• Game Notes (PDF)
• Live Stats: vs. UCLA  |  at UCSB  |  vs. Idaho
• Live Audio: at UCSB  |  vs. Cal Poly
• Live Video: vs. UCLA  |  at UCSB  |  vs. Idaho

Northeastern Heads West
Undefeated Northeastern (4-0, 0-0 CAA) heads to the west coast this weekend and will be put to the test in four-consecutive matches. The Huskies will take part in the UCSB Invitational in Santa Barbara, Calif., on Friday and Saturday before a neutral game against Cal Poly on Sunday. On Friday night, the Huskies combat last year's national champion, UCLA, before a contests against host UC Santa Barbara and Idaho on Saturday. The four squads are a combined 5-6 on the season, but have faced stiff competition across the board. The Huskies went west last season and went 1-2, defeating UC Riverside (3-2) and losing to San Diego (0-3) and Missouri State (0-3).

Northeastern vs. #3 UCLA
Friday marks the first ever meeting between the Bruins and the Huskies. No. 3 UCLA is attempting to repeat as national champions in 2012, but is 1-1 after being upset by then-No. 4 Nebraska in five sets on the road last Saturday. The Bruins return their top three scorers, outside hitters Rachael Kidder, Tabi Love and Kelly Reeves, who combined for 1,138 of the team's 1,859 kills a year ago. UCLA opened the season with a 3-1 win over Notre Dame, but fell the next week to Nebraska in five sets before losing to the Chinese national team, Jiangsu, in an exhibition contest.

Northeastern vs. UC Santa Barbara
Host UCSB welcomes Northeastern for the first time in the history of both schools. The Gauchos (2-1, 0-0 Big West) will play Idaho Friday before facing the Huskies in the early Saturday match. Chosen to finish fourth in the Big West, UCSB returns just three starters from last year's squad, compared to seven incoming freshmen. But outside hitters Leah Sully and Kara Sherrard will keep the Gauchos competitive on the court. Both were top-three on the team in digs and kills.

Northeastern vs. Idaho
The Vandals (2-1, 0-0 WAC) are coming off a lengthy five-set win against Washington State in the Idaho Nike Invitational this past weekend and are set to play on the road for the first time this season. Just three games into 2012, Idaho leads their foes in every major offensive category, compiling more assists more attacks and more aces than the opposition. Idaho lost two seniors from last year, but the Vandals returns their leading attacker, outside hitter Allison Walker, among four other All-WAC players.

Northeastern vs. Cal Poly
Cal Poly (0-3, 0-0 Big West) returns just two seniors from last year, but the loss of two-time All-American Jennifer Keddy to injury limits the Mustangs on the offensive side. They will look to a host of young talent to step in, including Megan McConnell and junior Marianne Gera, both of whom have shown potential as outside hitters. The Mustangs and Huskies have met just once before, in 2008, when then No. 14 Cal Poly defeated NU, 3-0 in San Luis Obispo.

Outperforming the Opposition
The Huskies had 26 service aces in their opening three games, while holding opponents to only 13. NU also outblocked its last four opponents by a significant 48-24 margin.

Leading the Way
Nichole Kurz and Natalia Skiba lead the CAA in blocks and digs, respectively, after the week and a half of play. Kurz's 15.0 total blocks and Skiba's 5.87 digs per set are tops in the conference. The Huskies, as a team, are tied for second in the league with 2.73 blocks per set. Northeastern is also tied with the best winning percentage (1.000) as Hofstra and Towson both went undefeated (5-0) in the first weekend of action.

Skiba Recognized by the CAA
Natalia Skiba was named CAA Defensive Player of the Week on August 27th, after helping the Huskies to a 3-0 start to the 2012 campaign. The sophomore recorded 73 digs over three matches, including a career-best, 30-dig performance in the win over SHU.

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