Oct. 7, 2011

Northwestern (10-6, 1-4 Big Ten) at No. 25 Ohio State (12-5, 2-2 Big Ten)
Saturday, Oct. 8
St. John Arena (13,276)
Columbus, Ohio • 5 p.m.
Streaming Video: Wildcats All-Access
Gametracker: NUsports.com
In-game Twitter updates: @NU_SportsLIVE

Northwestern Match Notes (PDF)

EVANSTON, Ill.-- For the second time in as many matches the Northwestern Wildcats will visit a top-25 opponent on Saturday when they head to Columbus, Ohio to face the No. 25 Ohio State Buckeyes at St. John Arena at 5 p.m.

Earlier this week the Wildcats went the distance with No. 8 Penn State at Rec Hall in University Park, Pa., falling in five thrilling sets Wednesday. NU dropped the back-and-forth first set 25-19, but rebounded to win the second before dropping the third and rallying once again to claim victory in the fourth set. Penn State got the best of Northwestern in the winner-take-all fifth set, however, 15-11.

The 'Cats recorded several notable achievements even in defeat. The triumph in the second set marked the first game Northwestern had taken off the Nittany Lions since Oct. 11, 2003 snapping a streak of 17 in a row without a win. More impressive still, it was the first set the Wildcats won at Rec Hall since Sept. 5, 1987 in a then-non-conference clash which NU would go on win in four sets.

With Penn State in the past the focus shifts to another tall task, No. 25 Ohio State. The Buckeyes are 12-5 overall in 2011 with a record of 2-2 in Big Ten play. Ohio State has won the last six matchups in the series dating back to the 2008 campaign.

The scarlet and gray have been led offensively this season by junior outside hitter Mari Hole. Hole ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 4.16 kills per set, 0.39 behind Northwestern's Stephanie Holthus who ranks second in the league in that category.

Ohio State is yet to play this week and will entertain the country's top-ranked team, Illinois Friday at 6 p.m. at St. John Arena.

The Big Ten battle between the Wildcats and Buckeyes is available on Wildcats All-Access. To watch, please click the link at the top of the page. For more match notes and information, please click the Match Notes link at the top of the page.

Following Saturday's conclusion to the two-match road swing, Northwestern will return to Welsh-Ryan Arena where it will play five of its next six matches beginning with a three-match homestand featuring Michigan State (10/14), No. 18 Michigan (10/15) and No. 1 Illinois (10/19).

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