The Northwestern volleyball team can break two ugly streaks this weekend, and its first shot is tonight at Illinois.
NU (4-14, 1-7 Big Ten) has dropped its past six matches and is winless on the road this season at 0-10.
But after the way the Cats played last weekend in losses to Michigan and No. 19 Michigan State, NU coach Keylor Chan is optimistic about the team’s chances on the road tonight against Illinois and Saturday versus Purdue.
“If we play like we did at home this weekend, I think we’ll have two wins,” Chan said. “Illinois and Purdue are struggling, and actually struggled last weekend where we showed improvement. It’s very important that we do get at least one win this weekend.”
Both Illinois (10-9, 1-7) and Purdue (9-11, 1-7) played and lost handily last weekend to two Big Ten leaders in Indiana and No. 12 Penn State.
The Cats want to build on what was an improvement in overall play by bringing home more than a moral victory against the Fighting Illini and Boilermakers.
“We’re very optimistic with what we accomplished last weekend,” sophomore Cassie McKnight said. “We need to get fed up with working hard and coming up short. We need to have the mentality that if we keep working hard, we’re going to win.”
Said Chan: “It’s going to take a lot of effort and emotion. If we execute like we did this last weekend, and pick up right where we left off, it will come down to those two keys.”
Freshman Erika Lange leads the Cats offensively and defensively at the net, averaging 3.36 kills and 1.43 blocks per game. Outside hitter Carmen Burbach contributes 2.61 kills and 2.77 digs per game.
Illinois middle blocker Betsy Spicer (3.80 kills and a .402 hitting percentage) was an All-Big Ten selection last year, but junior Shadia Haddad is the team leader in kills at 4.20 per game.
Julie Doud ranks first on the Boilermakers in kills at 4.27 per game and freshman Joanna Lowry chips in 3.77 kills per game.
The 10-game winless streak attests to the Cats’ woes on the road this year, but McKnight thinks the team has the confidence it needs to break out of that rut.
“Whether it’s on the road or at home should not be that much of a difference,” McKnight said. “What’s attainable at home is also attainable on the road, and we know we can do it.”
Senior Jennifer Armson said that physically, NU matches up well with Illinois and Purdue.
“It’s going to be all mental,” Armson said. “We need to prove that we can play on the road. These teams are equal with us. It’s like playing each other in practice. We have the physical skills, we just need to get it together mentally.”
Added Chan: “I like our matchups. If we can take care of our business, I predict it will be a good weekend for us.”