Big Ten women’s volleyball champion Wisconsin loses four seniors next season. Three members will be absent from runner-up Ohio State’s roster. And third-place Penn State says goodbye to seven graduating players.
And how many seniors will be leaving Northwestern’s team?
None.
What might have been one of the Wildcats’ weaknesses in 2001 could be their greatest asset in 2002. The key to NU’s season will be its experience, as the 2002 squad will feature four seniors.
Although the team didn’t have any seniors last year, it still placed eighth in the Big Ten – its best finish in 10 years. Next season, under the guidance of captains Sarah Ballog and Kelli Meyer, the Cats are primed to take their game even further.
“Last year, we made huge strides as a team and as a program,” head coach Keylor Chan said. “This year, with six returning starters and a strong incoming class, we should be prepared for any situation.”
The Cats’ 10-17 (6-14 Big Ten) record in 2001 was a vast improvement from their 5-25 (2-18) record in 2000. The team that was picked to finish last in the preseason Big Ten coaches’ poll last year surprised everyone – themselves included – by ending up ahead of three teams.
“We made a lot of noise last year and shook up just about every team,” Chan said. “We’re no longer going to be the surprise team.”
As for this fall, the Cats have set high goals for themselves.
“We have a good opportunity to take our game to the next level and make the (NCAA) tournament and see how far we can go,” sophomore Erika Lange said.
The Cats will have a tough time being serious contenders in the dominating volleyball force that is the Big Ten. Five conference teams – Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State and Illinois – rank in the top 20 nationally.
But Chan thinks his team is ready for the stiff competition.
“It’s really anyone’s year,” he said. “This Northwestern squad is ready to cross the line into the upper half of the Big Ten.”
Before the Cats can show their conference foes what they’re made of, they have to get through a tough nonconference schedule that includes five of last year’s NCAA tournament teams and a top-10 squad in Pepperdine.
“The better caliber team we play earlier makes us more prepared for the hard schedule later on,” Lange said.
Helping them to achieve their goals will be the Cats’ middle blockers. The duo of Ballog and Lange made NU the league’s leader in blocks, and Lange ranked No. 9 in the nation in blocks per game.
NU also boasts accomplished setters. Drew Robertson was named to the conference’s All-Freshman team last year. She also returns to the team with more experience after competing on the national Select team with Lange. Team captain Meyer will be setting for the Cats as well.
After its improved season, NU was able to pick up a few top recruits, namely incoming freshman Christie Gardner – MVP of the 2001 under-17 Junior Olympics national tournament.
“(Gardner) has played on the highest club level and could see immediate playing time,” Chan said.
Besides expertise in digs and kills, the outside hitter will provide drama for NU in two conference matchups. Gardner has a sister who plays for Wisconsin and one who plays for Indiana.
The Cats will pick up another outside hitter in Iwona Lodzik, a transfer from Triton. Lodzik brings a 3.48 kills-per-game average as well as professional experience, having trained with the Polish national team.
Capping off the list of new faces will be freshman Lizzie Carlson.
Lange has faith in the talents of her future teammates.
“They should be strong defensively,” the middle blocker said. “They’ll add an extra spark to the team.”
Most of the NU players, minus the recruits, will stay in Evanston this summer and hold practices on the beach, in addition to playing informal matches against DePaul and Loyola.
“We’re just going to stick around and get some chemistry going,” Lange said.
