023 campaign at the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic in Honolulu, Hawai'i. The 'Cats pushed event host Hawai'i to the limit in last Friday's regular-season opener, dropping a 3-2 decision to the Rainbow Wahine. After falling to No. 9 Oregon in three sets on Saturday, Northwestern, which was paced by a match-high 21 kills from Julia Sangiacomo, wrapped up its stay on the island of O'ahu with a 3-1 upset of No. 13 San Diego, its fourth win over a nationally ranked opponent since the start of the 2022 season.
Sangiacomo dazzled throughout the weekend, racking up 48 kills (4.0 k/s) en route to earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Leilani Dodson also proved to be a force on both sides of the night, adding 1.83 kills per set and 1.25 blocks per set.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS STATE
Illinois State currently sits at 0-3 after dropping three matchups as part of the Mizzou Classic last weekend. The Redbirds took a set off host Missouri in a 3-1 defeat before falling to Central Arkansas and Colgate, respectively, in three sets.
Piloted by second-year head coach Allie Matters, the Redbirds were picked seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll. 2022 MVC All-Freshman Team selections Aida Shadewald (2.81 k/s in 2022) and Regan Haith (1.74 k/s in 2022) lead an Illinois Sate roster than features 10 newcomers. That group includes three graduate transfers in Mari Hinkle, Kara Cooper, and Bella Zeman.
SCOUTING MILWAUKEE
Like Illinois State, Milwaukee also resides at 0-3. The Panthers competed at the Western Michigan Tournament, dropping a 3-1 decision to the host Broncos ahead of defeats at the hands of Northern Iowa, 3-0, and Villanova, 3-2.
Prior to taking on Northwestern, Milwaukee, which was slotted fourth in the Horizon League Preseason Poll, visits St. Paul, Minn. this weekend for the Tommie Invitational Volleyball Tournament, which features matchups against California Baptist, Montana State, and St. Thomas.
Now in her 17th season as head coach, Susie Johnson welcomes back an experienced core, highlighted by the returning All-Horizon League trio of Ari Miller (3.20 k/s, 1.02 b/s in 2022), Madi Malone (2.75 k/s, 2.73 d/s in 2022), and Natalie Schmitz (2.73 k/s in 2022).
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and Illinois State will clash for the 29th time in Friday's home opener. The Redbirds lead the all-time series by a narrow 15-13 (.536) margin, with the last meeting coming back on October 12, 1993, a 3-1 Illinois State win.
The 'Cats hold an unblemished 5-0 (1.000) mark in five previous matchups with Milwaukee, the last of which came back on August 25, 2018 when Northwestern prevailed, 3-1, inside the Klotsche Center.
UP NEXT
Northwestern heads east to Boston, Mass. next weekend, where it will take part in the Northeastern Tournament. The 'Cats will open play against Northern Colorado on Friday, September 8 ahead of a matchup with the host Huskies (September 9). A meeting with Fairfield on Sunday, September 10.
Players Mentioned
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