IU volleyball vs. Northwestern, round two
Following a near-upset of No. 6 Illinois Friday, IU volleyball coach Sherry Dunbar said she hopes to see her team take out its frustration against Northwestern at 7 p.m. today.
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Following a near-upset of No. 6 Illinois Friday, IU volleyball coach Sherry Dunbar said she hopes to see her team take out its frustration against Northwestern at 7 p.m. today.
After dropping the first two sets to No. 6 Illinois, the IU volleyball team rallied into position to score a monumental upset before falling in the fifth.
The IU volleyball team begins the second half of Big Ten play with a home match at 7 p.m. today against No. 6 Illinois.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU volleyball coach Sherry Dunbar said she believes her team needs to raise its focus to a new level in the second half of conference play.“We have to find a way to win,” Dunbar said. “We’re pushing them harder, and they’ve got to start producing more if we want to turn things around. We can’t just do status quo of what we did the first round (of Big Ten play).”The Hoosiers (14-10, 3-7) start the final stretch with rematches at home against No. 6 Illinois (16-3, 8-2) at 7 p.m. Friday and Northwestern (11-11, 2-8) at 7 p.m. Saturday.Dunbar said having played each team once already helps with preparation in practice.“We’re focusing on some things we’re seeing in film and really trying to change that about us,” she said, “and then re-watching matches that we’ve already played against these common opponents ... and see what we didn’t do well and what we need to do well against them second round.”IU’s two opponents generate their offenses differently, with Illinois attacking mainly from the outside and Northwestern from the middle, Dunbar said.“They’re total opposite teams, and we have to be prepared to play both of them,” she said.The Fighting Illini have risen to No. 6 in the nation. Dunbar praised their hard work and discipline.“There’s a reason they’re sixth in the country,” she said.While the Wildcats have only won two Big Ten games, one came against the Hoosiers in a five-set affair on Oct. 11 in Evanston.Junior middle blocker Sabel Moffett earned 24 kills at a .463 hitting percentage in that contest.Dunbar said IU needs to perform consistently throughout the match to split the series with Northwestern.“We played good in two sets against Northwestern, and we played bad in three,” she said. “We’ve got to turn that around.”Dunbar said she also wants to get more players involved in the offense, including freshman hitter Shawn Hindman, who has missed time with injury.“It’s going well,” Hindman said of her progress. “It’s getting better every day, coming in the gym, working hard and trying to get better every day so I can help the team as much as I can.”
IU volleyball coach Sherry Dunbar said the depth of her team is "much better" as the Hoosiers (14-10, 3-7) prepare for the second round of Big Ten matches.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Freshman setter Whitney Granado has already started her routine prior to arriving at the gym for a match.“Before we even get here, I pick out my ribbon and my headband that I’m going to wear for the game,” Granado said.Once in the locker room, Granado’s routine becomes much like those of her teammates.“A couple of girls have handshakes,” she said. “I just put the iPod in and relax a bit.”Granado and several other players on the IU volleyball team participate in several ritual activities before their matches, both collectively and individually.“In the locker room beforehand, we all kind of have our own thing,” sophomore setter Mary Chaudoin said. “We determine individually what we need to do to be mentally and physically prepared.”A lot of the players seem to think a little music and review of the game plan gets that job done.“We’ll just sit there listening to our iPods, studying our scouting reports – just preparing ourselves mentally,” freshman middle blocker Samantha Thrower said.Things are no different for freshman hitter Shawn Hindman, who said she puts in her ear buds, reviews scouting reports and gets “in that focused zone.In addition to individual routines, the players also come together as a unit for a few rituals.“Before the game, we have a prayer,” Chaudoin said. “And then we cheer, you know, all that hoopla that you guys don’t see.”Some hoopla is visible to the fans, however.The starters toss IU T-shirts into the crowd during player introductions at home matches.During the final warm-ups before player introductions, the team concludes its drills with an attack by junior middle blocker Ashley Benson and huddles with a collective cheer.Benson said she also has a routine of her own, but with a fewer quirks.“Just sitting in my locker, looking over the scouting report and imagining what’s going to go on during the game,” she said of her pre-match rituals. “I don’t have anything really outlandish.”Chaudoin, though, likes to have fun among her teammates before matches.“I have handshakes with almost every girl on the team,” Chaudoin said. “I always have to do one of those.”The sophomore setter does several of those handshakes right before the start of a match or set.Her two most common exchanges are a jump and high-five with Benson and a choreographed routine with sophomore libero Caitlin Cox.Chaudoin added that handshakes with several players remain on the sidelines, so the novelty won’t wear off.“If we don’t do it the first time, we don’t do it at any other games,” she said with a smile. “If we don’t do a handshake the first game, we can’t (any other time) because it’s cliche.”
Junior middle blocker/right-side hitter Taylor Wittmer discusses the IU volleyball team's remaining schedule and what the Hoosiers must do to improve in the Big Ten and reach the NCAA Tournament.
Sophomore setter Mary Chaudoin takes viewers around the IU campus and talks with legendary volleyball player Karch Kiraly in this week's episode.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU volleyball team’s road trip ended with two more disappointing losses.The Hoosiers (14-10, 3-7) fell to No. 1 Penn State (22-0, 10-0) in straight sets Friday and suffered its third straight defeat at the hands of Ohio State (17-6, 5-5) on Saturday.“The biggest thing is that we have to stay together, as a team and as a program,” IU coach Sherry Dunbar said. “We have to really look at our character ... to get back in this race.”IU began the weekend as the victim in two-time defending national champion Penn State’s 85th consecutive victory. Penn State won 25-19, 25-13 and 25-17.The Nittany Lions dominated the match in all areas. They recorded 43 kills at a collective .362 clip, dug 41 balls and controlled the net with 22 total blocks. Junior Alyssa D’Errico posted three service aces.Senior outside hitter Kelsey Hall posted seven kills at a .385 percentage and led the Hoosiers in digs with 12.Following Friday’s loss, IU looked to regain its swagger against an improved Ohio State team.However, the Buckeyes’ hitting and net control prevented the Hoosiers from doing so as Ohio State won in four sets by scores of 25-19, 25-22, 23-25 and 25-23.After winning the first set by a comfortable margin, the Buckeyes saw IU drive them right to the wire in the second frame before taking a commanding 2-0 match lead. Graduate student and right-side hitter Whitney Thomas, who had her most productive outing of the season, recorded five kills in the second set, 11 overall.“It was good because it was needed,” Thomas said of her performance, “but it wasn’t as great because we didn’t get the win. Definitely would’ve taken a win over that.”Junior middle blocker Ashley Benson’s three consecutive service aces gave the Hoosiers a comfortable lead early in the third set. However, Ohio State rallied back to tie the frame at 23-23 before IU forced a fourth.The lead in the final set changed nine times before Ohio State sealed the victory.Junior middle blocker Taylor Wittmer, who saw her most extensive action of the Big Ten season with six kills and three total blocks, said the mental aspect of the game is key for the Hoosiers going forward.“I think, talent-wise, we’re there,” Wittmer said. “We’re as good or better than most teams in the Big Ten, so I think we just need to work on the mental preparation part of the game.”
The IU volleyball team lost its third straight match Saturday, falling to Ohio State in four sets.
The IU volleyball team looks to finish the weekend with a split as it heads to Columbus for a match against Ohio State at 7 p.m. today.
The IU volleyball team lost in straight sets to No. 1 Penn State Friday.
The IU volleyball team hits the road this weekend for a pair of Big Ten matches, the first against No. 1 Penn State at 8 p.m. today.
The IU volleyball team plays its second nationally televised match of the season at 8 p.m. today against No. 1 Penn State.
The IU volleyball team is one of three teams tied for sixth in the Big Ten going into this weekend’s slated matches. The Hoosiers (15-8, 3-5) could have tiebreakers over each of the other two after their road trip.
Sophomore setter Mary Chaudoin comes to Hoosier fans live from last Friday's Hoosier Hysteria and the Hoosier Hitters clinic the following day.
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sporting pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the IU volleyball team presented its largest audience of the season a dominant win Friday on Branch McCracken Court.The Hoosiers (14-8, 3-5) kicked off the annual Hoosier Hysteria festivities in Assembly Hall with a straight-set victory against Iowa (10-10, 2-6).IU blanked the Hawkeyes by scores of 25-23, 25-14 and 25-18.“I don’t think we played great volleyball, but we played good enough to win,” IU coach Sherry Dunbar said.After outlasting Iowa in a close first set, the Hoosiers cruised in the final two contests to record the second Big Ten sweep of Dunbar’s tenure at IU. The first also came against Iowa on Nov. 10, 2007.“It’s very hard to beat Big Ten teams in three sets – especially teams like Iowa, because they don’t give up,” Dunbar said. “For us to handle them and do a good job against them, I was really proud of that composure.”The Hoosiers dominated from the service line, registering eight aces. Freshman defensive specialist Laura Matula posted four of them in the first two sets.Dunbar attributed Matula’s serving to hard work outside of team practice.“The reason she’s doing that is because of how much she practices,” Dunbar said. “She comes in extra, she comes in early for practice, stays late. She wants to be a great server, and she knows what an impact that can make in our program.”Matula said she expects to perform at that level every match.“I felt like that’s what I should be doing,” Matula said of her four aces. “I expect myself to be at a higher level.”Matula added that she enjoyed being part of Hoosier Hysteria.“I love it when people get involved,” she said. “The more people, the better. They see how hard we work, how hard we fight, so maybe the next time we play at (University Gym), they’ll come see us.”Freshman right-side hitter Kelci Marschall, who contributed nine kills for IU, felt the same way about her first Hoosier Hysteria match.“It’s awesome,” Marschall said. “It’s a great atmosphere in here with all the fans and everyone here to watch volleyball and watch the basketball teams. It’s just a great experience.”IU falls to Wisconsin in five setsThe Hoosiers returned to University Gym on Sunday and lost a five-set marathon to Wisconsin.The Badgers outlasted IU, winning by scores of 25-20, 15-25, 25-22, 17-25 and 15-11.“Our stats are not bad stats,” Dunbar said. “It’s just making errors at the wrong times and doing things like that.”Wisconsin freshman hitter Kirby Toon powered the Badgers in all areas, killing 12 balls, recording three aces and posting 3 total blocks.Errors plagued both teams as they traded sets before going to a decisive fifth frame. IU committed 23 attack errors, 11 service errors and 2 block errors. Wisconsin recorded 30 attack errors but had only 2 in the other frames.The final set remained close through a 9-9 score before the Badgers won three consecutive points. The Hoosiers charged back with two more points, but Wisconsin went on to seal the victory at 15-11.Dunbar said the team needs to play more solid volleyball.“I just think, consistently, we’ve got to fight harder,” Dunbar said. “It’s too up-and-down. We’ve got to find people who want to do that on a consistent basis, and I think that starts in practice.”
The IU volleyball team lost to Wisconsin in five sets Sunday.
The IU volleyball team looks to carry momentum from Friday's sweep of Iowa with another conference win against Wisconsin at 1 p.m. today in University Gym.
The IU volleyball team got the 2009 Hoosier Hysteria festivities started on the right foot, downing Iowa in straight sets.