|
|
Post by 3ball on Sept 18, 2022 9:06:03 GMT -5
Let’s show the Cats some love! Cats are 11-1 and won the Chicago Cup this weekend. Alexa Rousseau had Triple/double (44, 11D, 11K)vs DePaul and Double/Double vs Loyola. Dodson and Becker strong in the middle and Temi Thomas-Ailara another strong performance. At Wisconsin Friday 9/23. Cats look primed for a good run in the B1G!
|
|
|
|
Post by vbcoltrane on Sept 18, 2022 10:23:00 GMT -5
As an alum, I'm rooting for them to make the tournament. I think they'll probably need 8 conference wins. I wasn't thrilled with the 3-2 win over Loyola - but it was the third match in three days. And Loyola took two sets from both Michigan and Tennessee, and a set from Marquette. Though they were beaten badly by Purdue. I guess I'm saying that Loyola isn't terrible.
|
|
|
|
Post by PostPrime on Sept 18, 2022 10:35:26 GMT -5
Nice run. Let’s see how the strategy plays out. I suspect a ncaa bid.
|
|
|
|
Post by ballvolley on Sept 19, 2022 9:25:08 GMT -5
Hoping it’s (finally) a breakout year for the Cats, but it’s a loonnng B1G season. They *should* notch wins over Rutgers (x2), Iowa, Maryland, Illinois, Michigan and Michigan State at home and at Indiana. They also should be able to pull out an early match at Illinois since they are a bit down after this weekend. They’ve also played better at Maryland, so that’s a possibility. So those are 10 very doable matches. But, the B1G is brutal so I’m calling 7 of those as Ws, and maybe a stretch win against one of the big dogs.
Their Loyola oops is par for the course. Those two teams always play each other very close no matter who is clearly the more superior. Hopefully their dominating Pepperdine sweep wasn’t an anomaly. That performance (and overall weekend) has set expectations high, so a B1G stumble would be a let down. Hopefully they get better W-O-W. Rousseau needs to figure out blocking. If she can, she’s an even bigger threat. Temi is the real deal, Lesiak is a steady L2, and their middles are becoming more exciting. Randorf has been impressive and could benefit from more sets, and Miller has become a rock in the back row. The question is… can Shane Davis actually do the coaching needed for this team to reach its potential? TBD.
|
|
|
|
Post by hornshouse23 on Sept 19, 2022 9:38:38 GMT -5
Nice run. Let’s see how the strategy plays out. I suspect a ncaa bid. TTA deserves. |
|
|
|
Post by vbcoltrane on Sept 19, 2022 9:44:12 GMT -5
People have poo-pooed the Pepperdine win because it was the Waves' 3rd match in 24 hours. Fair point, but NWU still got it done vs a good team. And while maybe the Pepperdine win doesn't tell as much as we'd like about the Cats compared to if they had played a "fresh" Pepperdine team, none of that matters for record and RPI implications. An important win to have on the books.
|
|
|
|
Post by vbcoltrane on Sept 19, 2022 9:50:04 GMT -5
Loyola and Northwestern should have a good rivalry. The schools are only, what, five miles apart? And you can easily take the train from one to the other. The Lake Michigan Melee (both on Lake Michigan) The Sheridan Road Skirmish (both off of Sheridan Road) El Rivalry (both pretty close to the "El" tracks/train line)
|
|
|
|
Post by volleynerdmw on Sept 19, 2022 15:24:02 GMT -5
As an alum, I'm rooting for them to make the tournament. I think they'll probably need 8 conference wins. I wasn't thrilled with the 3-2 win over Loyola - but it was the third match in three days. And Loyola took two sets from both Michigan and Tennessee, and a set from Marquette. Though they were beaten badly by Purdue. I guess I'm saying that Loyola isn't terrible. Northwestern was down 1-0 to DePaul and was lucky to win set 2. Down 23-21 and won 25-23. Rolled from there but they make a ton of mistake that keep mid-majors in the match. If they do that in league play they will pay. |
|
|
|
Post by HawkDad on Sept 19, 2022 15:32:49 GMT -5
Count it. 2 B1G Players of the Week.
Congrats to Temi Thomas-Ailara and Alexa Rousseau on their first PoW awards.
Player of the Week
Temi Thomas-Ailara, Northwestern
Sr. – OH – Glenwood, Ill. – Marian Catholic – Major: Biomedical Engineering
• Registered 4.75 kills, 1.67 digs and 0.67 blocks per set with a .311 hitting percentage last weekend, sparking Northwestern to three victories and the Chicago Cup title
• Recorded a double-double (19 kills, 12 digs) in the tournament opener Sept. 16 vs. DePaul and tallied a season-high 24 kills on .367 hitting in a five-set win over Loyola-Chicago on Sept. 17, helping NU to an 11-1 record, its best start to a season since 2012
• Twice chosen for Academic All-Big Ten recognition (2020, 2021)
• Captured her first career Player of the Week citation
• Last Northwestern Player of the Week: Hanna Lesiak (Sept. 5, 2022)
Setter of the Week
Alexa Rousseau, Northwestern
Jr. – Bloomfield Hills, Mich. – Bloomfield Hills – Major: Communication Studies
• Averaged 10.33 assists, 2.58 digs and 1.42 kills per set with a .306 hitting percentage, a triple-double and a double-double in leading Northwestern to three wins and the Chicago Cup title last weekend
• Logged a career-high 11 kills, 11 digs and 44 assists in the tournament opener against DePaul on Sept. 16
• Added a season-high 46 assists and 11 digs in a five-set win at Loyola-Chicago on Sept. 17, helping the Wildcats improve to 11-1 this year, their best start to a season since 2012
• Received Academic-All-Big Ten plaudits last year
• Secures her first career Setter of the Week selection
• Last Northwestern Setter of the Week: Caleigh Ryan (Sept. 23, 2013)
|
|
|
|
Post by HawkDad on Sept 28, 2022 23:31:46 GMT -5
What a match tonight. Being in that gym and watching this team keep their composure after going down 2-1, and then putting in the effort to beat the Gophers was awesome.
|
|
|
|
Post by volleynerd on Sept 28, 2022 23:49:49 GMT -5
plenty of opportunities for the cats coming up
v. Michigan (THIS SATURDAY)
v. Rutgers (10.07 8PM EDT)
@ Ohio State (10.09 1PM EDT)
v. Maryland (10.14 8PM EDT)
@ Nebraska (10.16 3PM EDT)
|
|
|
|
Post by 3ball on Sept 29, 2022 10:17:30 GMT -5
Cats balled last night! Tremendous team effort!!
|
|
|
|
Post by vbcoltrane on Sept 29, 2022 11:16:25 GMT -5
Is Thomas eligible for another year?
|
|
|
|
Post by vbjustice on Sept 29, 2022 18:27:20 GMT -5
I don’t think I’ve seen a Northwestern thread…ever. Wishing them the best. Temi is such a baller but was full of errors this game. Wonder if she was on could they have taken MN down in 4. Love the BYU transfer add. And Rousseau is so underrated.
|
|
|
|
Post by PostPrime on Sept 29, 2022 22:03:39 GMT -5
Good on NW giving this staff time to build. Hopefully they continue to build.
|
|
