Sept. 30, 2010
No. 25 Northwestern (12-1, 2-0 Big Ten) at Wisconsin (11-3, 0-3 Big Ten)
Friday, Oct. 1 Wisconsin Field House Madison, Wis.
No. 25 Northwestern (12-1, 2-0 Big Ten) at No. 7 Illinois (11-2, 3-0 Big Ten)
Saturday, Oct. 2 Huff Hall Champaign, Ill.
Live Video: Wisconsin Illinois
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Northwestern Match Notes 
Opening Serve
25th-ranked Northwestern prepares for a pair of Big Ten rivals this weekend, making its first road trip of the conference season. The Wildcats head north to Madison for a meeting with Wisconsin on Friday, Oct. 1, then head south to Champaign for a ranked battle against in-state rival Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 2. Both matches get underway at 7 p.m.
Scouting the Badgers
2010: 11-3 overall, 0-3 Big Ten.
Last Week: L vs. Ohio State (2-3), L vs. Penn State (0-3), L vs. Illinois (1-3).
Head Coach: Pete Waite (Ball State, 1981). 12th season at Wisconsin (267-103, .722); 23rd season overall (533-205, .722).
Key Players: Allison Wack (Sr., OH): 140 kills, .205 hitting pct., 21 service aces; Elise Walch (Fr., OH): 136 kills, .230 hitting pct., 15 total blocks; Dominique Thompson (Fr., MB): 100 kills, .279 hitting pct., 45 total blocks; Janelle Gabrielsen (Jr., S): 477 assists, 51 kills, 33 total blocks; Kim Kuzma (Sr., LIB): 223 digs, seven service aces.
Scouting the Illini
2010: 11-2 overall, 3-0 Big Ten. Ranked 7th in the latest AVCA coaches poll.
Last Week: W vs. Penn State (3-2), W vs. Ohio State (3-0), W at Wisconsin (3-1).
Head Coach: Kevin Hambly (BYU, 1995). Second season at Illinois (37-8, .822).
Key Players: Laura DeBruler (Sr., OH): 115 kills, .212 hitting pct,; Colleen Ward (Jr., OH): 197 kills, .301 hitting pct., 19 total blocks; Michelle Bartsch (Jr., OH): 140 kills, 71 total blocks; Johannah Bangert (Sr., MB): 63 total blocks, 95 kills, .433 hitting pct.; Hillary Haen (Sr., S): 592 assists, 13 service aces, 19 total blocks; Jennifer Bonilla (Fr., LIB): 205 digs, seven service aces.
Series Information
Northwestern and Wisconsin meet for the 71st time Friday evening with the Badgers holding a 25-45 edge in the all-time series. The border rivals split the pair of meetings in 2009 with the Wildcats taking a 3-1 decision at Welsh-Ryan to snap an 11-game losing skid to the Badgers. Wisconsin's Field House has not been kind to Northwestern as the Wildcats have not won in Madison since 1985, a stretch of 24 matches. Saturday also mark the 71st meeting between in-state rivals Northwestern and Illinois as the Illini lead the series 44-26. Illinois has won the last three in the series, but the Wildcats have fared well at Huff Hall in recent years, winning six of the last eight times in Champaign.
Northwestern Cracks AVCA Top-25 Poll For First Time Since 1987
Fresh off a pair of Big Ten victories over the weekend and holding the program's best record since a 14-1 start in 1987, Northwestern finds itself at 25th in the latest AVCA Division I Coaches Top-25 poll, released today. It marks the first time Northwestern has been nationally ranked since the 1987 season. After receiving votes in each of the past two weeks, the Wildcats received 60 votes to check in at 25th in the September 27th edition of the poll. They are one of five Big Ten schools to be listed among the top-25, joining Penn State (No. 4), Illinois (No. 7), Minnesota (No. 17) and Michigan (No. 19). Ohio State and Purdue were also listed among teams receiving votes for the week.
Glab Becomes Fourth Wildcat To Reach 4,000 Career Assists
Senior Elyse Glab continues to make a name for herself in the Wildcat record books as this past weekend she became just the third player in Northwestern history to reach 4,000 career assists. Glab, who has started at setter for Northwestern since her freshman season, reached the milestone in the Friday night victory over Indiana, and currently sits third all-time in program history, needing 667 helpers to surpass Liz Renius (1995-98) to move in to second. She has also established herself as one of the best in the Big Ten as well, ranking second in assists per set at 11.63.
For the complete weekly release, click the PDF link above.
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