| 2014 NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS VOLLEYBALL | |
| USD-SDSU 2014 Challenge |
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| Date | September 5-6 |
| Location | Jenny Craig Pavilion | San Diego, Calif. |
| Live Stats | vs. Cal State Fullerton | vs. Brown | at USD |
| Watch Live | TheW.tv (USD match only) |
| Social Media | @NUVball  | Northwestern Volleyball  | @nu_volleyball  |
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Looking to build on its unblemished start, Northwestern will the road once again this weekend to participate in the USD-SDSU 2014 Challenge at the Jenny Craig Pavilion in San Diego, Calif. The Wildcats have three matches on the docket with a contest against Cal State Fullerton on Friday, Sept. 5 and matches against Brown and No. 15 San Diego the following day.
Ms. MVP
Northwestern senior outside hitter Yewande Akanbi enjoyed a sensational opening weekend in which she claimed most valuable player honors at the NIU Invitational. The Houstonian averaged 3.82 kills per set and hit at a clip of .369 in three matches. She led the Wildcats in kills in all three matches and tied a career high by hitting .500 (12-0-22) against Presbyterian on Aug. 30. It was Akanbi's first-ever All-Tournament Team recognition.
Top 'Cats
Joining MVP Yewande Akanbi on the NIU Invitational All-Tournament Team were fellow Wildcats Katie Dutchman and Taylor Tashima. Dutchman, a graduate student, hit .500 in DeKalb with two kills per set and eight total blocks. Tashima, a freshman setter, handed out 10.9 assists per set and recorded 1.91 digs per set in her first taste of collegiate volleyball.
Five-Set Success
After playing in eight five-set matches in 2013 (6-2), the Wildcats were pushed to the limit in the first opportunity in 2014. Northwestern dropped the first two sets on opening night to Colorado before storming back to win three in a row. The Buffaloes led the decisive fifth set, 13-10, but Northwestern closed the night on an emphatic 7-2 run to win the match. Yewande Akanbi tallied three crucial kills down the stretch to help complete the comeback.
Senior Leaders
The Wildcats have an experienced group of upperclassmen to lead the way this season. The roster features one fifth-year senior in Katie Dutchman; three true seniors in Yewande Akanbi, Monica McGreal and Savannah Paffen; and two redshirt juniors in Maggie Burnham and Caroline Niedospial. The six veterans have combined to play in 397 matches for Northwestern with 264 starts entering this weekend.
Strong Starts
Northwestern head coach Keylor Chan, now in his 15th season at the helm, has a strong winning percentage in the first match of the season. The Wildcats are 11-4 (.733) on opening day under Chan with wins coming in four of the last five opportunities. Including 2014, the 'Cats have opened with at least three wins six different times.
Presence in the Poll
Northwestern received votes this week in the AVCA top 25 coaches poll that was released Sept. 1 following its three wins at the NIU Invitational. The Wildcats received votes in four editions of the poll a year ago, most recently on Nov. 18, 2013 following wins against 18th-ranked Purdue and Indiana at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The 'Cats have not been in the top 25 since Nov. 15, 2010 when they were recognized for the eighth consecutive week.
Birthday Best
Newcomer Taylor Tashima celebrated a birthday on Aug. 29, the first night of the 2014 season. Playing in her first collegiate tilt, the Wilmette, Ill., native posted a double-double with a match-high 46 assists to go along with 11 digs. She would go on to be named to the NIU Invitational All-Tournament Team.
Dangerous Depth
Northwestern's 2014 roster is unusually deep with 18 student-athletes and most saw the floor on opening weekend. With 15 available, the Wildcats used an average of 12 players at the NIU Invitational last weekend. Head coach Keylor Chan utilized a season-high 14 'Cats in the team's three-set win over Presbyterian on Aug. 30.
California Dreamin'
This weekend marks Northwestern's first trip to California since the 2007 season. The Wildcats went 1-2 at the Loyola Marymount LAX Classic Aug. 31-Sept. 1. NU has visited San Diego one other time under head coach Keylor Chan, in 2002. Chan's squad went 1-2 at that event, as well.
Scouting Cal State Fullerton
The Titans opened the season by winning two matches at their home tournament, the Titan Classic, before falling to Texas Tech in the finale. Niki Withers and McKenna Painton had impressive weekends as the duo netted Big West weekly awards. Withers was named the conference's Freshman of the Week after averaging 4.3 kills per set and earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Painton collected 5.6 digs per set en route to claiming Defensive Player of the Week honors. She also was named to the Titan Classic All-Tournament Team. Northwestern will be facing Cal State Fullerton for the very first time when the two teams step on the floor Friday night.
Scouting Brown
Brown will be opening its season this weekend in San Diego. The Bears are coming off of a 12-13 mark overall and an 8-6 record in Ivy League play. Senior outside hitter Maddie Lord led the team with 2.69 kills per set a year ago, while classmate Kathryn Conner led Brown with 3.68 digs per set in 2013. Lord, a California native, was an All-Ivy League Second Team honoree a year ago. The Wildcats are facing Brown for the second time in three seasons and the third time overall on Saturday afternoon. NU has won both previous matchups by 3-0 scores.
Scouting No. 15 San Diego
San Diego went 2-1 during opening weekend with its only loss coming at No. 7 Purdue. The Toreros were able to beat both LSU and USF at the Mortar Board Premier, which was hosted by the Boilermakers. USD's Alaysia Brown and Jianna Bonomi were named to the All-Tournament Team at Purdue. Brown sent down a team-high 37 kills at a clip of .272, while Bonomi handed out 7.2 assists per set in West Lafayette. The Toreros lead the all-time series against Northwestern 1-0 after winning a five-set match on their home floor on Sept. 6, 2002.
Up Next
After playing its first six matches away from home, Northwestern returns to Welsh-Ryan Arena on Sept. 12 to open a season-long nine-match homestand. The 'Cats will host Youngstown State, Loyola and Virginia in the Wildcat Classic, Sept. 12-13.
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