Oct. 8, 2009
Northwestern Volleyball Weekly Release - Oct. 8 
Opening Serve
Northwestern returns home to Welsh-Ryan Arena for three of its next four Big Ten Conference matches, beginning with Purdue at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. NU then welcomes Indiana to Evanston for a rare Sunday afternoon match, with the opening serve set for 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11.
Wildcats on the Web
Fans unable to make it to Evanston for this weekend's matches will still be able to follow every Wildcat serve. The Wildcats' match with Purdue Saturday will be streamed live at NUsports.com, with Gametracker live stats available for both games. In addition, fans can get live, in-match Twitter updates @NU_SportsLIVE.
Scouting the Boilermakers
Season: Purdue is 9-6 on the year and 1-3 in conference play, falling to both Indiana and Minnesota last weekend. Head Coach: Dave Shondell is 133-81 (.621) in his seventh season at the helm of the Boilermakers. Outside Hitters: Carrie Gurnell (Sr.) ranks seventh in the Big Ten in kills per set at 3.58 (211 total) while leading the Boilers in solo blocks (12) and is third in total blocks (38) ... Ariel Turner (Fr.) is third on the team in kills (138) and has added 20 blocks and six service aces. Middle Blockers: Tiffany Fisher (So.) leads Purdue in hitting percentage (.365) and is second in kills (139) while also pacing the Boilermaker block attack with a team-high 48 ... Kristen Arthurs (Jr.) is also averaging over two kills per set at 2.39 (134 total) and is second on the squad with 46 blocks. Setter: Jaclyn Hart (Jr.) ranks fifth in the Big Ten averaging 10.31 assists per set (608 total) to go along with 71 kills, a .333 hitting percentage and 30 blocks. Libero: Blair Bashen (So.) has 208 digs on the year (3.53 per set) and leads the Boilermakers with 15 service aces.
Scouting the Hoosiers
Season: Indiana is 13-5 overall and 2-2 in Big Ten play after splitting matches against Purdue and Minnesota last weekend. Head Coach: Sherry Dunbar is 45-37 (.549) in her third season in Bloomington and boasts a career record of 158-59 (.728) in her seventh season as a head coach. Outside Hitters: Jordan Haverly (Fr.), the Big Ten's Freshman of the Week, ranks sixth in the conference in kills per set at 3.60 (245 total) and has added 17 service aces, 134 digs and 34 blocks ... Kelci Marshall (Fr.) has 81 kills and 25 blocks for the Hoosiers. Middle Blockers: Ashley Benson (Jr.) ranks 14th nationally in hitting percentage (.406) and is eighth in the conference in kills per set at 3.54 (223 total) ... Benson who ranks sixth in the Big Ten in points per set (4.24), also has 49 digs and 10 service aces and leads Indiana with 72 blocks (nine solo) ... Taylor Wittmer (Jr.) is second on the squad in blocks (66) and has added 85 kills. Setter: Mary Chaudoin (So.) has 509 assists on the year (7.95 per set) to go along with 47 kills and 57 blocks. Libero: Caitlin Cox (So.) is fifth in the Big Ten in digs per set at 4.03 (262 total) and leads the Hoosiers with 21 service aces.
Series Information
Northwestern and Purdue get together for the 68th time Saturday evening as the Boilermakers hold a 44-23 advantage in the all-time series. Purdue won both meetings last year, taking a 3-0 decision in West Lafayette on Oct. 18 before rallying to defeat the Wildcats in five at Welsh-Ryan Arena on Nov. 28. The Boilers have won the last six meetings, dating back to NU's five-set victory in Evanston in 2005. Northwestern and Indiana meet for 56th time Sunday as the Hoosiers hold a slim 28-27 advantage all-time after taking a five-set victory in Evanston on Oct. 24 and a four-set decision in Bloomington on Nov. 22. The Wildcats had won six of the seven previous meetings against the Hoosiers before last season, and are 4-2 against Indiana in the last six meeting at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Wildcat Duo Hits Career Milestones
A pair of career milestones were reached in East Lansing Saturday night for the Wildcats. Senior Kate Nobilio recorded 18 digs, giving her 1,905 for her career and making her just the ninth player in Big Ten Conference history to record 1,900 career digs. She now needs just 16 to surpass Wisconsin's Susan Wohlford (1988-91) for eighth all-time in conference history. Junior setter Elyse Glab dished out 40 assists on the night, bringing her career total to 2,875 and moving past Andrea Proos (1985-87) into fourth-place all-time in program history.
Wildcats Among the Big Ten Leaders
As a team, Northwestern ranks among the leaders of the Big Ten in a number of categories, ranking fourth in digs per set (14.05) and sixth in hitting percentage (.257), opponent hitting percentage (.169) and blocks per set (2.41). Individually, Sabel Moffett has made a name for herself among the conference leaders, ranking fourth in hitting percentage (.412) and blocks per set (1.33), seventh in points per set (4.24) and 10th in kills per set (3.35). Kate Nobilio ranks fourth in the Big Ten in digs per set (4.36) while Elyse Glab is sixth in assists per set (10.27).
For the complete weekly release, click the PDF link above.