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Northwestern Returns Home to Face No. 13 Minnesota, Iowa

Saturday, October 20, match against Iowa is Komen Foundation "Dig For The Cure" night

Sophomore libero Kate Nobilio ranks second in the Big Ten with 5.82 digs per game.

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Oct. 17, 2007

Northwestern Games Notes in PDF Format
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- After playing six of its first eight conference matches on the road, Northwestern returns home to Welsh-Ryan Arena this weekend for Big Ten contests against No. 13 Minnesota and Iowa.

Friday's match against the Golden Gophers and Saturday's tilt versus the Hawkeyes both are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Saturday's match also is the Komen Foundation "Dig For The Cure" night to help fight breast cancer. For more information on that promotion, visit NUsports.com.

In a season thus far composed of streaks, Northwestern won its first match of the Big Ten season at then-No. 23 Ohio State, but returns home with hopes of snapping a seven-match losing skid. That skid has come on the heels of an eight-match winning streak that stretched from September 1 to September 22.

While the Wildcats have yet to break through since that opening league victory over the Buckeyes, several outstanding individual performances in recent matches give cause for hope. Senior middle Brittney Aldridge (Hampshire, Ill./Hampshire) set a career high with 17 kills October 13 at Indiana, while sophomore libero Kate Nobilio (Johnsburg, Ill./Johnsburg) had 30 digs in the same match -- marking the fourth time in her career she has notched 30 or more digs.

Minnesota comes to Evanston on a rare three-match losing streak after dropping decisions to Wisconsin and Illinois last week, and to Penn State the week before. The No. 13 Gophers are led on the attack by Brook Dieter's 3.82 kills per game.

Iowa enters the weekend with a 1-7 Big Ten record that is identical to Northwestern's, with the win also coming against Ohio State. Megan Schipper's 3.13 kills per game pace the Hawkeyes, while Becky Walters' .265 hitting percentage is tops on the team.

For Northwestern's complete match notes package on the upcoming weekend in .pdf format, click on the link at the top of the page.

The Weekend

Friday, October 19
No. 13 Minnesota (12-6, 5-3)
at Northwestern (10-9, 1-7) 7 p.m. CT

Saturday, October 20
Iowa (9-10, 1-7)
at Northwestern (10-9, 1-7) 7 p.m. CT

Series Records
Minnesota: Minnesota leads, 38-15
Last Meeting: Nov. 11, 2006 (UM, 3-0)
Iowa: Northwestern leads, 31-23-1
Last Meeting: Nov. 4, 2006 (NU, 3-1)

On The Web
Gametracker will be available at NUsports.com for both matches this weekend. Also, live streaming video of both matches will be available at NUsports.com via CSTV Online's premium All-Access.

October 20 is DIG FOR THE CURE Night
Northwestern is hosting its Komen Foundation "Dig For The Cure" night during its October 20 match against Iowa at 7 p.m. in Welsh-Ryan Arena. To find out how you can get involved, click here.