Naomi Johnson and Sabel Moffett are both junior middle blockers who lead Northwestern in kills and blocks. The similarities end there.
Johnson looms over the net with her 6-foot-3 frame and has a tendency to notch sneaky kills. Moffett relies on her speed and powerful two-footed jump at the net.
“They are vastly different middles,” coach Keylor Chan said. “I would equate it to one being more like a semi-truck and the other more like a racecar.”
The two are never on the court at the same time, and though they play the same the position, they hardly fill the same role.
“I can’t cover the entire court based on speed like Sabel,” Johnson said. “I have had to become a good cheater on the court by reading plays.”
Johnson moved to middle blocker this year after two seasons as an outside hitter, but she played the middle in high school. Back in her natural position, Johnson has replaced graduated middle blocker Chelsy Hyser, who paced the Wildcats’ attack last season with the second highest hitting percentage in team history. Johnson has helped to re-energize the attack, ranking second on the team in kills and blocks while leading it in service aces.
“We set really high standards for each other, and Naomi is always pushing me,” Moffett said. “If I’m having a tough night, she will help me to see something that is open on the court that I did not see before.”
But tough nights have been few and far between for Moffett, who ranks third in the conference in blocks per set (1.44), fourth in hitting percentage (.375), fifth in points per set (4.34) and sixth in kills per set (3.43). Moffett was also named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after recording 10 blocks against both Michigan State and Michigan last weekend. But Moffett’s contributions on the court go beyond the stat sheet.
“She is the emotional center of our team,” Johnson said. “Everyone wants to play with her, and I love it because we really feed off of each other.”
The two rely on each other for reading opponents. The duo’s different styles help them fulfill dual roles, not only blocking, but also knocking down key kills. They staved off a tough block last weekend as they led the Cats to a 3-1 victory over Michigan State, while managing to each notch 17 kills that night.
“The middles for us really are the main offense,” Moffett said. “That means that other teams are committing to us, and we have to find a way to work around that sort of block.”
The two middle blockers will lead NU (14-12, 5-9 Big Ten) against one of the nation’s best blocks as it takes on undefeated No.1 Penn State (26-0, 14-0) on the road this weekend. Senior libero Kate Nobilio will be taking a required test for her major and cannot be at the match. Nobilio will rejoin NU against Ohio State (20-7, 8-6) on Saturday.
Either way, the team will rely on the middles.
“We have found our identity,” Chan said. “It’s all about the middles, baby.”[email protected]
