Nov. 3, 2009
Northwestern Volleyball Weekly Release - Nov. 3 
Opening Serve
Northwestern finally returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena for a pair of crucial Big Ten matches this weekend, beginning with Michigan State at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6. The Wildcats then host 15th-ranked Michigan at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, in a match televised live on the Big Ten Network.
Wildcats Return to the Big Ten Network
Saturday's match against 15th-ranked Michigan marks Northwestern's second appearance on the Big Ten Network this season, and the first telecast from Welsh-Ryan Arena this season. Jay Wilson and Audrey Flaugh will have the call for the match as the Wildcats take on the Wolverines in front of a national audience. NU will make one more appearance on the Network this season when it faces in-state rival Illinois in its home finale on Wednesday, Nov. 25.
Wildcats on the Web
Fans unable to make it to Welsh-Ryan Arena this weekend can still follow every Wildcat point online. Friday's match against Michigan State will be televised live at BigTenNetwork.com, with Gametracker live statistics available for both matches. Twitter fans can also follow both matches and receive in-match updates @NU_SportsLIVE.
Scouting the Spartans
Season: Michigan State is 16-8 overall and 4-8 in the Big Ten (T-7th) after sweeping both Iowa and Wisconsin in East Lansing, Mich., last weekend. Head Coach: Cathy George is 83-68 (.550) in her fifth season at Michigan State and 433-276 (.611) in her 23rd season as a head coach. Outside Hitters: Megan Schatlze (Jr.) leads the Spartans in kills (260), averaging 3.06 per set while adding 49 blocks on the year ... Becca Zlabis (So.) is second in kills (224) for MSU, averaging 2.87 per set with 27 blocks ... Jenilee Rathje (So.) has added 190 kills, 108 digs and 46 blocks. Middle Blockers: Vanessa King (Sr.) leads the Spartans and ranks sixth in the Big Ten averaging 1.15 blocks per set (86 total) while adding 125 kills ... Mischelle Nelson (Sr.) leads the team in hitting percentage (.326) with 118 kills and 75 blocks. Setter: Natalie Emro (So.) ranks fourth in the Big Ten in assists per set (10.52) while adding a team-best 25 service ace, 105 kills and 58 blocks. Libero: Allyson Karaba (Jr.) is third in the conference in digs per set (4.18) with 13 service aces.
Scouting the Wolverines
Season: 15th-ranked Michigan is 19-6 overall and 7-5 in the Big Ten (4th) and travels to fifth-ranked Illinois Friday night before facing Northwestern Saturday . Head Coach: Mark Rosen is 208-138 (.612) in his 11th season in Ann Arbor and 417-175 (.704) in his 17th season as a head coach. Outside Hitters: Juliana Paz (Sr.) ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 3.69 kills per set (336) and fourth in service aces (0.40 per set) while adding 39 blocks and 214 digs ... Alex Hunt (So.) ranks second in kills at 301 (3.31 per set) with a team-best 42 service aces (ranking third in the Big Ten) ... Veronica Rood (Sr.) has eclipsed the 200-kill plateau as well (204 total) with a team-best .328 hitting percentage and 60 blocks up front. Middle Blockers: Courtney Fletcher (So.) leads the Wolverines in blocks with 62 while adding 126 kills ... Megan Bower (Sr.) has added 147 kills, 257 digs and 46 blocks as well. Setter: All-American Lexi Zimmerman (Jr.) ranks third in the Big Ten at 10.98 assists per set (999 total) with 130 kills, 228 digs and 41 blocks. Libero: Sloane Donhoff (So.) is fifth in the Big Ten at 4.05 digs per set (369 total) with 23 service aces.
Series Information
Northwestern and Michigan State get together for the 58th time with the Wildcats holding a 31-26 edge in the series. The Spartans took the first meeting between the two this season, rallying to take a 3-1 victory in East Lansing on Oct. 3. But the Wildcats have been hard to beat at home, taking three of the last four against Michigan State at Welsh-Ryan Arena including last season's three-set sweep. Saturday's match also marks the 58th meeting between Northwestern and Michigan, but it is the Wolverines that hold the 33-24 series advantage having won the last three meetings including a 3-0 victory in Ann Arbor on Oct. 2. Northwestern has won three of the last four matches in Evanston, however.
Nobilio Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
Senior Kate Nobilio, who has already cemented her legacy as Northwestern's all-time digs leader, was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week after her 42-dig effort this past weekend. She is just the fifth player in the conference's history to eclipse 2,000 career digs and ranks fourth all-time among the Big Ten dig leaders with 2,067. Nobilio, who leads the Big Ten in both total digs (402) and digs per set (4.52), became the first player in Northwestern history to record over 400 digs in four straight seasons. It is the second Player of the Week honor of the season for Nobilio and the fourth of her career, which ties Janine Makar (1985-88) for the most POW accolades in Northwestern 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 blocks per set (2.52) while sitting fifth in both opponent hitting percentage (.181) and digs per set (14.39). Individually, Sabel Moffett continues to make a name for herself among the conference leaders, ranking fourth in hitting percentage (.390), fifth in blocks per set (1.35), sixth in points per set (4.31) and eighth in kills per set (3.45). Kate Nobilio, the Big Ten's active dig leader, leads the conference in digs per set (4.52) while Elyse Glab is fifth in assists per set (10.27).
For the complete weekly release, click the PDF link above.