As it leaves for its second conference road trip this season, two questions are frustrating the Northwestern volleyball team.
Why is Ohio State (6-7, 0-4 Big Ten), which plays NU on Saturday, in the Top 25 despite a losing record?
And if the Cats have a significantly better mark, why are they not?
NU (10-6, 3-1 Big Ten) will try to put its mind at ease this weekend and come home with two wins to further prove that it deserves a national ranking. The Wildcats face unranked Indiana on Friday and No. 24 Ohio State on Saturday.
Last year’s conference champion and preseason Big Ten favorite this season, the Buckeyes are in the middle of a a lackluster season.
Their disappointing record has them in 10th place in the conference.
“We definitely have the potential to win,” NU freshman Christie Gardner said. “Ohio State’s had a lot of injuries lately.”
In the first four weeks of the season, five Ohio State players suffered injuries ranging from stress fractures to a concussion. Four of the five sidelined Buckeyes won’t be able to play against the Cats.
But Ohio State boasts at least one star player, last week’s Big Ten Player of the Week, Stacey Gordon. The sophomore outside hitter had 17 digs and 36 kills in the Buckeyes’ loss to Michigan last weekend.
“If we can shut her down, we should come out with the win,” said Gardner, a outside hitter/librero specialist.
Still, the name “Ohio State” evokes memories of a volleyball dynasty, even if the record is less than stellar this season. The Buckeyes won both of their matches against the Cats in 2001 and have dominated the all-time series 34-13.
As for Friday night’s event, an NU win won’t come easy. Indiana might have a losing conference record, but its overall mark is much better. The Hoosiers (11-5, 1-3) are enjoying a six-game home winning streak as well.
One particular trouble spot may come at the net on Friday. Indiana sophomore setter Victoria Zimmerman’s 13.72 assists per game currently rank fourth in the nation. Her counterpart, NU setter Drew Robertson, likely will need to repeat the 10 digs she put up in the Cats’ last outing, a 3-0 loss to Minnesota.
The Hoosiers have an NU connection as well. Gardner’s sister Laurie played three seasons as a setter for the Hoosiers, but transferred to Arizona this season. But Gardner is trying to push that fact out of her mind during this weekend’s match.
“I want to go in and play my best against them,” Gardner said. “I’m not going to think of them as where my sister went.”
Currently third in conference play, the Cats are looking to end the weekend 5-1 in the Big Ten and earn a spot among the country’s elite.
“With two wins,” Gardner said, “we should be pretty much where we need to be to get into the Top 25.”
NU (10-6, 3-1 Big Ten) at Indiana (11-5, 1-3)
6 p.m. today
Bloomington, Ind.
NU (10-6, 3-1) at No. 24 Ohio St. (6-7, 0-4)
6 p.m. Saturday
Columbus, Ohio
