Illinois Trip On the Docket for Ohio State – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 7, 2015
RELATED INFO
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 9 Ohio State University women’s volleyball program carries its highest national ranking since 2004 into a weekend road trip destined for the state of Illinois. Ohio State is set to square off with Northwestern Friday (Oct. 9) at 7 p.m CT/8 p.m. ET before a Saturday (Oct. 10) night scuffle against the 13th-ranked Fighting Illini also starting at 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET.
WEEKLY BASICS
Friday, Oct. 9 – 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET – Evanston, Ill. (Welsh-Ryan Arena)
#9 Ohio State (14-2, 3-1 Big Ten) vs. Northwestern (10-5, 2-2 Big Ten)
Live Stats: SIDEARM Sports
Live Video: BTN Plus
Saturday, Oct. 10 – 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET – Champaign, Ill. (Huff Hall)
#9 Ohio State vs. #13 Illinois (11-4, 2-2 Big Ten)
Live Stats: SIDEARM Sports
Live Video: BTN Plus
HISTORY WITH THE WILDCATS AND FIGHTING ILLINI
Ohio State owns a 52-20 advantage in the all-time series against Northwestern, including a 19-12 mark in Evanston. The Buckeyes have won the last two meetings and 11 of 13 since head coach Geoff Carlston arrived in 2008. Illinois has a slight upper hand, however, leading the series 40-36. The tight match-up has continued recently with the last six bouts split three wins apiece.
BIG TEN’S BEST
In just her sixth week of collegiate volleyball, Audra Appold was selected as the Big Ten’s Player (co) and Freshman of the Week on Monday (Oct. 5) after leading the Buckeyes to wins over Iowa and No. 4 Nebraska. Appold averaged 3.65 kills per set and posted a hitting percentage of .365. She recorded her first career double-double by racking up 22 kills and 17 digs vs. the Huskers.
Taylor Sandbothe and Valeria León received Big Ten recognition in back-to-back weeks following tournament titles for Ohio State at the Sports Imports D.C. Koehl Classic and the Blackbird Invitational. Sandbothe’s Most Outstanding Player performance in the Sports Imports D.C. Koehl Classic earned Big Ten Co-Player of the Week honors on Sept. 7. León pulled off a similar feat two weeks ago, named both the Blackbird Invitational’s MVP and Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 14).
RPI REPPIN’
The NCAA released the first official Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) of the season on Monday (Oct. 5). Ohio State cracked the RPI Top-10, slotted No. 8 in the intitial rankings which carry substantial weight in determining NCAA Tournament participants and First/Second Round hosts.
THE BIG TEN GAUNTLET
Eight Big Ten programs are ranked in this week’s AVCA Division I Coaches Poll, including No. 3 Penn State, No. 4 Nebraska, No. 9 Ohio State, No. 11 Minnesota, No. 13 Illinois, No. 16 Wisconsin, No. 19 Purdue and No. 24 Michigan. In addition, Michigan State is receiving votes. Thirteen of 14 conference schools posted winning percentages above .700 during non-conference action.
Speaking of non-conference foes, Ohio State has also faced No. 14 Arizona, No. 18 Florida State (twice) and Wyoming (receiving votes) this season. As of this week’s rankings, over half of the Buckeyes’ matches will be against schools nationally-ranked or receiving votes (17 of 32 regular season matches).
