Oct. 7, 2010
No. 24 Wildcats (13-2, 3-1 Big Ten) vs. Iowa (6-8, 1-4 Big Ten)
Welsh-Ryan Arena Friday, October 8 7 p.m.
No. 24 Wildcats (13-2, 3-1 Big Ten) vs. No. 16 Minnesota (14-3, 4-1 Big Ten)
Welsh-Ryan Arena Sunday, October 10 1 p.m.
TV: Minnesota match will be broadcast on tape delay at 6 p.m. CT Sunday, Oct. 10, on the Big Ten Network.
Gametracker:
In-Match Twitter Updates: @NU_SportsLIVE
Northwestern Volleyball Match Notes
Opening Serve
24th-ranked Northwestern returns to the friendly confines of Welsh-Ryan Arena for a pair of Big Ten matches this weekend. The Wildcats host Iowa at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8 before taking on Minnesota in a Sunday matinee, beginning at 1 p.m. on Oct. 10.
Northwestern Makes First Appearance of 2010 on Big Ten Network
Northwestern's match against 16th-ranked Minnesota Sunday afternoon will be broadcast tape delayed on the Big Ten Network at 6 p.m. CT Sunday evening. Mike Wolf and Megan Bower will be on the call for the Network, as fans are encouraged to wear purple and sit on the bleachers behind the Wildcat bench, showing the nation their support for Northwestern volleyball.
Scouting the Hawkeyes
2010: 6-8 overall, 1-4 Big Ten.
Last Week: W vs. Indiana (3-2), L vs. Purdue (0-3), L vs. Minnesota (0-3).
Head Coach: Sharon Dingman (Northern Michigan, 1984). Third season at Iowa (33-45, .423); 20th season overall (369-257, .589).
Key Players: Becky Walters (R-Sr., MB): 142 kills, .247 hitting pct., 29 service aces, 54 total blocks; Mallory Husz (Jr., MB): 134 kills, .253 hitting pct., 48 total blocks; Rachael Bedell (Fr., OH): 112 kills, 25 total blocks; Paige Stevens (Jr., S): 347 assists, five service aces, 17 total blocks; Bethany Yeager (Fr., LIB): 252 digs, four service aces..
Scouting the Golden Gophers
2010: 14-3 overall, 4-1 Big Ten. Ranked 16th in the latest AVCA coaches poll.
Last Week: W vs. Purdue (3-1), W vs. Indiana (3-0), W at Iowa (3-0).
Head Coach: Mike Hebert (UC Santa Barbara, 1966). 15th season at Minnesota (370-130, .740); 35th season overall (942-351, .729).
Key Players: Tabi Love (So., OH): 231 kills, .243 hitting pct., 14 service aces, 38 total blocks; Ashley Wittman (Fr., OH): 217 kills, .322 hitting pct., 47 total blocks; Tori Dixon (Fr., MB): 132 kills, .322 hitting pct., 62 total blocks; Stephanie Nucci (Jr., S): 405 assists, 17 kills, 17 total blocks; Jessica Granquist (Jr, LIB): 304 digs, six service aces..
Series Information
Northwestern and Iowa meet up for the 62nd time Friday night as the Wildcats hold a 34-26-1 record in the all-time series after defeating the Hawkeyes 3-0 in Evanston last season. Northwestern has held the upper hand against Iowa during the Keylor Chan era, winning 12 of 13 matches from 2001 to 2007 before a three-match Hawkeye winning streak from 2008-09. Sunday marks the 60th meeting between Northwestern and Minnesota with the Golden Gophers leading the all-time series 43-16. Minnesota has won the last five matches between the two since a 3-2 Wildcat victory at Welsh-Ryan Arena in 2007.
Northwestern Ranked 10th in First NCAA RPI Ranking of 2010
The NCAA released its first RPI rankings of the 2010 season on Monday, October 4, with Northwestern checking in at 10th following its 13-2 start. The Wildcats, who are also ranked 24th in this week's AVCA Coaches Top-25 poll, are one of four Big Ten schools among the top 10, joining Illinois (third), Penn State (fifth) and Minnesota (eighth).
Moffett Milestone Watch
Senior Sabel Moffett continues to establish herself among the Wildcats' all-time greats. Moffett, who set a single-season program record with her .349 hitting percentage in 2009, currently ranks first all-time with a career .312 attack percentage, eight points better than second-place Erika Lange. Moffett also looks to move up among the Wildcats' career block leaders, currently eighth all-time in solo blocks (76), fifth in block assists (351) and seventh in total blocks (427). She enters the weekend with 950 career kills, needing just 50 more to become the 19th member of the Northwestern 1,000-kill club.
Secure Your Spot For the 2010 Camp Out With The 'Cats!
On November 6, the `Cats face Wisconsin and following the match, girls in the 8th grade and under are invited to the 3rd annual Camp Out with the 'Cats! At the event, guests will spend the night with the volleyball team, where they can eat pizza with the team, play games and stay up late to watch a movie. To register for the popular camp out or for more information, call the Wildcat marketing department at (847) 467-6862 or email wildcatmarketing@northwestern.edu.
For the complete weekly release, click the PDF link above.
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