Sept. 7, 2010
Baymont Inn Suites Invitational
Ohio Convocation Center Athens, Ohio
Northwestern (4-1) vs. Tennessee (6-0)
Friday, Sept. 10 9 a.m. CT
Northwestern (4-1) vs. Pittsburgh (1-6)
Friday, Sept. 10 4 p.m. CT
Northwestern (4-1) vs. Ohio (5-2)
Saturday, Sept. 11 1 p.m.
Gametracker: NUsports.com
Northwestern Match Notes (PDF)
Opening Serve
Northwestern embarks on its first true road trip of the season, traveling to Athens, Ohio for the Baymont Inn Suites Invitational. The Wildcats open up bright and early Friday morning, facing No. 14 Tennessee at 9 a.m. CT before meeting Pittsburgh at 4 p.m. CT. Northwestern closes out the tournament facing host Ohio at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Scouting the Lady Vols
2010: 6-0 overall, 0-0 Southeastern.
W vs. Oklahoma (3-0), W vs. Florida State (3-0), W at Houston (3-0).
Head Coach: Rob Patrick (Miami (Ohio), 1983). 14th season at Tennessee (273-143, .656).
Key Players: Nikki Fowler (Sr., OH): 74 kills, .329 hitting pct.,; DeeDee Harrison (So., MB): 44 kills, .298 hitting pct., 19 total blocks; Kayla Jeter (Jr., OH): 45 kills, .333 hitting pct., 17 total blocks.
Scouting the Panthers
2010: 1-6 overall, 0-0 Big East.
Last Week: L vs. Purdue (3-0), L vs. Lipscomb (3-0), W vs. Tulane (3-0).
Head Coach: Toby Rens (Morningside, 1992). Third season at Pittsburgh (38-31, .551); 11th season overall (251-149, .628).
Key Players: Amy Town (Sr., OH): 62 kills, 9 total blocks; Imani Harper (Sr., MB): 50 kills, .315 hitting pct., 18 total blocks; Rachel Kalberer (Sr., OH): 26 kills, 7 total blocks.
Scouting the Bobcats
2010: 5-2 overall, 0-0 Mid-American.
Last Week: L vs. North Carolina (3-0), W vs. Southeast Missouri State (3-0), W vs. Texas A&M (3-1), W at Missouri State (3-1).
Head Coach: Ryan Theis (UW-Milwaukee, 2000). Third season at Ohio (56-17, .767).
Key Players: Sue Jacobi (Sr., OH): 119 kills, 12 total blocks, 9 service aces; Katie Post (Jr., MB): 73 kills, .347 hitting pct., 34 total blocks; Mandy Nichols (Sr., OH): 57 kills, .227 hitting pct.
Series Information
Northwestern and Tennessee get together for the seventh time Friday with the Wildcats leading the all-time series 4-2. After dropping the first meeting with the Lady Vols in the 1982 NCAA tournament, the 'Cats reeled off four-straight victories in the series, but Tennessee won the most recent - a 3-1 decision in 1992. Northwestern and Pittsburgh have met four times previously with the Wildcats winning three of the four. The Panthers won the first meeting between the two in 1981, but the Wildcats have won the last three, most recently a 3-1 decision in 2006. Northwestern and Ohio have met just once previously with the Wildcats prevailing 3-2 in 1996 in Evanston.
Familiar Faces
There will be a familiar face on the Ohio bench this weekend at the Baymont Inn Suites Invitational as Bobcat head coach Ryan Theis served as an assistant coach to Keylor Chan at Northwestern in 2004 and 2005. Theis, who is in his third season at the helm of the Bobcats, helped the Wildcats to an NCAA tournament appearance in 2005, which included the upset of Texas A&M for the program's first postseason victory.
Glab Moves Into Third All-Time on Wildcat Assist List
Senior Elyse Glab continued to make a name for herself in the Wildcat record books, as this past weekend she moved pat Jeanne Wohlberg (1991-94) into third-place all-time in program history for assists. Glab, who has started at setter for Northwestern since her freshman season, enters the weekend with 3,713 helpers and currently ranks fourth in the Big Ten in assists per set at 11.50.
Registration Now Taking Place For 2010 `Cats Clinic
The Wildcats are providing an opportunity for all area girls in eighth-grade and under to join them as they host their first-ever in-season skills clinic on Monday, Sept. 20, at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Various drills will be demonstrated in an effort to teach fundamental volleyball skills. The clinic will last approximately 90 minutes, followed by a pizza dinner. Cost of the clinic is $15 and includes a t-shirt, water bottle, Sports Authority coupons and three vouchers for admission to future Wildcat volleyball matches. Registration deadline is Wednesday, Sept 15, and pre-registration is required. To register, or for more information, call (847) 467-6862 or email wildcatmarketing@northwestern.edu.
For the complete weekly release, click the PDF link above.
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