Northwestern Hosts In-State Rival Illinois Wednesday

Wednesday, November 4

Evanston, Ill.

7 p.m. CT

Northwestern

Illinois

Northwestern Hosts In-State Rival Illinois Wednesday

11/3/2015 2:25:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

By: Carsten Parmenter

NORTHWESTERN VOLLEYBALL: MATCH INFORMATION
DATE	OPPONENT	TIME	LOCATION	BROADCAST	LIVE STATS
Wednesday, Nov. 4	#18 Illinois	7 p.m.	Welsh-Ryan Arena (Evanston, Ill.)	BTN Plus	Sidearm
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EVANSTON, Ill. – Fresh off a big weekend win over Michigan State, the Northwestern volleyball team (13-10, 5-7) will look to keep things rolling at home when it hosts in-state rival Illinois (15-8, 6-6) at 7 p.m. inside Welsh-Ryan Arena.

The Wildcats and 18th-ranked Illini have split the season series the past two years. The home team has won in each of the last four meetings.

The teams will have a quick turnaround and play each other again Saturday night in Champaign, Ill. at 7 p.m.

Tomorrow night's match will feature a free hot cookie bar for all Northwestern students from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Nation's Most Tested
Northwestern has the toughest schedule in the nation based off of opponents' won-loss record. The Wildcats opponents, past and future, in 2015 have compiled a cumulative winning percentage of .662. The next closest is UCLA, whose opponents' average is .657. Northwestern's non-conference and early Big Ten slate is rated the third-hardest in the country, while its future schedule in conference play is rated the 15th-toughest. The Wildcats' remaining opponents have combined for a .673 winning percentage.

Defensive Dominance
Sophomore Gabrielle Hazen has been a defensive force for Northwestern all year, racking up team highs in solo blocks (16), assisted blocks (54) and total blocks (70) so far in 2015. Her strong play culminated in a career-high eight block night in a win over Michigan State on Oct. 31. Hazen tallied five solo blocks, becoming only the second Big Ten player to do so this season. She currently ranks 10th in the conference with 1.15 blocks per set.

Dig It
Carks Niedospial is on pace to rank among the best liberos in program history. The senior currently sits in third place all-time with 1,650 digs. She trails Christie Gardner by only 8 for second-place in Northwestern program history. She has the fourth (553 in 2013) and fifth (548 in 2014) highest single-season dig totals in Wildcat volleyball history.

Northwestern All-Time Dig Leaders
1. Kate Nobilio                      2006-09         2,194
2. Christie Gardner               2002-05         1,658
3. Caroline Niedospial       2011-Pres.    1,650
4. Janine Makar                     1985-88         1,430
5. Julie Chin                           2009-12         1,415