Friday, September 29
Evanston, Ill.
7 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Michigan State
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Hosts Michigan State Friday, Travels To No. 17 Purdue Sunday
9/28/2023 4:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Buy TicketsVolleyball Promotions ScheduleNorthwestern Match Notes vs. Michigan StateNorthwestern Match Notes vs. Purdue
Wildcats close season-long five-match homestand against Spartans
EVANSTON, Ill. (September 28, 2023) – After opening Big Ten Conference play last week, Northwestern (6-6, 0-2 B1G) is back in action for a pair of matchups this weekend.
The Wildcats will close their current homestand on Friday evening, entertaining Michigan State in a 7 p.m. first serve. A road test against No. 17 Purdue in a 1 p.m. (CT) Sunday matinee closes out the weekend.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern dropped a pair 3-0 decisions last weekend, falling to No. 1 Wisconsin and No. 15 Penn State. Julia Sangiacomo led the attack for the 'Cats, averaging 2.33 kills per set across the two matches, while Leilani Dodson and Kathryn Randorf chipped in 1.67 kills per set. Ellee Stinson continued her solid defensive work, averaging 4.17 digs per set, including a 14-dig showing against the Badgers.
Friday's matchup with Wisconsin proved to be a historic night, with a single-game program-record 4,889 fans packing Welsh-Ryan Arena. That total included 1,746 students, the largest student crowd to witness a Northwestern Athletics event in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State enters the week at 9-4 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten Conference play after splitting a pair of matchups last week. The Spartans swept in-state rival Michigan before dropping a five-set decision to Illinois.
Second-year head coach Leah Johnson's team was picked 12th in the Big Ten Preseason Poll. Taylah Holdem (3.44 kills/set) and Ailyah Moore (3.04 kills/set) spearhead the attack for Michigan State. Nalani Isosia enters the week ranked fourth in the Big Ten in digs, averaging 4.13 digs per set.
SCOUTING PURDUE
Purdue opened Big Ten play with back-to-back wins on the road last week, dispatching Maryland, 3-1, and Rutgers, 3-0. The Boilermakers, who reside at 8-3 overall (2-0 B1G), check-in at No. 17 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/Taraflex Coaches Poll.
Chloe Chicoine, who was rated as the top recruit in the nation by PrepVolleyball in 2022, has enjoyed a red-hot start to her collegiate career, averaging a team-best 4.11 kills per set, a mark that ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 33rd nationally. 2022 AVCA All-American Eva Hudson, who was tabbed the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season, ranks just behind Chicoine on the conference's kills leaderboard, putting up 3.84 kills per set.
SERIES STUFF
After sweeping both meetings between the two teams last season, Michigan State has opened up a 43-37 (.537) lead across 80 meetings with Northwestern.
Purdue owns a 61-29 (.678) advantage in the series between the Wildcats and Boilermakers. Northwestern snapped an eight-match skid to Purdue back on October 28, 2022 when it scored a thrilling 3-2 victory over the then No. 12 Boilermakers inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
UP NEXT
Northwestern embarks on a two-match road swing through Michigan next week, visiting Michigan (October 6) ahead of a return matchup with Michigan State (October 7). The Wildcats' 5 p.m. (CT) matchup with the Wolverines will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
The Wildcats will close their current homestand on Friday evening, entertaining Michigan State in a 7 p.m. first serve. A road test against No. 17 Purdue in a 1 p.m. (CT) Sunday matinee closes out the weekend.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern dropped a pair 3-0 decisions last weekend, falling to No. 1 Wisconsin and No. 15 Penn State. Julia Sangiacomo led the attack for the 'Cats, averaging 2.33 kills per set across the two matches, while Leilani Dodson and Kathryn Randorf chipped in 1.67 kills per set. Ellee Stinson continued her solid defensive work, averaging 4.17 digs per set, including a 14-dig showing against the Badgers.
Friday's matchup with Wisconsin proved to be a historic night, with a single-game program-record 4,889 fans packing Welsh-Ryan Arena. That total included 1,746 students, the largest student crowd to witness a Northwestern Athletics event in Welsh-Ryan Arena.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
Michigan State enters the week at 9-4 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten Conference play after splitting a pair of matchups last week. The Spartans swept in-state rival Michigan before dropping a five-set decision to Illinois.
Second-year head coach Leah Johnson's team was picked 12th in the Big Ten Preseason Poll. Taylah Holdem (3.44 kills/set) and Ailyah Moore (3.04 kills/set) spearhead the attack for Michigan State. Nalani Isosia enters the week ranked fourth in the Big Ten in digs, averaging 4.13 digs per set.
SCOUTING PURDUE
Purdue opened Big Ten play with back-to-back wins on the road last week, dispatching Maryland, 3-1, and Rutgers, 3-0. The Boilermakers, who reside at 8-3 overall (2-0 B1G), check-in at No. 17 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/Taraflex Coaches Poll.
Chloe Chicoine, who was rated as the top recruit in the nation by PrepVolleyball in 2022, has enjoyed a red-hot start to her collegiate career, averaging a team-best 4.11 kills per set, a mark that ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 33rd nationally. 2022 AVCA All-American Eva Hudson, who was tabbed the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season, ranks just behind Chicoine on the conference's kills leaderboard, putting up 3.84 kills per set.
SERIES STUFF
After sweeping both meetings between the two teams last season, Michigan State has opened up a 43-37 (.537) lead across 80 meetings with Northwestern.
Purdue owns a 61-29 (.678) advantage in the series between the Wildcats and Boilermakers. Northwestern snapped an eight-match skid to Purdue back on October 28, 2022 when it scored a thrilling 3-2 victory over the then No. 12 Boilermakers inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.
UP NEXT
Northwestern embarks on a two-match road swing through Michigan next week, visiting Michigan (October 6) ahead of a return matchup with Michigan State (October 7). The Wildcats' 5 p.m. (CT) matchup with the Wolverines will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballVolleyball - 'Cats Defeat Valparaiso in Home Opener Reverse Sweep (9/9/2025)
Wednesday, September 10
Volleyball - Tim Nollan, Sienna Noordemeer, and Ayah Elnady at Big Ten Media Days (7/28/25)
Monday, July 28
Volleyball - 'Cats Down Hawkeyes 3-1 To Secure Season Sweep (11/10/24)
Monday, November 11
Volleyball - 'Cats Take Down Hawkeyes at Home (10/16/24)
Thursday, October 17
