Northwestern University Athletics
Friday, September 22
Evanston, Ill.
7 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Wisconsin
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
‘Cats Host No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 15 Penn State To Open B1G Play
9/21/2023 11:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
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Wildcats continue season-long five-match homestand with tests against nationally ranked foes
EVANSTON, Ill. (September 21, 2023) – With non-conference play now complete, Northwestern (6-4) opens its 20-match Big Ten Conference slate this weekend as it hosts a pair of nationally ranked foes inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The weekend kicks off at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 22 with a marquee matchup against No. 1 Wisconsin before wrapping up with a visit from No. 15 Penn State on Sunday, September 24 at 1 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern closed non-conference play last week by splitting two matches, falling to UIC, 3-2, ahead of a 3-0 sweep of Yale.
Maddy Chinn hammered a career-best 18 kills against the Flames, leading a trio of Wildcats in double figures that also included Leilani Dodson (13 kills) and Kennedy Hill (10 kills). Alexa Rousseau continued her climb up the program's assists leaderboard, dishing out a season-best 50 helpers to move into sole-possession of seventh place at Northwestern.
Playing before a Northwestern Olympic sport program-record 1,376 students last Friday against Yale, the 'Cats hit .345 (48-10-110), paced by 11 kills apiece from Dodson and Julia Sangiacomo. Kathryn Randorf added nine kills of her own, operating at a career-best .615 clip (9-1-13).
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
Currently perched atop the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/Taraflex Coaches Poll, Wisconsin, which advanced to the NCAA Final Four a season ago, rolls into Big Ten play at 9-0 overall, with five of those wins coming against ranked opposition. Most recently, the Badgers stormed back from a two-set deficit to pick up a 3-2 road win over No. 3 Florida this past Sunday.
Reigning Big Ten Coach of the Year Kelly Sheffield's crew boasts a dominant attack, led by 3.73 kills per set from Sarah Franklin. Devyn Robinson (2.91 k/s), Anna Smrek (2.51 k/s), and Temi Thomas-Ailara (2.28 k/s) all also average two-plus kills per set. Carter Booth (1.37 b/s) and Caroline Crawford (1.09 b/s) have been a force on the defensive side, each averaging north of one block per set.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
Ranked No. 15 in the AVCA/Taraflex Coaches Poll, Penn State sits at 7-3 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play following a 3-0 sweep of Rutgers on Wednesday inside Rec Hall in University Park, Pa. Jess Mruzik led the Nittany Lions in the win, racking up a match-high 18 kills, her sixth outing this season with 15 or more kills.
Piloted by former Nittany Lion great Katie Schumacher-Cawley, who is in her second season as head coach, Penn State's attack is spearheaded by the tandem of Mruzik (4.42 k/s) and Camryn Hannah (2.56 k/s). Mac Podraza averages a team-best 9.97 assists per set, while Allie Holland (1.37 b/s) and Taylor Trammell (1.29 b/s) have shined defensively.
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and Wisconsin will meet for the 88th time on Friday evening, a series which traces its roots back to a 3-0 Badger win on September 30, 1978. Wisconsin holds a 58-29 lead (.667), having won each of the last 11 meetings between the two programs, the last of which came on September 23, 2022 when the Badgers cruised to a 3-0 win inside the UW Field House.
Penn State has rattled off nine straight wins over Northwestern to extend its lead in the all-time series to 56-9 (.861). When the two teams clashed for the 65th time back on November 23, 2022 inside Welsh-Ryan Arena, the Wildcats dropped a 3-1 decision, but used a set-ending 18-0 run to notch a 25-9 victory in the second frame.
UP NEXT
Northwestern closes out its current homestand when it entertains Michigan State on Friday, September 29. After battling the Spartans, the 'Cats will open a three-match road swing on Sunday, October 1 against No. 19 Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind.
The weekend kicks off at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 22 with a marquee matchup against No. 1 Wisconsin before wrapping up with a visit from No. 15 Penn State on Sunday, September 24 at 1 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern closed non-conference play last week by splitting two matches, falling to UIC, 3-2, ahead of a 3-0 sweep of Yale.
Maddy Chinn hammered a career-best 18 kills against the Flames, leading a trio of Wildcats in double figures that also included Leilani Dodson (13 kills) and Kennedy Hill (10 kills). Alexa Rousseau continued her climb up the program's assists leaderboard, dishing out a season-best 50 helpers to move into sole-possession of seventh place at Northwestern.
Playing before a Northwestern Olympic sport program-record 1,376 students last Friday against Yale, the 'Cats hit .345 (48-10-110), paced by 11 kills apiece from Dodson and Julia Sangiacomo. Kathryn Randorf added nine kills of her own, operating at a career-best .615 clip (9-1-13).
SCOUTING WISCONSIN
Currently perched atop the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/Taraflex Coaches Poll, Wisconsin, which advanced to the NCAA Final Four a season ago, rolls into Big Ten play at 9-0 overall, with five of those wins coming against ranked opposition. Most recently, the Badgers stormed back from a two-set deficit to pick up a 3-2 road win over No. 3 Florida this past Sunday.
Reigning Big Ten Coach of the Year Kelly Sheffield's crew boasts a dominant attack, led by 3.73 kills per set from Sarah Franklin. Devyn Robinson (2.91 k/s), Anna Smrek (2.51 k/s), and Temi Thomas-Ailara (2.28 k/s) all also average two-plus kills per set. Carter Booth (1.37 b/s) and Caroline Crawford (1.09 b/s) have been a force on the defensive side, each averaging north of one block per set.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
Ranked No. 15 in the AVCA/Taraflex Coaches Poll, Penn State sits at 7-3 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play following a 3-0 sweep of Rutgers on Wednesday inside Rec Hall in University Park, Pa. Jess Mruzik led the Nittany Lions in the win, racking up a match-high 18 kills, her sixth outing this season with 15 or more kills.
Piloted by former Nittany Lion great Katie Schumacher-Cawley, who is in her second season as head coach, Penn State's attack is spearheaded by the tandem of Mruzik (4.42 k/s) and Camryn Hannah (2.56 k/s). Mac Podraza averages a team-best 9.97 assists per set, while Allie Holland (1.37 b/s) and Taylor Trammell (1.29 b/s) have shined defensively.
SERIES STUFF
Northwestern and Wisconsin will meet for the 88th time on Friday evening, a series which traces its roots back to a 3-0 Badger win on September 30, 1978. Wisconsin holds a 58-29 lead (.667), having won each of the last 11 meetings between the two programs, the last of which came on September 23, 2022 when the Badgers cruised to a 3-0 win inside the UW Field House.
Penn State has rattled off nine straight wins over Northwestern to extend its lead in the all-time series to 56-9 (.861). When the two teams clashed for the 65th time back on November 23, 2022 inside Welsh-Ryan Arena, the Wildcats dropped a 3-1 decision, but used a set-ending 18-0 run to notch a 25-9 victory in the second frame.
UP NEXT
Northwestern closes out its current homestand when it entertains Michigan State on Friday, September 29. After battling the Spartans, the 'Cats will open a three-match road swing on Sunday, October 1 against No. 19 Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind.
Players Mentioned
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