Oct. 4, 2000
Wildcat Volleyball Action This Week ...
@ Iowa
Friday, Oct. 6
7 p.m.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena
@ #5 Minnesota
Saturday, Oct. 7
7 p.m.
Sports Pavilion
Northwestern dropped its second and third Big Ten matches of the year, falling to No. 10 Wisconsin, 0-3, on Sept. 27 and No. 19 Ohio State, 0-3, last Saturday. In the loss to UW, freshman Erika Lange accumulated 13 kills. In Saturday's loss to OSU, the Buckeyes were able to take control at the net, posting 12 team blocks to NU's five. Molly Kamp paced the Wildcats on offense with seven kills and a service ace.
Scouting the Hawkeyes
Iowa topped Indiana, 3-2, last Friday, rallying from a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Hoosiers in Bloomington. The win gave Iowa its first-ever 3-0 start in Big Ten play, but the Hawkeyes' conference streak came to a halt on Saturday against No. 11 Penn State with a 3-1 loss. Renee Hill and Katie Panhorst each had 20 kills in the effort against the Nittany Lions. Iowa is 7-2 over its last nine matches, with four of its five defeats this season coming to nationally-ranked teams. In addition to hosting the 'Cats, Iowa will take on Wisconsin Saturday night. As a team, the Hawkeyes are averaging 14.79 kills per game and hitting at a .213 clip. Defensively, they are average 14.02 digs and 2.30 blocks per game. Sara Meyermann leads all Hawkeyes in kills with 3.53 per game, while Hill is the defensive leader, averaging 2.95 digs per game.
The Series: WILDCATS VS. IOWA
Series Record: NU leads 21-19
Most Recent Meeting: Nov. 6 in Evanston (NU 3, Iowa 0)
First Meeting: Oct. 28, 1978, (OSU 2, NU 0)
Last NU win in Iowa City: Oct. 29, 1977 (Iowa 2, NU 0)
Last Iowa win in Iowa City: Oct. 1, 1999 (Iowa 3, NU 0)
Scouting the Gophers
No. 6 Minnesota kept its pristine record intact over the weekend with a historic victory over No. 11 Penn State and a three-game shutout of Indiana. Minnesota is now 15-0 for the first time in the program's history and has set a school record for consecutive victories. The Golden Gophers' 3-1 victory over the Nittany Lions in Happy Valley marked the end of Penn State's 87-match home win streak. 3,552 onlookers were on hand as the Gophers' Nicole Branagh lit up PSU for 28 kills (7.0 per game). Setter Lindsey Berg racked up 70 assists in the match, averaging 17.5 per game. The Lions' last defeat at home was in 1995 to Illinois, who, ironically, was guided by current Minnesota head coach Mike Hebert. Against Indiana, middle blocker Stephanie Hagen tallied 22 kills 10 digs and three blocks as the Gophers topped IU in Bloomington. Leading the way for the Gophers s Branagh, averaging 5.23 kills per game. Yvonne VanOurt leads all Gophers with 3.31 digs per game. As a team, Minnesota is averaging 17.56 kills and 16.48 digs per game, as well as 2.93 blocks.
The Series: WILDCATS VS. MINNESOTA
Series Record: Minnesota leads 26-13
Most Recent Meeting: Nov. 5, 1999 in Minneapolis (MN 3, NU 0)
First Meeting: Oct. 28, 1977, (MN 2, NU 0) Big Ten Tournament
Last NU win in Minneapolis: Oct. 20, 1990 (NU 3, MN 1)
Last MN win in Minneapolis: Nov. 5, 1999 (MN 3, NU 0)
FAB Freshman
NU's standout freshman Lange is doing it all. The 6-3 middle blocker has adjusted to collegiate volleyball without any problems and has turned into the 'Cats' leading hitter and blocker. Lange is averaging 3.30 kills and 1.26 blocks per game. She ranks third in the Big Ten with 67 total blocks and has led the team to fourth in the conference in blocking. Another freshman on the rise is Lindsay Pavlik. She is NU's leading defensive player, averaging 3.00 digs per game. Pavlik is eighth on the Big Ten charts in digs. Both Lange and Pavlik have started each of the Wildcats' 14 matches.
Return to Sender
After 14 matches, it's clear that one of the strengths of the Wildcats will be their defense at the net. Freshman middle blocker Erika Lange leads NU with 67 total blocks and sophomore middle blocker Sarah Ballog is a close second with 62 total blocks, 10 of which are solo. Lange is averaging 1.26 and Ballog 1.19 per game. The duo rank third and ninth, respectively, in the conference. As a team, the Wildcats are averaging 2.71 blocks per game to rank fourth in the Big Ten behind Michigan State (2.96), Minnesota (2.93), and Wisconsin (2.81).
Pavlik Stays On Big Ten Leaderboard
Freshman outside hitter Lindsay Pavlik is eighth on the Big Ten leaderboard in digs. Pavlik averages 3.00 digs per game. Pavlik is the team's top defensive player with 156 digs on the season. Senior Carmen Burbach is second with 147.
Ballog's Wall Makes Big Ten Leaderboard
Sarah Ballog's `Great Wall' has earned her a spot among the leading blockers in the Big Ten. Ballog is ninth with 10 block solos and 52 block assists for 62.0 total blocks on the season. She is averaging 1.19 per game.
The Ruhling Is In
Sophomore middle blocker Adriana Ruhl has earned a spot in the Wildcats' starting lineup, starting nine matches and playing in 29 games this season. In her start against Penn State, Ruhl recorded a season-high six kills, one assist, two service aces, eight digs and two block assists -- her best match to date. Expect to see a lot more of this Stockton, Calif. native as the season progresses.
46 And Counting . . .
Carmen Burbach is on track to join six other Wildcats in the 1,000-1,000 club. Burbach already has 1,079 kills, and she is 46 digs shy of becoming the seventh member of this elite club. Burbach is averaging 2.77 digs per game, and at that rate should reach 1,000 digs in 17 games.
Making History
Senior outside hitter Carmen Burbach joined the prestigious 1,000-kill club at the Wahine Challenge. Against Oregon, Burbach became the 15th Wildcat in history to reach the milestone with her fourth kill of the night. She currently has a career total of 1,079.
Ballog Sets Career-High
Sophomore middle blocker Sarah Ballog recorded 25 kills in the 'Cats win over Penn State last weekend for a career high. Ballog has been one of the Wildcats' most consistent players and was a starter last season as a freshman. This season she is averaging 2.50 kills and 1.28 blocks per game.
Freshmen Put Up Big Numbers
The 2000 freshmen class has put up big numbers already this season. Three of the six freshman have earned starting spots. As a class, they have combined for 365 kills, averaging 6.88 per game. In addition to their prowess on offense, they have 135 blocks this season.
Lange Named `Most Outstanding Player'
Erika Lange was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2000 Hampton Inn & Suites Wildcat Classic on Sept. 15-16. She recorded 55 kills and 19 blocks during the tournament.
All-Tournament Team
Erika Lange was named to the Aston Imua Wahine Challenge all-tournament team (9/8-9/10) for her outstanding play. Lange led the 'Cats during the tournament with 33 kills and 15 blocks. One week later, Sarah Ballog and Carmen Burbach were named to the Hampton Inn & Suites Wildcat Classic all-tournament team.
Last Time Out -- Northwestern Falls to No. 19 OSU
The Ohio State Buckeyes (13-0, 3-0 Big Ten) defeated Northwestern (4-9, 1-2 Big Ten) 15-2, 15-2, 15-8, Saturday night in Big Ten volleyball. The Bucks hit .325 as a team and were led by Suzie Stiling with 12 kills and seven blocks. Sue Calligaris hit .545 and had eight digs. Katie Virtue chipped in 29 assists. The Wildcats were led by freshman Molly Kamp with seven kills and a .308 hitting percentage.
2000 Captains Named
Seniors Jennifer Armson and Carmen Burbach were named co-captains for the 2000 volleyball season.
Fresh(men) Faces
The 2000 Northwestern volleyball team features seven new faces. Jill Buschur, Leah Delcourt, Molly Kamp, Erica Knavel, Erika Lange, Traci Lato and Lindsay Pavlik join seven letterwinners from a year ago, including three starters.
Lange, a 6-3 middle blocker, headlines the group. She was one of the most highly-touted players in Illinois. In her junior year at Carl Sandburg, Lange helped lead the team to its first-ever state championship title. The Volleyball Magazine National Fab 50 honoree holds the Sandburg record in kills in a season (362), career kills (901) and career solo blocks (284).
Heavy Competition
The Wildcats will have a tough row to hoe this season as they have another arduous schedule. In all, Northwestern will take on nine nationally ranked teams. NU opened the 2000 schedule with then-No. 6 Nebraska and followed that with a match against then-No. 13 Colorado State. The 'Cats travelled to Hawai'i to take on the then-No. 6 Rainbows. Not surprisingly, those three teams are ranked 1-2-3 in the national poll this week. On September 23, the Wildcats took on another of them -- then-No. 3 Penn State, and handed them a loss. It doesn't end there, as the conference boasts four other teams in the Top 25 with Minnesota checking in at No. 5, Wisconsin at No. 10, Ohio State at No. 11, and Michigan State at No. 19.
Chan, briefly
Keylor Chan is in his first season as head coach at Northwestern after spending a year at the helm of the Furman University program.
In his only season at Furman, Chan guided the Paladins to an 18-15 overall mark, including a 13-7 conference mark. While under Chan's direction, the Paladins climbed 22 positions from 167th to 145th in the Sagarin Power Rating. Prior to his tenure at Furman, Chan was an assistant coach for the Wildcats for two seasons. During his time at Northwestern, Chan helped improve NU's rank in the Sagarin Power Rating from 175th to 38th.