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(10/01/09 4:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU volleyball coach Sherry Dunbar said her team would have to be ready for a five-set match against Purdue given the rivalry’s recent history. That recent history repeated itself Wednesday, but this time the end result favored IU. The Hoosiers (13-4, 2-1) won the third straight five-set match against the Boilermakers (9-5, 1-2) to earn IU’s first victory over Purdue in any sport in the 2009-10 academic year. “When you go up 2-0, you’re excited, but you also know Purdue’s going to come back and play a lot harder,” Dunbar said of the match, which IU led 2 sets to none, followed by Purdue rallying and forcing a fifth set. “I was really proud of us just fighting.” The Hoosiers entered the hostile environment of Purdue’s Intercollegiate Athletic Facility and won a tight first set 25-22. Junior middle blocker Ashley Benson and freshman outside hitter Jordan Haverly paced IU with six and five kills, respectively. IU controlled the match’s second contest, jumping to a 21-15 lead on sophomore libero Caitlin Cox’s serve. The Boilermakers managed to win two points before freshman right-side hitter Kelci Marschall and Haverly recorded kills to seal a 25-17 win. The teams went back and forth to begin the third set with a 7-7 start. However, several Hoosier errors allowed Purdue to jump to a 15-10 lead. The Boilermakers didn’t look back, cruising to a 25-17 victory in the frame. Purdue seemed to carry its momentum into the fourth set with a 3-0 start. The Boilermakers maintained their five-point advantage and capitalized, taking a 19-12 lead to force an IU timeout. The Hoosiers were able to stage a small rally behind Benson’s five kills before Purdue clinched the set, sending the rivalry to a fifth set for the third straight time. IU entered the final set with renewed vigor and started 4-0, but the Boilermakers responded with six straight points on sophomore libero Blair Bashen’s serve. The teams struggled for the lead until Haverly pushed the Hoosiers forward as they surged to match point at 14-11. For the second straight match, freshman middle blocker Samantha Thrower put away the winning point to clinch the win for the Hoosiers. Benson, who registered 21 kills to lead IU, said she was proud come through in the fifth set in a raucous environment. “We played really hard in that last game,” Benson said. “The Purdue fans are crazy and really loud. They pull out anything they can. Everyone just fought together and pulled it out.” Dunbar agreed. “Fifth sets to me are like gut-checks,” she said. “Technique is kind of out the window then. You’re just going all-out and playing aggressive, and I thought we did that well.” The Hoosiers return to action Sunday at home against No. 8 Minnesota. Dunbar said the team has a lot of work to do but will savor the moment of defeating a major rival. “Tonight, we’re going to enjoy Purdue,” she said.
(10/01/09 1:38am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU volleyball coach Sherry Dunbar said her team would have to be ready for a five-set match against Purdue given the rivalry’s recent history. That recent history repeated itself Wednesday, but this time the end result favored IU. The Hoosiers (13-4, 2-1) won the third straight five-set match against the Boilermakers (9-5, 1-2) to earn IU’s first victory over Purdue in any sport in the 2009-10 academic year. “When you go up 2-0, you’re excited, but you also know Purdue’s going to come back and play a lot harder,” Dunbar said of the match, which IU led 2 sets to none, followed by Purdue rallying and forcing a fifth set. “I was really proud of us just fighting.” The Hoosiers entered the hostile environment of Purdue’s Intercollegiate Athletic Facility and won a tight first set 25-22. Junior middle blocker Ashley Benson and freshman outside hitter Jordan Haverly paced IU with six and five kills, respectively. IU controlled the match’s second contest, jumping to a 21-15 lead on sophomore libero Caitlin Cox’s serve. The Boilermakers managed to win two points before freshman right-side hitter Kelci Marschall and Haverly recorded kills to seal a 25-17 win. The teams went back and forth to begin the third set with a 7-7 start. However, several Hoosier errors allowed Purdue to jump to a 15-10 lead. The Boilermakers didn’t look back, cruising to a 25-17 victory in the frame. Purdue seemed to carry its momentum into the fourth set with a 3-0 start. The Boilermakers maintained their five-point advantage and capitalized, taking a 19-12 lead to force an IU timeout. The Hoosiers were able to stage a small rally behind Benson’s five kills before Purdue clinched the set, sending the rivalry to a fifth set for the third straight time. IU entered the final set with renewed vigor and started 4-0, but the Boilermakers responded with six straight points on sophomore libero Blair Bashen’s serve. The teams struggled for the lead until Haverly pushed the Hoosiers forward as they surged to match point at 14-11. For the second straight match, freshman middle blocker Samantha Thrower put away the winning point to clinch the win for the Hoosiers. Benson, who registered 21 kills to lead IU, said she was proud come through in the fifth set in a raucous environment. “We played really hard in that last game,” Benson said. “The Purdue fans are crazy and really loud. They pull out anything they can. Everyone just fought together and pulled it out.” Dunbar agreed. “Fifth sets to me are like gut-checks,” Dunbar said. “Technique is kind of out the window then. You’re just going all-out and playing aggressive, and I thought we did that well.” The Hoosiers return to action Sunday at home against No. 8 Minnesota. Dunbar said the team has a lot of work to do but will savor the moment of defeating a hated rival. “Tonight, we’re going to enjoy Purdue,” Dunbar said.
(09/30/09 3:49pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Five Big Ten teams are ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association top-25 poll, including top-ranked defending national champion Penn State.IU volleyball coach Sherry Dunbar said she knows what it will take for her young squad to compete in and win matches in such a challenging conference.“We’re trying to get them better mentally focused,” Dunbar said. “We’re going to start at a higher level and teach them to compete, so that starts transferring over to matches. In reality, I think we need to play more now that we’re getting into Big Ten, so our kids learn how to compete at that level.”With a young 2009 roster, the IU volleyball team has already displayed flashes of competitive brilliance.The Hoosiers (12-4) enter their 2009 Big Ten slate as champions of two non-conference invitational tournaments and winners of two five-set matches against 2008 NCAA tournament participants Ohio and Missouri State.Dunbar said those two victories were especially helpful to the team’s confidence and motivation heading into the conference schedule.“It gives us more motivation to get ready for Big Ten season,” Dunbar said, “that we can beat quality opponents and fight.” In the Big Ten, IU can expect to be challenged every match. Following a loss to No. 8 Michigan and upset of No. 16 Michigan State last weekend, IU is 1-1 in Big Ten play.The Hoosiers will play the first of their home-and-away match series against Purdue (8-3) in West Lafayette on Wednesday. The Boilermakers were ranked to begin the season and currently stand just outside the top 25.Oct. 4, IU will play host to No. 9 Minnesota (11-3). The Hoosiers split their 2008 series with the Golden Gophers, losing in Minneapolis and then winning in Bloomington after five sets Nov. 1.The Hoosiers will kick off Hoosier Hysteria on Oct. 16 against Iowa in Assembly Hall.Seven of IU’s Big Ten matches will air on television, including Oct. 23 at Penn State and home matches on Oct. 30 against Illinois and Oct. 31 against Northwestern.Freshman setter Whitney Granado said the players understand what they have to accomplish in practice in order to succeed in the Big Ten.“Right now, we’re just trying to compete,” Granado said, “compete with each other and with ourselves.” Senior outside hitter Kelsey Hall said the Hoosiers’ preparation means nothing if they don’t keep up their energy level during matches.“Just trusting each other, going out there and fighting,” Hall said. “Like, when we get those big points, we need to celebrate.”
(09/30/09 3:45pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Compared to the 125 years of football or 108 years of basketball, the University’s volleyball program is still in its early childhood. However, IU volleyball has slowly but surely displayed signs of emergence among its fellow university sports teams as it enters its 34th season. IU has taken small steps to get its volleyball program out into the national picture, something current head coach Sherry Dunbar acknowledged. “Especially when you’re trying to build a national contender, you’ve got to have your name out there,” Dunbar said. IU laid the groundwork for that from the start. The Hoosiers began play under head coach Ann Lawver in 1975 and placed third in the Big Ten each of their first three seasons. The conference held a tournament to decide its champion until 1982. Doug West succeeded Lawver as head coach in 1983 and landed a vital piece to the Hoosiers’ building blocks the following season when outside hitter Karen Dunham, IU’s first hugely successful individual player, arrived on campus. The Muncie native recorded 46 service aces – now third all-time for IU freshmen – on her way to garnering Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors in 1984. Dunham totaled 154 career aces, now second in school history, and 3,925 career assists, a mark which still ranks third all-time. With three All-Big Ten designations, an All-America honorable mention in 1985 and winning records each of her four seasons, Dunham set an early standard for Hoosier volleyball players. In addition to Dunham, several IU players made marks in the 1980s. Julie Goedde, a first team All-Big Ten selection as a senior in 1989, is still the Hoosiers’ all-time leader in solo blocks and total blocks. Sheri Stout followed in Dunham’s footsteps as the Big Ten’s top freshman in 1989. Diane Hoereth, who played for IU from 1989-1990, is the career leader in hitting efficiency at a .290 clip. Despite individual success, IU did not reach the NCAA tournament until the 1990s under head coach Katie Weismiller. Hired in 1993, Weismiller led the Hoosiers to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 1995, just her third season, and took them to their other three in 1998, 1999 and 2002, as well. The Weismiller era saw an even greater influx of individual talent as Julie Flatley, Ryann Connors, Amanda Welter and Melissa Brewer were all named first team All-Big Ten. Flatley and Connors were both named National Player of the Week by the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association. Under Dunbar, who took over in 2007, the trends have continued. Erica Short became the school’s all-time kills leader in 2008 with 1,889 and also received an All-America honorable mention. Juli Pierce set the digs record in the same year. Current junior middle blocker Ashley Benson is rapidly climbing the blocks and hitting efficiency boards. On top of all of that, the Hoosiers had a No. 22 recruiting class for 2009. The marks left in the past helped set the pace for IU volleyball. Now, it is up to the players to accelerate that pace in the 2009 season.
(09/30/09 2:59pm)
Here is a link to the Big Ten Guide, our first sports publication of the year. Take a look, and let us know what you think. We're really proud of it, and the hard work of the writers really shines through.
(09/30/09 4:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The 2009 Smithville Crimson and Gold Cup begins in a sport that saw both 2008 meetings between the two schools end in five-set thrillers.The IU volleyball team hopes the results of those matches are different this year.The Hoosiers (12-4, 1-1) play in West Lafayette for the first of two regular-season battles with Purdue (9-4, 1-1) at 7 p.m. Wednesday.The match also marks the first contest against the Boilermakers for any IU sport in the 2009-10 academic year.IU coach Sherry Dunbar said her team needs to be mentally prepared for the rivalry match. “The biggest thing for us is we’re going to scout them, just like we do everybody else,” Dunbar said. “But we’ve got to go up there understanding that’s our big rival. We’ve got to be ready to put it all out on the line.”IU engaged in a pair of five-set matches against Purdue last season, losing each one.Dunbar said the Hoosiers should expect more of the same from the rivalry given the recent history.“It’s probably going to be a long match because ever since I’ve been here, it’s gone five,” Dunbar said. “It’s our rival. It’s a dogfight. So we’ve got to prepare for that kind of battle, I think.”This battle will be IU’s third Big Ten match this season. The Hoosiers split the opening weekend of their conference slate, falling to then-No. 8 Michigan 3-0 Friday and then rebounding to beat then-No.16 Michigan State in four sets Saturday.The Boilermakers opened their Big Ten schedule against the same two opponents, tallying the same results. Purdue handed Michigan State its first loss of 2008 on Friday and then fell to Michigan on Sunday.Several freshman players made significant contributions for IU in their Big Ten debuts, including hitters Jordan Haverly and Kelci Marschall and middle blocker Samantha Thrower.Dunbar said she was pleased to see her young players rise to the occasion against Michigan and Michigan State. She said it shows signs of things to come.“If we can have freshmen come in and bring that energy and make impacts at that young of an age, that’s only going to help us in the future,” Dunbar said. “So I really like that they’re getting some playing time and making a difference out there.”Thrower, who totaled 11 kills and six total blocks last weekend, said she is ready for her first IU-Purdue experience.“I’m really, really excited,” she said. “We’re all fired up.”Haverly, who currently leads the Hoosiers in kills per set with 3.57, agreed.“We’re just going to focus on competing and coming out hard once we get there and showing them that Indiana is ready to take it to them,” Haverly said.Dunbar said the veteran players on the team will also have to step up for Purdue as well as the rest of the Big Ten.“We’ve got to get some more leadership on the floor and know that this is the Big Ten Conference, and we’ve got to step up,” Dunbar said.
(09/28/09 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU volleyball coach Sherry Dunbar spoke of the need to apply pressure on favored Big Ten foes as her team prepared to enter its conference slate.Her players took that message to heart.The Hoosiers (12-4, 1-1) split their first two Big Ten matches at home, falling to No. 8 Michigan on Friday and then upsetting No. 16 Michigan State on Saturday.The Hoosiers entered University Gym on Saturday with renewed energy and chemistry after a loss against Michigan and knocked off the No. 16 Spartans (12-2, 0-2) to earn their first Big Ten victory of the season.IU won the match by scores of 25-19, 18-25, 25-23 and 25-18.“I think we earned it,” Dunbar said. “I think for once, we went out, we really competed, we fought for every point and we got rewarded for it.”The Hoosiers started strong in the first set as freshmen Kelci Marschall, Samantha Thrower and Jordan Haverly recorded four, three and two kills, respectively. Thrower and Haverly also posted two block assists.The momentum shifted to Michigan State’s court in the second frame as the Spartans’ hitting evened the match at one set apiece.IU’s freshmen continued to shine in a tight third set as Haverly recorded two consecutive kills late in the frame and Marschall had another, leading to a set-clinching ace by sophomore libero Caitlin Cox.The Hoosiers carried momentum into the fourth set to seal the upset. Thrower put away the final point.“It was really amazing,” Thrower said of the win. “Everyone was out there supporting each other, just firing each other up, and it was awesome.”IU opened its conference schedule against the Wolverines (13-1, 1-0), whose hitting and serving proved too much for the Hoosiers as they swept the contest by scores of 25-17, 25-16 and 25-23.“They earn their eighth ranking in the country,” Dunbar said of Michigan. “You’ve got to respect teams like that. I never say anything bad about those types of programs because they have great tradition and they earn it, but we’ve got to find a way to get to that point, too.”For IU, junior middle blocker Ashley Benson and freshman outside hitter Jordan Haverly led the way with 12 and 10 kills, respectively.After Michigan cruised in the initial two frames, IU kept the third set tight, climbing to a 19-17 lead before the Wolverines surged to match point. The Hoosiers staged a run on Haverly’s serve, but Michigan held on to seal the match.Dunbar said IU needs the energy displayed in that third set from the moment the team takes the court.“We needed it a lot earlier,” Dunbar said. “We really talked after the match, and we’ve got to find a way to come out and have that fire from set one, not after I give them that fire. That’s a great team and we’ve got to give them respect, but we also have to earn respect on our side. ”IU continues Big Ten play against Purdue at 7 p.m. Wednesday in West Lafayette. Haverly said the Hoosiers want to make a statement to their in-state rival.“We’re just going to focus on competing and coming out hard once we get there and showing them that Indiana is ready to take it to them,” Haverly said.
(09/27/09 2:01am)
The IU volleyball team rebounded from Friday's loss to No. 8 Michigan and claimed its first Big Ten victory of 2009 today, downing No. 16 Michigan State in four sets.
(09/26/09 10:13pm)
The IU volleyball team plays host to No. 16 Michigan State at 7 p.m. today in their second match of the Big Ten season.
(09/26/09 4:03am)
The IU volleyball team began its Big Ten season with a loss to No. 8 Michigan in straight sets.
(09/25/09 9:14pm)
The IU volleyball team opens Big Ten play with a home contest at 7 p.m. today against No. 8 Michigan.
(09/25/09 3:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU volleyball coach Sherry Dunbar said that as underdogs, IU will have to overcome the pressure to win each match and apply that pressure on their favored conference opponents.That approach starts this weekend as the Hoosiers (11-3) open the Big Ten season with home matches against ranked foes in No. 8 Michigan (12-1) and No. 16 Michigan State (12-0). IU plays its first conference match against Michigan at 7 p.m. Friday in the University Gymnasium. “Their pen attackers, their outsides and their right-sides are very good, so we’re going to have to do the best job we can to slow them down,” Dunbar said.Dunbar said the Wolverines are particularly dangerous from the service line. “They’re rocket servers,” Dunbar said. “I think they either lead the Big Ten in aces per game or are right up there in two or three, so for us to be successful, we’re going to have to serve tough against them and we’re going to have to pass their serves.”The Hoosiers will conclude their first Big Ten weekend at 7 p.m. Saturday against Michigan State. “Not as good a serving team as Michigan, but a very good volleyball team,” Dunbar said of the Spartans. “They know how to win right now, and they had a great preseason beating some good opponents.” Junior middle blocker Ashley Benson, an All-Big Ten selection last year, said applying pressure is paramount in the conference. “The Big Ten is unpredictable,” Benson said. “There’s always going to be those random upsets that you never see coming. This year, I feel there’s going to be a lot of teams that underestimate us, and against those teams we have to fight as hard as we can to show them that we’re better than what we think they are.” Sophomore libero Caitlin Cox, a Big Ten All-Freshman selection last year, agreed. “You have to be on your toes all night and ... compete all 25 points until the game has ended,” Cox said.
(09/22/09 11:55pm)
Tour the IU volleyball locker room and tailgate with the team in the fifth episode of sophomore setter Mary Chaudoin's weekly video blog, "Here's Something from Mary".
(09/22/09 2:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Her face beaming, sophomore setter Mary Chaudoin pops onto the computer screen and greets viewers, ready to take them on a tour that extends beyond University Gym.This volleyball season, thanks to Chaudoin, fans can see deeper into the happenings of the Hoosiers.Chaudoin is the host of “Here’s Something from Mary,” a video blog on the 2009 IU volleyball team. A new episode launches every Monday during the season.“I think I’ve got some good stuff,” Chaudoin said.Chaudoin said she was approached by the IU media relations staff directly to unveil the happenings of the team.“Our media relations guy, Kyle Kuhlman, came up to me and said, ‘You know, we have a great idea,’” Chaudoin said. “‘You should do a video blog ... And you can show everyone, kind of give them a little bit of an insight into what it is to be an IU volleyball player.’ I said, ‘Okay, you know, whatever.’”Chaudoin said Kuhlman told her the project is at her discretion and that she can show anything about the team she wishes.“I said, ‘Well, do I have to follow any rules?’ And he was like, ‘No, as long as it can be aired and I don’t get into trouble, you can do whatever you want,’” Chaudoin said.For the Atlanta native, the process of creating videos about the team to share with all of Hoosier Nation is entirely new, but simply making videos is a different story.“I’ve always made goofy videos with my friends back home and stuff like that,” Chaudoin said. “But I’ve never done anything to this extent that’s been viewed so publicly.”Five episodes have run in “Here’s Something from Mary” thus far in the 2009 season. The first offers a glimpse of a typical evening after practice during the preseason.The second entry takes place in Houston, where the team swept the Flo Hyman Tournament. Chaudoin included a tour of the team bus, an MTV “Cribs” look into the house of freshman outside hitter and Houston native Shawn Hindman’s family and a Hoosier fashion show.The team’s sideline introduction at IU’s first football game and its trip to Athens, Ohio for a tournament are also included in the weekly series.Chaudoin said she has really enjoyed playing host on the video blog thus far and hopes to continue making videos for the team beyond 2009.“If they ask me to, I’ll do it,” she said. “I think it would be cool to kind of look back on my years here, kind of have a video yearbook.”
(09/21/09 4:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Hoosiers (11-3) claimed two victories in three matches in their home tournament, falling to Western Michigan in four sets Friday and beating Alabama A&M and North Carolina A&T in straight sets Saturday.“We’re trying to get them better mentally focused, the intensity, the energy better,” IU coach Sherry Dunbar said of her players. “I felt like at times we were really good in that department.”IU began its final tournament before Big Ten play Friday against 2008 Sweet Sixteen participant Western Michigan, dropping the match by scores of 22-25, 24-26, 25-19 and 23-25.“It was a little bit frustrating,” Dunbar said of the loss. “I felt like it was a struggle all night. We never really got into a rhythm.”The Hoosiers responded the following morning with a sweep of Alabama A&M, 25-10, 25-16 and 25-20.IU’s hitting attack proved too much for the Bulldogs, who committed 19 hitting errors compared to the Hoosiers’ 13.Reserves saw significant action for the Hoosiers as freshman outside hitter Shawn Hindman and freshman middle blocker Samantha Thrower each recorded four kills. Thrower also accounted for four total blocks.IU returned Saturday evening and recorded another straight-set victory against North Carolina A&T, 25-10, 25-17 and 25-18.Sophomore outside hitter Jessica Weeg made her biggest contribution of the season thus far with four kills and a block assist, and freshman setter Whitney Granado recorded a career-high 31 assists.“It was good to get back in the swing of things again,” said Granado, who had missed time due to an injury.The Hoosiers open Big Ten play Friday against No. 6 Michigan.
(09/20/09 2:21am)
The IU volleyball team completed the T.I.S. College Bookstore IU Invitational with a straight-set victory over North Carolina A&T.
(09/19/09 4:11pm)
The IU volleyball team rebounded from Friday's loss to Western Michigan with a victory over Alabama A&M in straight sets today.
(09/19/09 1:50am)
The IU volleyball team opened the T.I.S. College Bookstore IU Invitational with a loss Friday.
(09/18/09 3:59am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Hoosiers (9-2) enter this weekend’s T.I.S. College Bookstore IU Invitational on a six-match win streak, having swept two of three tournaments in which they have participated. “We’re really, really driven to get these three wins in the home tournament,” sophomore setter Mary Chaudoin said. “To finish out 12-2 would be awesome.” IU opened the season at the University of Houston for the Flo Hyman Invitational, winning all three of its matches and claiming the tournament title. After going 2-2 in the first IU-sponsored tournament the following week, the Hoosiers swept the Hampton Inn Invitational at the University of Ohio, winning two five-set matches against Ohio and Missouri State. In addition to IU winning the tournament title, sophomore libero Caitlin Cox was named the event’s most valuable player and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, and freshman outside hitter Jordan Haverly earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. IU coach Sherry Dunbar said the sweep at Ohio showed that her squad has resolve and can beat quality opponents. “I think especially when you win two five-set matches against two quality opponents who go to the NCAA tournament, it definitely gives you more motivation to come into the gym on Monday and get better,” Dunbar said. “We learned how to fight this weekend, and that’s what we’ve talked a lot about,” she said. “Just making steps forward, and I think we made a big step forward in that aspect.” The Hoosiers look to make another big step at their second home tournament this season. The team’s first match takes place at 7 p.m. Friday against Western Michigan, who advanced to the Sweet Sixteen last year. Dunbar said the Broncos (4-7) give IU another quality opponent to play before the Big Ten season. IU will play two more matches Saturday, the first at 10 a.m. against Alabama A&M and the second at 7 p.m. against North Carolina A&T.“I think we can do some things to exploit some of the things they do, but they’re very athletic and obviously know how to win, going to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament last year,” Dunbar said.
(09/17/09 1:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For junior middle blocker Ashley Benson and graduate student right-side hitter Whitney Thomas, the choice of what college they would attend was never really a question. Both members of the IU volleyball team are natives of Bloomington and graduates of Bloomington High School North, where they played volleyball together for the first time. “I think I always knew I wanted to come (to IU),” Thomas said. “I didn’t really look anywhere else.” Benson had a similar thought process.“Really early, I think, I really had it planted in my brain that ‘I’m going to IU, I’m going to IU,” Benson said. Both extended their athletic careers into college, and short of obligatory backup plans, IU was always the place they figured they would attend. For Benson, there was family influence as her father, Kent Benson, was an All-American basketball player for the Hoosiers. She said that basketball was where her initial interests were as well. “When I was younger, I wanted to play basketball for IU,” Benson said. “But when I went to high school, I learned the game of volleyball and kind of gave up basketball.” Even though last year’s All-Big Ten selection developed a passion for a different sport, Benson said her father wasn’t going to tolerate switching loyalties. “I think the main point when I knew I was going to IU was when I went to school one day wearing a Kentucky shirt that a friend got me,” Benson said. “And right when I got home, my dad saw it and made me change into an IU shirt.” Benson shined in her high school career at Bloomington North and garnered consideration as the No. 17 recruit in the nation for the class of 2007. While IU was always her top choice, Benson conceded it wasn’t the only one. “There were a lot of different schools I wanted to go to,” she said. “My first visit was to IU, and I knew the campus and knew the town, and I fell in love with the girls who were playing here, so it was really easy for me to decide to go here. But I was also looking at Kentucky, and my dad was making me look at Purdue. I didn’t really want to.” Benson, who last year set all-time IU records with 167 single-season total blocks and 151 block assists, said it felt great to be successful at the collegiate level in her hometown. “I think it’s great,” Benson said. “It’s always great to have someone from that town playing sports (at the town’s school). I feel I know a lot more people. All those people come to the games and they fall in love with the other girls who are playing.” IU volleyball coach Sherry Dunbar said it was important to have an elite local talent in the program. “Especially when you’re trying to build a national contender, you’ve got to have your name out there,” Dunbar said. “It’s difficult to get all we can in this league because there are so many great players out there ... It speaks volumes of her and it speaks volumes of our program.” Thomas, Benson’s high school teammate at Bloomington North, excelled in both volleyball and basketball as a prep athlete and chose to go the opposite route of Benson.After a record-setting four years as a member of the IU women’s basketball team, Thomas decided to return to volleyball while attending graduate school, using a fifth year of eligibility to play a different sport. Thomas said the adjustment back to volleyball after a four-year hiatus is coming along nicely as the Hoosiers’ season progresses. “I’m starting to get used to it over time,” Thomas said. “It’s totally different from basketball. There’s hardly any similarities at all, so it’s a big adjustment, but ... I’ve had great help from my coaches and teammates, so I’m starting to get it.” Dunbar said she was thrilled at the opportunity to coach Thomas. “After hearing so many positive things about what she’s done in basketball, but not just as a player but as a person, as a leader ... Hopefully we’re going to help her as much as she helps us.”Thomas said she is glad to play alongside Benson again. “I really enjoy it,” Thomas said. “I think that’s the best part, because whenever I was at North, I never really got to spend much time with her. I was out with injury and she was two years younger than me.” Benson said she feels the same way. “It feels great,” she said of Thomas joining the team. “The first time I played with her was my sophomore year. I always looked up to her, and I was always being told, ‘You can be better than Whitney Thomas,’ and I always said, ‘No way.’ Now that she’s here, she’s told me, ‘Now I’ve seen how much you have grown, and I want to be like you now.’ It’s really great. We have a lot of fun and a lot of great memories from high school.”