The Daily Northwestern
Forgive fifth-year Northwestern volleyball coach Keylor Chan ifhe doesn’t seem overly concerned about the Cats’ .500 record after10 non-conference games — especially considering the team was 8-3at the same date last year.
He’s not dwelling on his graduated seniors, rare talents such asErika Lange, a two-time All-Big Ten performer who led theconference in blocks for three straight years, and Iwona Lodzik,whose 4.48 kills per game broke a nine-year NU record. Rather, hesimply understands how much the team can improve.
In fact, with six freshmen on the 13-player roster — includingan almost unheard of four freshman starters — he’s almostoptimistic about the Big Ten schedule, which begins today when No.4 Penn State comes to town.
“I think we’re building this class to take NU where it’s neverbeen,” Chan said. “(The freshmen) came here because they believe inwhat we’ve done and what we’ve accomplished, and their goals are toelevate our program to the next level.”
The NU freshman class is ranked No. 20 nationally byPrepVolleyball.com and is fourth in the Big Ten, ahead of Penn St.,Minnesota and Illinois — teams ranked in the top 13 in the USAToday/College Sports Coaches Poll.
The Cats have gotten key contributions from their youngsters,such as outside hitter Courtnie Paulus, who has made a name forherself with 84 kills and a team-leading 3.5 kills per game.
But more impressively, she has made two all-tourney teams, thefirst freshman to accomplish that feat since senior Drew Robertson,now a co-captain. Paulus shared the honor with Robertson at theChicago Challenge and was NU’s sole all-tourney selection at lastweekend’s Wildcat Classic.
At the net are freshmen Stefanie Alde and Brittney Aldridge –playing Lange’s middle blocker position — who have a combined 59blocks between them. Alde leads the team with 30, while Aldridgehas 29.
In addition, redshirt freshman Stephanie Jurivich and truefreshman Lindsay Anderson both have started games for the Cats thisseason.
“I think (the freshmen) have done a great job,” Chan said.”They’ve come in, they’ve learned how to compete at this level, andthe more experience they have, the better they’re going to get, sowe’re thrilled with their progress so far.”
But with the new faces, the Cats have been even more reliant onthe leadership of their co-captains, Robertson and junior ChristieGardner. The two veterans have had to tolerate more errors andmental mistakes, all the while pushing their teammates to dobetter.
“We know we have to ease them in,” Gardner said. “Let them makemistakes, let them learn from their mistakes and just show them(what to do) through our example as upperclassmen.”
After surviving a formidable non-conference schedule thatincluded three top-25 teams, the Cats face two more stiff testswhen No. 4 Penn State comes to Welsh-Ryan Arena on Friday, followedby No. 20 Ohio State on Saturday.
Gardner said she thinks the tough non-conference schedule hashelped prepare the young team for the Big Ten.
“I think this was our toughest preseason by far, and (thefreshmen) have fared well against our opponents,” she said.”They’ve all gotten a chance to go out there and play, and they’veall done very well when they’ve been on the court.”
Even with two nationally ranked teams coming to town, the youngCats are not intimidated.
“We’re definitely ready to go in and compete with them,” Aldesaid. “We’ve been having really good practices this week, and Ithink we’re definitely ready to start the Big Ten to see how farwe’ve come since the preseason.”
Reach Anthony Tao at [email protected].
