Northwestern University Athletics
Thursday, September 12
Evanston, Ill.
7 p.m. CT
Northwestern
vs
Notre Dame
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Volleyball Set for Home Opener Against Notre Dame
9/11/2024 4:48:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
EVANSTON, Ill. - After two weeks on the west coast, Northwestern volleyball (0-4) is set to make their 2024 Welsh-Ryan debut on Thursday as they play the first of two straight matches against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (3-1). Thursday's home opener is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, then the 'Cats will take to the road to battle the Irish again on Saturday, that time in South Bend. First serve in Saturday's road match is set for 5:30 p.m. CT.
STORYLINES:
These two meetings between the 'Cats and the Irish will be the programs' first in nearly two decades; the last time they faced off was in the second round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament, when Notre Dame triumphed in South Bend. The Irish are the winners of their last four against Northwestern, dating back to 1990, and will make their first visit to Evanston since Nov. 13, 1989, on Thursday. All-time, Northwestern owns a 4-8 record against the Irish.
So far this season, Notre Dame has gone 3-1 in a pair of non-conference tournaments on the road. In their opening weekend, they swept Villanova and downed Santa Clara, 3-1, in the Santa Clara Catholic Challenge. To follow that up, the Irish took one of two in Starkville at the Starkvegas Classic, falling 3-1 to Michigan in the opener, before besting Mississippi State in five. The Irish are coming off an 11-15 season, including a 5-13 conference record, that saw them finish 12th in the ACC.
UP NEXT:
Following their visit to South Bend, the 'Cats will prepare for another home-and-home series, this one with NIU. Northwestern will host the Huskies next Wednesday (Sept. 18), then head to DeKalb for the return trip on Friday (Sept. 20).
STORYLINES:
- Head Coach Tim Nollan will make his Welsh-Ryan debut on Thursday after taking over the program in February. Thursday will also mark the first home match for two of his three assistants and seven of 16 players on his roster.
- Junior transfer Buse Hazan has wasted no time establishing herself in purple, leading the 'Cats with 61 total kills through their first two weeks of play. Hazan, who logged double-digit kill performances in 25 of 34 matches last season at South Florida, has tallied 10 or more kills in all four matches so far this season. The run included her fifth career 20-kill game last Saturday at Long Beach State, and she has led the team's offense in two of four matches to open the season. Her 11-dig performance against Pacific on Aug. 31 was also good for her first Wildcat double-double. Entering play tonight, Hazan's 3.21 kills per set put her 17th in the Big Ten.
- Alexa Rousseau enters tonight's contest on a three-match double-double streak after reaching double figures in both assists and digs in three of her first four matches this season. The fifth-year setter currently ranks sixth in program history in career assists, with 3,449, and stands 185 shy of fifth.
These two meetings between the 'Cats and the Irish will be the programs' first in nearly two decades; the last time they faced off was in the second round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament, when Notre Dame triumphed in South Bend. The Irish are the winners of their last four against Northwestern, dating back to 1990, and will make their first visit to Evanston since Nov. 13, 1989, on Thursday. All-time, Northwestern owns a 4-8 record against the Irish.
So far this season, Notre Dame has gone 3-1 in a pair of non-conference tournaments on the road. In their opening weekend, they swept Villanova and downed Santa Clara, 3-1, in the Santa Clara Catholic Challenge. To follow that up, the Irish took one of two in Starkville at the Starkvegas Classic, falling 3-1 to Michigan in the opener, before besting Mississippi State in five. The Irish are coming off an 11-15 season, including a 5-13 conference record, that saw them finish 12th in the ACC.
UP NEXT:
Following their visit to South Bend, the 'Cats will prepare for another home-and-home series, this one with NIU. Northwestern will host the Huskies next Wednesday (Sept. 18), then head to DeKalb for the return trip on Friday (Sept. 20).
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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