Iowa and Minnesota Game Notes in PDF Format
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Oct. 5, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill. - After opening Big Ten play at home for two straight weekends, Northwestern (5-9, 0-4 Big Ten) will go on the road for the first time in conference action to face Iowa (9-6, 1-3 Big Ten) and No. 3 Minnesota (14-2, 3-1 Big Ten). The `Cats play the Hawkeyes at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8, and take on the third-ranked Gophers at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9.
"We're pretty excited to get on the road," Chan said. "We're going to play some great teams at their place, so we get to see what we're made of."
Freshman Courtnie Paulus (Belgium, Wis./Ozaukee) and sophomore Julie Purcell (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) lead the Wildcats' offense with a combined 252 kills through 14 matches, both averaging greater than three kills per game.
The duo and the rest of NU's offense will face two of the top defensive teams in the Big Ten in Iowa and Minnesota. The Hawkeyes are third in the league in digs, averaging 17.13 digs per game, while the Gophers rank second with 19.46 digs per game.
"Our goal is to play consistent volleyball," Chan said. "Whether it's on the offensive end or on the defensive end, we want to play consistently overall."
Minnesota boasts a perfect 6-0 record at home this year. The Gophers' Erin Martin is second in the Big Ten in kills with 320, averaging 5.25 per game. Minnesota was ranked No. 1 in the nation for two straight weeks before being knocked off this past weekend by Ohio State.
MAKING HISTORY
Senior setter Drew Robertson has made her mark on the Northwestern record book in her three years wearing the Purple and White. Last season, the Long Beach, Calif. native recorded 1,463 assists, good for second place in Northwestern's all-time single-season record book. Robertson also has a firm hold on the top spot with 1,515 assists, which she accomplished her sophomore year. She now stands at second all-time with 4,409 and is just 334 assists shy of overtaking Liz Renius' school record of 4,743. Robertson needs to average about 21 assists in each of the 'Cats remaining 16 regular season matches. She has averaged 35 assists over NU's first 14 matches.