Previewing IU-Purdue volleyball
Check out the latest episode of "Inside IU Volleyball with Coach Dunbar". This week, assistant athletic director Kelly Noonan is the special guest.
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Check out the latest episode of "Inside IU Volleyball with Coach Dunbar". This week, assistant athletic director Kelly Noonan is the special guest.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Redemption may be part of the theme for IU volleyball this year. The Hoosiers lost last year’s home match against Purdue, and now IU looks to redeem itself at 7 p.m. today at University Gym in its first Big Ten game this season. IU has opened the season undefeated with 12 consecutive non-conference wins, but the Big Ten will likely provide tougher competition. In the most recent national top 25 coaches’ poll, four Big Ten teams were ranked and four others received votes for the poll.For Wednesday, it’s a showdown between conference rivals with the game airing live on the Big Ten Network.“I’m really excited. The atmosphere I’ll be playing in will be amazing,” freshman defensive specialist Caitlin Hansen said.IU coach Sherry Dunbar discussed the nature of the rivalry game.“When we play Purdue, it’s that typical rival match, a dog fight, and the energy is really high,” Dunbar said. “The game will have the most grit to it because we are playing for our schools.”For IU to maintain its undefeated record, it will have to get past a 9-2 Purdue team that has wins against Louisville and Pittsburgh this season.The two Boilermakers the Hoosiers will need to focus on are sophomore outside hitter Ariel Turner and junior middle blocker Tiffany Fisher. Currently, Turner tops the conference in kills with 166 this season.Purdue is fourth in the Big Ten with 566 digs this season.“We just have to come out and find that identity of our team,” Dunbar said.For the Hoosiers, senior middle blocker Ashley Benson leads the conference with a .517 hitting percentage.Defensively, the Hoosiers are second in the conference in opposition hitting percentage, allowing a .101 hitting percentage.“Defense is the first ball contact because we decide every point since we get the first ball,” Hansen said.Along with freshman defensive specialist Melanie Hicks, the freshmen composure has been key in the defensive end. “I think Caitlin and Melanie have done a fantastic job,” Dunbar said. “I’ve heard people say that they don’t act like freshman on the court.”With sophomore defensive specialist Laura Matula out for the game with back problems, the two freshmen will be the focus of stopping the Boilermakers’ attack.“I think the biggest thing for us is to stay composed and believe in each other,” Hansen said.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU volleyball team won its last two nonconference matches with ease Saturday, defeating DePaul and host Miami of Ohio to claim the Miami Best Western Invitational championship.The Hoosiers (12-0) opened play by beating DePaul, 25-22, 25-15, 25-21 and 25-20 for their first four-set victory of the season.Sophomore right-side hitter Kelci Marschall, who was named Tournament MVP, stepped up with 19 kills and three block assists in the match.Marschall and others agreed the Hoosiers started slow against the Blue Demons.“We didn’t come out and have a sense of urgency in the first match,” Marschall said.However, IU had a balance on the setter position as sophomore setter Whitney Granado returned to the court after suffering concussion-like symptoms.“I thought Whitney got back into running the offense when she played,” IU coach Sherry Dunbar said.IU improved later that evening.“After losing the set to DePaul, we regrouped and corrected some of the mistakes we were making,” Marschall said. “Our energy level against Miami was a lot better.”The Hoosiers beat the RedHawks in straight sets, 25-12, 25-21 and 25-20.“The first match we were a little sluggish,” Dunbar said. “We were a totally different team tonight.”Marschall, an Ohio native, felt comfortable playing with family supporting her there.“I was just a lot more consistent today and limited my errors,” Marchall said. “It feels good to play well back in my home state.”The win was the ninth straight-set victory in IU’s 12 games.Senior middle blocker Ashley Benson led the team with 11 kills on the match.The team opens Big Ten play against in-state rival Purdue (9-2) at 7 p.m. Wednesday at University Gym.“This positions us, gives us confidence and prepares us mentally for a great showdown against Purdue,” Dunbar said.
The Hoosiers (12-0) were looking to get preparation for Big Ten conference play and an undefeated record shows they are ready.
IU volleyball wins the first set against Miami (Ohio): 25-12
IU volleyball wins first set (1-0): 25-22 against Depaul
We had a full sports section today. In fact, too much to run in print. But here's the place to find it all:
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A goal for the volleyball team was to finish the season undefeated in non-conference play.The Hoosiers (10-0) are two wins away from doing just that.The team faces DePaul and Miami (OH) this Saturday in a the Miami (OH) tournament in Oxford, Ohio.“The goal obviously is go to 12-0,” IU coach Sherry Dunbar said. “We have to focus on finishing off this part of the season on a high note.”Although a difficult feat to accomplish, IU has not only won 10 games, but has also won eight of them in three sets.Sophomore right-side hitter Kelci Marschall said despite the unbeaten record, the team needs to maintain momentum.“I think we need to focus on our on-side of the court and our fundamentals this weekend,” Marschall said.The volleyball team is one of 14 remaining in the country with an umblemished record and is off to its best start since 1997.The first opponent for the Hoosiers this weekend is DePaul, a team IU has not faced since 1981.Four of nine DePaul matches have gone to five sets, and a longer match may benefit the Blue Demons. However, IU coach Sherry Dunbar is not worried.“As the season has gone along we have become more balanced, and I think that has helped us a ton,” Dunbar said.In the late game, the Hoosiers face Miami (OH) (4-6) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.The Red Hawks have already lost to two other Big Ten opponents — Ohio State and Michigan — both in three sets.Junior outside hitter Amy Rasemen could lead the RedHawks to its first win against a Big Ten opponent, as she will be the toughest offensive player for IU to defend with 96 kills on the season.The defense will need to stop Rasemen and the RedHawks offensive threats to set up offense.“Our defensive players are taking a lot of balls, and that’s important because defense always gets the first touch,” Marschall said.
I know this has no relation to IU athletics other than that Penn State is in the Big Ten Conference.
In the third episode of Inside IU Volleyball with Coach Dunbar, Dave Leno interviews IU Coach Sherry Dunbar and the 2010 freshmen class of defensive specialist Caitlin Hansen, middle blocker Jade Henderson and defensive specialist Melanie Hicks.
The IU volleyball team has added an interim assistant coach:
This week's episode showcases the team's trip to the Niagara Falls and the musical talents of former IDS writer Dave Leno on Piano.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As she said in the IU volleyball team’s interactive media guide on the IU Athletics website, senior middle blocker Ashley Benson is proud to be part of a rising program. The Hoosiers’ recent rise shows in their 10-0 record, their best start since 1999. IU recorded its third tournament victory of the season after beating all four of its weekend opponents in straight sets. “We played well as a team,” junior setter Mary Chaudoin said. “We challenged ourselves to play at our potential.”Benson hit at a .629 percentage while averaging 4.45 kills per set and also delivered 11 total blocks and 18 digs in the tournament.The team began play with Robert Morris and Colgate on Friday. “We played great, had good consistency and had a lot of fun out on the court,” Benson said.The Hoosiers defeated Robert Morris, 25-16, 25-21 and 26-24 and then beat Colgate, 25-20, 25-10, and 25-17.The Colonials were the only team to threaten to take a set from IU. Benson delivered 25 kills and hit at a .488 hitting efficiency in the two matches.Sophomore outside hitter Jordan Haverly also recorded 25 kills and added 15 digs and four aces.“We got better as the tournament went along because of our consistent effort and deep bench,” IU coach Sherry Dunbar said.The Hoosiers finished play Saturday by beating Niagara, 25-18, 25-9, and 25-15 and downing Bucknell, 25-14, 25-10 and 25-18.IU held three of its four opponents to 10 points or less in one set.“The defense picked up, and we were more scrappy in certain games,” Chaudoin said. IU’s 11 aces against Bucknell accounted for the Hoosiers’ highest number of aces in a three-set match since 1993.“We have confidence in ourselves and worked really hard to play together over the weekend,” Benson said.
The Hoosiers (10-0) defeated all four of their opponents in three sets in Buffalo, NY.
Set Updates:
IU improves to 9-0 on the season, best starting record in over 10 years.
The Hoosiers (8-0) record another win against Colgate in their second win of the day, 25-20, 25-10, and 25-17.
The Hoosiers (7-0) recrod their fifth third set win to start off the Canisius/ Niagara tournament.
IU volleyball (6-0) off to the program's best start since 2000, has four matches in the schedule for the Niagara/ Canisiu tournament in Buffalo, N.Y.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU volleyball team (6-0) is off to its best start since 2000 and will have an opportunity to extend the streak with four games this weekend.The Hoosiers will compete in the Niagara/Canisius tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., and will face Robert Morris and Colgate on Friday and Niagara and Bucknell on Saturday.“Going into the tournament, we definitely need to keep our momentum up, and we have done really well at finishing,” sophomore middle blocker Samantha Thrower said.Coming off of an illness, Thrower will be a key addition to the Hoosiers this weekend. Last year, Thrower posted 95 kills and 11 digs in the 59 sets she played.Another player who is expected to return from injury this weekend is freshman outside hitter Jade Henderson, who has had difficulties with her hitting arm. In the two sets Henderson played, she recorded three kills.None of the four teams IU is facing this weekend has a winning record.The two toughest players on the offensive front will come from Niagara, who has outside hitter Hannah Hedrick with 94 kills and middle blocker Amanda Wilken with 70 kills.Thrower’s presence will provide the Hoosiers an important addition if they hope to add four more wins to the record.“It’s been a slow process getting me back to where I used to be,” Thrower said. “But I just want to get back in the lineup and help my team out.”