Aug. 15, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - The snowball is moving at a very good speed and it can eventually become an avalanche," says Keylor Chan about the Wildcats' upcoming 2001 season.
The snowball is the winning potential the Wildcats carry in the Big Ten Conference, and the avalanche, the winning force that will result when the Wildcats come together as a team.
Keylor Chan is back for his second season as Wildcat coach, and once again he brings a young Wildcat team to the table. But have no fear, after finishing 5-25 this Wildcat squad has played quality opponents.
The Big Ten was voted the number one conference in the nation at year's end, and well deserved. The conference sent six teams to the NCAA Tournament. In 2001, however, the Wildcats want a piece of the postseason action.
Chan says, "We have the talent to compete with the top 10 or 15 teams in the nation."
Chan went out and recruited Drew Robinson, a native of Long Beach, Calif., and one of the nation's top 50 recruits. The team's burning desire, accompanied by their talent, should make for a winning combination in 2001.
The challenge for this year's team will not be experience, but the ability to gel as a team.
"Our team is a more mature team as a whole than last year," said Chan.
Northwestern enters the season with six juniors, six sophomores, and one freshman. The Wildcats are welcoming back five of their six starters and they are losing team leader, Carmen Burbach, to graduation.
But before the Wildcats' snowball can grow into a bigger form, the team needs to learn more about themselves and how to grow together as a team. The leadership of Burbach will be greatly missed, but Chan relies on several players to take on the responsibility.
"We can't rely on just one individual to lead the team, it has to be a team effort," he said.
Northwestern kicks off the 2001 season in Winston-Salem, N.C. at the Wake Forest Invitational (Aug. 31- Sept. 1) where the Wildcats meet tournament host, Wake Forest, as well as East Carolina and Mississippi State. Next, the Wildcats travel to Stockton, Calif., for the Pacific Challenge where they take on reigning Big West conference champion and NCAA Tournament semifinalist, University of Pacific. The Wildcats finally end their out-of-conference tournament campaign here in Evanston at their own Wildcat Invitational, hosting Army, Western Kentucky, and Butler University before moving on to their Big Ten slate.
Chan looks at the nonconference schedule as a chance for the Wildcats to mature before moving on to the rigors of the Big Ten.
LEFT OUTSIDE HITTER
Both Molly Kamp and Cassie McKnight are competing for this position after the loss of team captain, Carmen Burbach. Even though Kamp spent most of her time on the right side last year, Chan is confident that she will come in and lock down the starting spot on the left. A junior, McKnight is coming off a great spring and will challenge Kamp for the starting spot. Chan also looks for Leah Delcourt and Lindsay Pavlik to step it up and compete for one of the outside spots.
MIDDLE BLOCKER
The Wildcats grew much stronger at this position with the help of sophomore Erika Lange. Lange carried the burden of the Wildcats' offense, leading the team with 393 kills on 860 attempts to accompany her team-high 162 blocks. Lange's dominance on the court earned her Freshman All-Big Ten honors. Sarah Ballog also had a big year for the Wildcats with 220 kills and 109 blocks. Adriana Ruhl will be competing for playing time. Chan is confident that they will push the team to get better.
RIGHT OUTSIDE HITTER
Lindsay Pavlik is the favorite to start at this position if she can recover from a tibula fibula tear in her joint. Pavlik started almost every game on the outside last season, but will probably find herself on the right this year.
"Lindsay's kind of the utility player right now," says Chan. She can play anywhere we want her to, but we know that we need her on the court." Chan also looks to redshirt freshman Jill Buschur, who he believes will have a positive impact on the team. Junior, Brandy Stohl still has not seen much playing time after her ACL surgery freshman year. Do not be surprised, however, to see a healthy Stohl return to challenge Pavlik and Buschur for the starting spot.
SETTER
The battle for this position will be very competitive and hard fought, as Kelli Meyer and Robertson give it their all for the starting spot. Kelli Meyer played in all but one game last season, recording 1,195 assists, 215 digs, and 31 service aces. Robertson is the only incoming freshman being added to this years' team, a dramatic turnaround from last years' six. Drew is one of the top 50 recruits in the country and her presence will undoubtedly have a positive effect on this year's team.
DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST
Chan looks to both Erica Knavel and Jill Fantozzi as being the strengths of the Wildcat defense. Both players saw a significant amount of minutes last year. "Erica is one of our best defenders, and Jill plays with a lot of fire and emotion. We will need both of them if we want to win," said Chan.