Game Time... The 15th-ranked Red Raiders begin a series of three straight conference matches on the road as they travel to USF to take on the Cougars. Northwestern is 13-5 overall this season, 1-1 in the GPAC, while USF is 11-6 overall, 2-1 in the GPAC.
Scouting Report... With 11 wins so far in 2007, USF has surpassed its win total from each of the past two seasons. They have defeated two opponents, Dordt and College of St. Mary, which have been ranked at some point during the season. Head Coach Lisa Mathes-Peters is in her third season with the Cougars.
USF returns four starters from last year's squad, led by seniors Beth Mathes and Monica Bloyer. Mathes, a 6'0" outside hitter, leads the conference with 4.2 kills per game and is hitting just under 30% this season. She earned honorable mention all-conference honors in 2006. Bloyer, a 5'11" outside hitter, is second on the team in kills (2.4) but ranks fifth in the GPAC in blocks (1.3/game). Jamie Gerdes, also a senior, is averaging 2.1 kills on the right side and 2.3 digs per contest. Sophomores Teri Smith (1.6 kills, .340 attack %) and Alicia Kruger (1.5 kills, 1.2 blocks) add to the Cougar offensive attack.
Senior Danielle Jenkins and freshman Amber Sneller orchestrate the attack as the Cougar setters. Jenkins averages 6.7 assists per contest while Sneller puts up 5.5 assists and leads the team with 28 ace serves. Krystal Den Boer (2.3 digs), Rachel Heeney (2.7 digs) and Jamie Coffman (1.5 digs) man the backline for the Cougars.
Last Time Out... Both teams competed at the Dordt Tournament last weekend. USF finished 2-2 at the tournament, defeating both William Penn and Grand View by 3-0 margins and losing in three straight to Briar Cliff and Dordt. Northwestern won both of their matches at the tournament, recording 3-0 wins over William Penn and Grand View.
Red Raider Notes... Northwestern comes into the USF match with a three match win streak and winners of seven of their past eight matches. They continue to feature a balanced attack at the net with five players averaging over two kills per game. Bobbie jean Rich leads the squad with 3.2 per game while Megan Meyer ranks second with 2.9 per game. Hillary Hanno (2.6), Kaitlin Beaver (2.5) and Randa Hulstein (2.4) round out the offensive weapons for NWC. Rachel Gosselink sets up the attack and averages 12.7 assists per game, second best in the conference. Northwestern has served 111 aces so far this season, led by Beaver with 27, followed by Gosselink with 24. Defensively, Karrisa Davelaar (3.6 digs), Janna Bloemendaal (2.8 digs ) and Delainye Hardersen (1.4 digs) patrol the backrow for the Red Raiders.
Next up... Two more conference matches this weekend as the Red Raiders travel to Concordia on Friday night and go to Hastings for a Saturday match-up.
2007 media guide
