Sept. 30, 2004
Illinois Match Release in PDF Format
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Northwestern takes on yet another top-25 school in No. 19 Illinois--the fourth ranked opponent in five matches for the Wildcats--at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 1 in Welsh-Ryan Arena. The match between the intra-state rivals marks the fourth-straight conference match played at home for the 'Cats and the last before they go on the road next weekend to face No. 1 Minnesota and Iowa.
NU (5-8, 0-3 Big Ten) is in search of its first conference win after coming off three hard-fought losses to No. 4 Penn State and No. 20 Ohio State in the opening weekend of Big Ten play, while losing to Wisconsin in mid-week action Wednesday evening, Sept. 29.
Against Illinois, junior libero Christie Gardner (West Bend, Wis./West Bend East) and the rest of the 'Cats defense will have to be on their toes, as the Fighting Illini lead the Big Ten in service aces. Illinois averages 2.12 per game after totaling 87 on the year. They are the only team in the Big Ten to average greater than two service aces per game.
But defense has been one of NU's strong suits this year, with Gardner playing particularly well. Since making the switch to libero after playing outside hitter last year, Gardner has been rock-solid, if not spectacular for the `Cats in the back row. She is currently fifth in the Big Ten in digs with 179, averaging 4.16 per game. While in the middle-of-the pack in the rankings, Gardner's flair for dramatic defense does not show up in the box score.
The co-captain has recorded a boat-load of jaw-dropping digs this year. One highlight from the Wisconsin match came when she somehow managed to slide the top of her right hand into a space underneath a dying ball that would have been difficult to slip a piece of paper into. Whether she's laying out or standing her ground, successfully fending off absurdly fierce kills from All-American Candidate Jane Collymore from No. 5 Florida, Gardner has been key for the 'Cats defense.
NU's defense is bolstered even further with the return of fifth-year senior Leah Delcourt (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island) to the lineup. Delcourt adds great experience and leadership to go along with freshmen middle blockers Stefanie Alde (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville) and Brittney Aldridge (Hampshire, Ill./Hampshire). The young duo have accounted for nearly fifty percent of NU's block total this year.
The offense has been coming along as well, with three 'Cats currently over 100 kills on the year. Sophomore Julie Purcell (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) spearheads the offense with 133 kills, while freshmen Stephanie Jurivich (LaGrange, Ill./St. Ignatius) and Courtnie Paulus (Belgium, Wis/Ozaukee) have 108 and 103 kills, respectively.
Gardner and the rest of the Wildcat defense will be tested by Illinois' service game and its attacking offense as well. The Fighting Illini have four players over 100 kills on the year with Rachel VanMeter leading with 176 kills.
CAT NIPS
Senior Drew Robertson's (Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Poly) assault on the record book continues as she now stands only 349 assists shy of breaking Liz Renius' school record of 4,743. Robertson has already recorded 440 assists on the year and needs to average about 21 assists in the 'Cats remaining 17 matches to reach Renius' mark.