Sept. 9, 2009
Northwestern Volleyball Weekly Release - Sept. 9 
Opening Serve
Northwestern hits the road for the final time in the preseason, traveling to Charlotte, N.C., for the Comfort Suites 49er Tournament at Halton Arena. The Wildcats open up with Presbyterian at 3:30 p.m. CT Friday, Sept. 11, then face James Madison at 9 a.m. CT Saturday, Sept. 12. NU closes out the tournament against host Charlotte at 6 p.m. CT Saturday evening.
Wildcats on the Web
Fans unable to make it to Charlotte this weekend will still be able to catch every Wildcat point. Live Gametracker stats of all three Northwestern matches will be available at NUsports.com, with live streaming video of NU's finale against Charlotte is also available.
Scouting the Blue Hose
Season: Presbyterian is 3-4 in 2009, coming off a four-set loss to Georgia Tuesday evening ... Went 2-1 at the Georgia State/Kennesaw State Bracket Challenge Sept. 4 and 5. Head Coach: Chris Belshe (4th season) has an overall record of 45-63 (.417) with the Blue Hose. Outside Hitters: Lisa Shelley (Jr.) has a team-best 99 kills (3.54 per set) and leads in service aces (12) while recording 57 digs ... Presley Mabrey (Fr.) is averaging 3.18 kills per set (89 total). Middle Blockers: Amanda Kettles (Jr.) leads the Blue Hose in hitting percentage (.287) and is averaging 2.54 kills per set (71 total) ... Presbyterian's top blocker with six solo and 14 total blocks on the year, and has nine service aces ... Allison Brown (Fr.) has knocked down 47 kills, complimented by 13 assists and five blocks. Setter: Kilee Ruppe (Jr.) is averaging 9.89 assists per set (277 total) and has nine kills and four blocks. Libero: Elizabeth Heineman (Jr.) is averaging 3.36 digs per set (94 total) and has five service aces.
Scouting the Dukes
Season: James Madison enters the weekend at 4-3 in 2009, taking a five-set decision over Radford Tuesday night ... Posted a 2-1 record at the JMU Days Inn Invitational Sept. 4 and 5. Head Coach: Disa Gardner (10th season) has a 150-113 (.570) at James Madison and is 204-250 (.449) overall in 16 seasons. Outside Hitters: Danielle Erb (Fr.) leads the team in both kills (97 - 3.34 per set) and digs (78 - 2.69 per set), with a .275 hitting percentage, nine service aces and 18 blocks ... Erb was named the CAA Rookie of the Week for Sept. 8 ... Holly Wall (So.) has 65 kills (2.24 per set), along with 61 digs and six blocks ... Lindsay Callahan (Jr.) has notched 53 kills to compliment 10 service aces and 23 blocks. Middle Blockers: Kelly Turner (So.) ranks second on the team in kills at 67 (2.31 per set), is tied for the team lead in both service aces (10) and blocks (23) ... Jessica Zeroual (Jr.) ranks first on the Dukes in hitting percentage (.389) with 49 kills and just 12 errors and is tied for the team lead with 23 blocks. Setter: Lauren Fanelli (Jr.) is averaging 9.67 assists per set (174 total) with 13 kills and nine blocks ... Megan Wiechmann (Fr.) has also been utilized by JMU, averaging 8.50 assists per set (119 total). Libero: Natalie Abel (R-Fr.) has 78 digs on the year, averaging 3.12 per set.
Scouting the 49ers
Season: Charlotte is 2-5 on the year, coming off a 1-2 performance at the High Point Tournament ... 49ers opened the season with a five-set victory over Wake Forest. Head Coach: Chris Redding (3rd season) has a 29-35 (.435) record at Charlotte and is 73-114 (.390) overall in seven seasons. Outside Hitters: Jenna Litoborski (Fr.) leads team with 60 kills, averaging 2.22 per set, with 61 digs (third on team) and 12 blocks (fourth) ... Kathleen Hicks (R-So.) ranks second in both 58 kills (2.07 per set) and blocks (26) ... Kaitlin Knight (Sr.) leads team with 14 service aces and has added 80 digs and 37 kills. Middle Blockers: Kara Raker (Jr.) has added 45 kills and seven service aces along with 18 blocks ... Jennifer Webb (Jr.) leads 49ers with a .289 hitting percentage (42 kills and only nine errors) and 27 blocks. Setter: Sheri Davis (So.) is averaging 7.75 assists per set (186 total) with 27 kills, 41 digs and eight blocks. Libero: Abbie Rees (So.) has 100 digs on the year, averaging 3.57 per set.
Series Information
Northwestern has a limited history against all three of this weekend's opponents, facing Presbyterian for the first time in program history and both James Madison and Charlotte for just the second time. The Wildcats are 1-0 against both the Dukes and 49ers as NU defeated James Madison 3-0 back in 1996 while taking a 3-0 decision over Charlotte in 2002.
Moffett Captures IUPUI Hampton Inn Invitational MVP Honors
Junior Sabel Moffett continued her stellar start to the 2009 season this past weekend, recording 36 kills, a .586 hitting percentage and 16 blocks en route to being named the IUPUI Hampton Inn Invitational's Most Valuable Player. Moffett hit a career-best .708 (17 kills on 24 attempts with no errors) against Miami (Ohio) in the tournament opener to go along with four blocks and three service aces. She had no hitting errors in the second game against IUPUI either, while also blocking eight Jaguar attempts. Moffett closed out the tournament with 12 kills and four blocks against Western Kentucky, and was joined on the all-tournament team by Naomi Johnson and Kate Nobilio. It is the second time this season Moffett has been named to the all-tournament team, picking up the honors at the Kentucky Classic the final weekend of August.
Follow the 'Cats With Live, In-Match Twitter Updates
Twitter fans can keep up on the Wildcats' matches in Charlotte this weekend with live, in-match tweets @NU_SportsLIVE. Northwestern athletics will be with the Wildcats for all three matches and will give periodic updates from the court at Halton Arena, giving fans up-to-the minute match updates.
For the complete weekly release, click the PDF link above.