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(08/26/09 3:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU volleyball team is hitting the road to begin its 2009 season Friday at the Flo Hyman Tournament in Houston. The Hoosiers will open the three-match event at 6:30 p.m. Friday against the Lions of Southeastern Louisiana and will play two matches Saturday: New Orleans at 12:30 p.m. and Houston at 8:30 p.m.2008 Record 17-15 (9-11)Head Coach Sherry DunbarFirst Home Game adidas Classic, Sept. 4-5Key Games Penn State, Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue, KentuckyKey Returners Ashley Benson, Kelsey Hall, Caitlin CoxSleeper Games Ohio, Missouri StateInteresting Fact The IU volleyball team had a top-25 recruiting class coming into this season. The team brings in seven freshmen for the 2009 campaign.
(08/12/09 11:59pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU volleyball team has its sights set on one goal as the fall approaches. That goal is etched on the back of every practice jersey. It is said by players during practice as they tell their teammates their focus for the day.From 5-foot-2 libero Caitlin Cox to 6-foot-3 middle blocker Ashley Benson, from freshman Kelci Marschall to former basketball player and fifth-year senior Whitney Thomas, no matter their differences, the goal is the same.It boils down to three words: “Make It Happen.”The team’s commitment to follow that mantra inspired returning players to remain in Bloomington for the summer and brought incoming freshmen to campus early.“I think it’s good that we all made the commitment to stay here because it’s not mandatory,” junior right-side player and middle blocker Taylor Wittmer said. “The freshmen made the commitment to come early just so we can start getting bonded as a team and start getting in shape. We had a lot of fun with it.”Since the beginning of the summer, Wittmer and others have willingly participated in morning workout sessions, which involved weight lifting, running and conditioning drills, as well as afternoon open gym practices. Wittmer said the summer began with distance running and then progressed toward more volleyball-specific drills as official practices drew near. She said she felt the extra work will give them an edge on their competition.“It will help us a lot,” Wittmer said. “Since we’ve already done that, it’s kind of like now we’re just learning how to mesh on the court, and I think that will really help us out.”With nearly four hours of workout time together daily, team members also spent time together off the court at cookouts, trips to the Monroe County Fair and boat excursions on Lake Monroe, sophomore setter Mary Chaudoin said.“With so many freshmen coming in, I think we needed to spend that time together and get to know each other so, now that we’re in preseason, we can just get the work done,” Chaudoin said.Chaudoin said she remembered the freshman experience and how unsettling it can be, which is why the team wanted its seven newcomers to get extra time to acclimate. “Last year, when I came in as a freshman, it was scary,” she said. “You get nervous. It’s a new environment. I think all the things that we’ve done have made them more comfortable with us.”Wittmer said getting to know the new players is beneficial in more ways than one.“Knowing your teammate off the court helps so much on the court,” she said. “Sometimes people can’t take certain things, and, if you learn that about them, then you’ll have better team chemistry on the court.”The jump on developing chemistry is going to be an advantage once the season begins Chaudoin said. Trust, she said, is extremely important on the court, especially once the action picks up.“If a ball’s coming at you, you’ll know, ‘OK, she’s got it,’” Chaudoin said.The freshmen have also benefited from working with the returning players during the summer. As practice began and the pressure to perform increased, they had an outlet.“They can kind of look to us,” Wittmer said.Chaudoin said she was glad she committed to putting in the extra time.“It’s been a fun summer,” she said.
(07/29/09 10:56pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Whitney Thomas will take on a fifth year as a Hoosier athlete – this time wearing a volleyball uniform.Although known for her elite performance on the basketball court winning awards such as the Big Ten’s Medal of Honor, during her high school years Thomas was rumored to have been better with a volleyball in her hands than a basketball.“Many people say I was better at volleyball than basketball,” Thomas said. “That may be true, but basketball was my first love; I started playing when I was four years old.”Thomas has used her four years of eligibility for basketball, but the NCAA allows athletes a fifth year if they play a different sport. Thomas is more than willing to take advantage of that – and so is the IU volleyball coaching staff.“I’m sure all Hoosier fans are happy to see Whitney Thomas in any Indiana jersey for another year,” IU volleyball coach Sherry Dunbar said. “She has always been a fan favorite because of her Bloomington roots, but also because of her style of play. She always gives 100 percent and is a true Hoosier representing all that it means to be a good role model for this University.”Despite a little nervous energy at first, Thomas is making a good transition onto the volleyball team. Having played with Ashley Benson, a middle blocker for IU, on the same high school team and having the opportunity to practice in open gyms with the team during the summer has given her a chance to mesh with the team.Sophomore setter Mary Chaudoin said she thinks Thomas has a lot to offer.“Whitney has a lot of Big Ten experience.” Chaudoin said. “Mentally, she has been in tough situations, and especially with our young team, I feel like that will help us.”With seven new faces on a team of 14, Dunbar said she knows that her players need to draw from wisdom wherever they can get it.“Whitney is an elite athlete that is well-conditioned, and her strength base is fantastic after four years of training here at Indiana,” Dunbar said. “She will help us with her depth in a couple of positions and add insight to our younger players with her experience.”Already accustomed to the workouts and the passionate coaching styles of women’s basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack and Dunbar, Thomas is looking forward to the volleyball season – as are her parents.“They love sports no matter what sport it is,” Thomas said. “They love watching me play and are very excited that they will have one more year.”
(07/08/09 11:54pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As many as 50 million children play an organized sport; less than 1 percent of these make it to playing professionally. IU volleyball’s Erica Short is part of that 1 percent.After acquiring accolades throughout her IU volleyball career such as most career kills all-time and Honorable Mention All-America, Short joined the Carolina Gigantes, a Puerto Rican team, in December. “What I’m most proud of is the fact that she still has passion for the game of volleyball now that college is over,” IU coach Sherry Dunbar said. “She chose to continue her career in Puerto Rico professionally, and that hopefully means that we did something right at Indiana to make her still love the game.”Other players from the Big Ten also graced the roster of the Gigantes, with former Penn State and Minnesota players. Despite being college rivals, the American imports for the Gigantes lived together and became like family to one another. Rachel Hartmann, a setter from Minnesota, was one such family member. “It was fun to get to know someone from a different Big Ten team – we were able to share stories and compare experiences that we had at our schools,” Hartmann said.With practice and weightlifting every day and running twice a week, Short said she thought that while the workouts were easier than those of a Division I sport, the games were more challenging “because the girls are amazing” and the recruiting process is different. Imports (new athletes) are constantly brought in from the United States, native Puerto Ricans can be traded, and both fired. In order to get out of a contract, a player either has to break the rules or suffer an injury; it is not an option to decide not to play anymore.“Our oldest player was 36 years old – that is the oldest player in the league, and she was on our team,” Short said.Of course, volleyball was not the only thing the women enjoyed while in Puerto Rico. The team spent time on the beach – shopping, staying at resorts and sightseeing. “I like (Puerto Rico) a lot,” Short said. “I don’t think I would live there, but I could be there six months out of the year to go play. The people are so nice.”During her five months in Puerto Rico, Short acquired some habits that reminded her of home.“Erica liked to buy two things in Puerto Rico: shoes and ice cream,” Hartmann said. “Our house made multiple trips to Baskin-Robbins throughout the week, and I blame her for that.”Although her parents never saw her play with the Gigantes, Short plans to give them plenty of opportunities by continuing to play either in Puerto Rico, or perhaps with a team in Europe. “I want to play as long as I can, and then maybe get a job,” Short said. Looking forward, Dunbar said she believes Short has plenty of years she can put toward volleyball.“I still think Erica has a whole other level she can play at now that she is done with her collegiate career,” Dunbar said. “She was just starting to come into her own during her senior year, so I’m excited to watch her progress during her professional career now.”And, if there aren’t enough perks to playing professional ball, Short was contacted by MTV’s “MADE” with a request to become a “MADE” coach for a future show. Flattered, but unsure, Short wants to think of her schedule with summer classes and the time commitment required before making a decision as to whether she will accept the offer.
(05/08/09 2:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU volleyball team has improved leaps and bounds during coach Sherry Dunbar’s two-year tenure.Before Dunbar arrived at IU, the team had five combined Big Ten wins from 2004-2006. Since she took the job, the team improved to six Big Ten wins in 2007 and nine Big Ten wins in 2008. Some of the improvement stems from the athletes she has recruited to play for the Hoosiers.Next fall will be no exception when IU welcomes seven new players to the team.Kathleen Donehue, Whitney Granado, Jordan Haverly, Shawn Hindman, Kelci Marschall, Laura Matula and Sam Thrower will don the cream and crimson uniforms next fall as newcomers.Of the seven, Haverly and Thrower come to IU with the most accolades.Haverly was the 20th ranked player in the nation coming out of high school, as well as an All-American. She is also a transfer from 2008 Final Four participant Nebraska. Thrower is a top-50 player out of Chicago.Dunbar said she feels all the new players will make an impact.“I feel like they all will fill a vital role for us,” she said.Dunbar said she is not guaranteeing the recruits playing time right away. Starting spots will rest on how current members of the team perform, she said.“I have no idea (who will start),” she said. “It depends on our returners and how hard they work.” One of those returning team members is junior middle blocker Ashley Benson who is the Hoosiers’ top returning offensive player after recording 372 kills last year.Benson said the new players should gel with the current team right away.“We were really excited to meet them and they seemed to fit in with the program well,” she said.Another returning team member is senior outside hitter Kelsey Hall, who is third on the team among returning players with 229 kills. Hall said the new players bring skills the team has missed that will allow them to think big for the future.“I am really excited because they have what we have been lacking in the past,” she said. “They have competition and drive and really want the program to win a national championship.”Dunbar said the new recruits will make the team deeper and can get the Hoosiers to the NCAA tournament after the team missed it by just one game last year.“For the first time since I have been here we are going to have depth, which is a great competitive advantage in practice,” she said. “We have the talent and it is about integrating the freshman and getting them up to speed as fast as possible.”
(12/01/08 5:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>At 17-15 with a 9-11 conference record, the IU volleyball team waited on pins and needles Sunday night at Nick’s English Hut. Despite having above a .500 record and finishing sixth in the Big Ten conference, the NCAA’s premier volleyball conference, the Hoosiers did not make the tournament.IU defeated Ohio State on Saturday to move its record to its final tally.The Hoosiers were led by Mary Chaudoin’s 34 assists while Ashley Benson, Erica Short and Kelsey Hall had 47 combined kills.After the game, IU coach Sherry Dunbar said, “In or out (of the NCAA Tournament), I’m so proud of these girls. To fight, scratch and claw like they did tonight, and really like they have all season long, just shows their character and desire to win.”
(11/21/08 4:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A dash of excitement, a bit of confidence and a ton of motivation are what IU coach Sherry Dunbar said will be necessary for the IU volleyball team to earn wins this weekend.The Hoosiers will take on the Wisconsin Badgers at home Friday and the Northwestern Wildcats on Saturday during Senior Night. Both games are at 7 p.m.Earlier this season, the Hoosiers defeated both teams on the road, and now they have the chance to play on their home court with their fans cheering them on. Dunbar said it will give them the bit of confidence they need to pull through another win.“Playing at home gives them confidence,” Dunbar said, “but we’re trying to make them understand how tough these matches are going to be. They’re not going to lay down and let us beat them again.”Dunbar said the team had two tough practices this week, which helped them focus on fighting for every point. Three teams are now tied for a game behind sixth place, including the Hoosiers. This weekend can make or break their dreams of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in December.“It’s basically a four-team mini-tournament,” senior captain Erica Short said. “And if we can go out and play our game, we can definitely make it. We have to take it one match at a time in order to do it.”Qualifying for the NCAA tournament would be a bittersweet moment for Short, who is now a senior and will no longer be able to play collegiate volleyball after this season. Short said this opportunity could help build the volleyball program that started toward the bottom and is now moving to the top.“If we go (to the NCAA), it’s going to be great for us,” freshman defensive specialist Caitlin Cox said. “It’ll start a tradition here. If we don’t, we’ll learn that we can’t lose against certain teams or come out flat on the road in the Big Ten, not that we’re a young team is an excuse, but it’s a learning experience.”Dunbar said the Hoosiers learned a needed lesson from last weekend, after losses to Purdue and Illinois.The losses might have looked like deja vu from the match against Purdue earlier in the season, as the Hoosiers lost in five sets against the Boilermakers 21-25, 25-13, 19-25, 25-22, and 12-15. It was a monumental evening for Short, however, who became the University’s all-time leader in career kills, recording more than 1,808. It was a tough loss for the Hoosiers, but the team members said they walked off the court happy with their performance and proud of what they had accomplished.“We played together, and a lot of things were really going our way,” Cox said. “We controlled most of the match, but at the end, the last set is when we really started to lose control.”After reflecting on the Illinois match, the team is working to cut down on unforced errors, which resulted in an upsetting loss in which the Hoosiers fell 19-25 in three sets. They recorded 10 service errors alone, which Dunbar said was unacceptable for Big Ten volleyball.“Everyone was on a different page,” said junior outside Kelsey Hall. “It’s a learning experience. You can’t be perfect, and I think we’re going to take what we did at Illinois and use it against Wisconsin and Northwestern as motivation.”With only four matches left, reality has set in, and the team said it is ready to finish strong.“We need to understand that even though we’ve beaten both of these teams, Wisconsin is playing better than what they were before, and we were the better team that night,” Cox said. “Everything needs to click, and we have to play our game, not theirs.”
(11/14/08 6:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU volleyball team is putting last weekend behind it to try to take two steps forward against in-state rival Purdue on Friday, and Illinois on Saturday.The Hoosiers will head north to West Lafayette, where they hope to defeat the rival Boilermakers. The Hoosiers lost at home earlier this season against No. 18 Purdue, but they are excited for another chance to add a win to the record.“I think we’re really excited, and more than anything we want to win there,” said sophomore outside hitter Taylor Wittmer. “We’re motivated to come out and get a win. You want to kill your rival. We know that we worked so hard and that all of our hard work can pay off, and we need to dominate.”The Hoosiers are expecting an energetic and lively audience in West Lafayette and have prepared themselves all this week for the intense environment. Senior middle blocker Erica Short said the team practiced with Purdue’s fight song playing to prepare them for the loud fans and crowded stands.Last weekend was a disappointment when the Hoosiers were defeated by Michigan State after maintaining momentum built from a four-game win streak, a team Wittmer said the Hoosiers knew they were better than.Senior captain and defensive specialist Juli Pierce added the Hoosiers lost focus after stringing together some impressive results.“We didn’t have the fight that we had in the past few matches, and I think that it’s rare for us,” Pierce said. “We’ve been fighting so long lately, and we got so unfocused and couldn’t get anything started.”The players said they had no excuse for their loss to the Spartans after playing hard two weeks ago at No. 1 Penn State.“We didn’t play together, and we couldn’t get it all together for consecutive points,” Wittmer said. “We expected more out of ourselves.”The Hoosiers stand 6-8 in the Big Ten, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel – one that could lead to the NCAA Tournament. “I really don’t consider wins and losses,” Short said. “I take it one game at a time. In the back of my head, I know that we have to win at least nine games to get to the tournament, so I take one match at a time.”The Hoosiers have played Purdue once before and knows exactly what they’re up against. They fought hard the first time to force the match into five sets, and they plan to do the same this time, with one difference: They want to win.“I’m confident now that we’re playing Purdue,” Pierce said. “(Last time) we lost in five (sets), and it really could’ve gone either way, and this time it’s going to go our way.”
(11/07/08 5:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After losing to top-ranked Penn State, the IU volleyball team returns to action Saturday in what appears to be a more winnable match against Michigan State.Unlike the Nittany Lions, who have not lost a set or match this year, the Spartans are unranked. Michigan State is 4-8 in the Big Ten and 12-11 overall, while the Hoosiers are 6-7 in the Big Ten and 14-11 overall.Before the loss to Penn State, IU won four matches in a row, including wins against two ranked teams: then-No. 21 Wisconsin and then-No. 13 Minnesota. The Hoosiers also came close to handing Penn State their first loss in a set this year as IU led the third set 22-21 before Penn State ultimately won the final four points and the match.IU freshman defensive specialist Caitlin Cox said she thinks if the Hoosiers compete against Michigan State with the same force they’ve shown before, the results will be different.“If we play like we did in the last set against Penn State, then I think we are capable of beating anyone,” Cox said.IU coach Sherry Dunbar said she thinks it is important the Hoosiers play well in general.“I think it is a big match for us, and we need to get fired up and play point-for-point,” Dunbar said.Saturday’s match begins at 6:30 p.m.Regardless of the outcome, the Hoosiers will need several more wins to reach NCAA Tournament eligibility. To be considered, the team must finish at least 10-10 in conference play.Senior middle blocker Erica Short said because of her experience, her own play is important to the Hoosiers’ success and chance at postseason play.“Since I am a senior, I know I have to keep the ball in play, as I am the team leader,” Short said.
(11/05/08 7:10am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Perhaps revenge is what it does best. The IU volleyball team scored two upsets against Iowa and No. 13 Minnesota, after losing to them both earlier this season. IU’s success now puts it 6-6 in the Big Ten and 14-10 overall. Sophomore middle blocker Ashley Benson said she thought playing at home and having the support from fans helped the Hoosiers find the energy and readiness to play.The first match against Iowa was a thrilling victory, with IU overtaking the Hawkeyes 3-2 after an initial two-set deficit. Benson was, for the second straight time, awarded Big Ten Player of the Week this week and showed her leadership abilities in the Iowa match. She reached a career-high 25 kills and recorded a .477 hitting percentage for the match. Benson said she felt humbled to receive the honor, but she said she is ready to compete like she has been for weeks.“I feel excited to try to outdo what I’ve already done and to help the team continue to succeed,” Benson said.After last Friday’s victory, the team had little time to enjoy it and had to quickly recover for Saturday’s match against Minnesota. The back-and-forth affair ended in five sets, after which the Hoosiers exuded confidence to finish strong.“We all knew that we could beat them,” Short said, “and coach (Sherry Dunbar) said in the fourth game huddle when were down that we needed to change. Everyone realized we could do it. Everyone changed what needed to be changed. We got the fifth set and dominated.”Wednesday marks an important day as well for the Hoosiers, who will go up against No. 1 Penn State at 7 p.m. in the University Gym. They have previously lost to Penn State in three sets this season, but they are not afraid of the No. 1 team in the nation. Short doesn’t put Penn State on a higher pedestal than the rest of the Big Ten teams.“I think as a team we’re ready to go out there and play,” Short said. “We have nothing to lose. They’re a great team and haven’t lost a set this year. It’s going to be a great chance for us to work on some things and have fun.”For sophomore middle blocker Lexie Woodson, playing a top team is exciting.“Watching them on TV and playing against them is a different experience,” Woodson said. “My mom was even saying to play the No. 1 team in the country is an awesome experience. If we keep doing what we’ve been, maybe we can pull a set or a win off of them. No team has done that yet. “Benson exuded quiet confidence when asked about the Hoosiers’ strategy against the Nittany Lions. “All we really need to do is hit high off their hands and just go down swinging hard,” Benson said. “If we all keep fighting, we can do it.”
(11/03/08 3:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Just when it seemed making the NCAA Tournament was an afterthought, the Hoosiers strung together a weekend sweep of Iowa and No. 13 Minnesota to put themselves back into postseason contention.With the wins this weekend, IU has now won four in a row and five out of six to even their Big Ten record at 6-6. To make the NCAA Tournament, the Hoosiers need to finish at least 10-10 in conference play.The weekend began with a furious comeback on Halloween against the Iowa Hawkeyes.The Hoosiers trailed 2-0 before rallying to win the final three sets. Things appeared especially gloomy in the fifth set, when IU was down 14-11 and facing match point before ripping off five straight points of their own to win it. IU sophomore outside hitter Taylor Wittmer said she thought it was an exciting game that the Hoosiers managed to pull out.“(The game) was so emotional, because we were down in the fifth set,” Wittmer said. “They had game points so many times, and us crawling back was just awesome.”Saturday night, the Hoosiers managed to win another five-set thriller over the No. 13 Minnesota Golden Gophers. The script was a repeat of Friday night, as the Hoosiers trailed 20-15 in the fourth set before rallying for a 25-22 win to even the match at two sets apiece. The fifth set had less drama than Friday, as IU pulled ahead 5-4 and never looked back in a 15-9 win.IU coach Sherry Dunbar said she thought the Hoosiers played with poise for the entire match.“We are playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Dunbar said. “We were calm and relaxed but aggressive and having fun.”IU freshman defensive specialist Caitlin Cox said things got better for the Hoosiers as the match went on after bad luck at the beginning.“This was such an exciting match,” Cox said. “Things weren’t going our way at first, but then everything clicked and we started crushing balls and we took off.”Statistically, IU was aggressive on defense all weekend as they managed to out-dig Iowa 76-63 and Minnesota 70-54. On offense, IU was equally impressive, as they out-killed the Hawkeyes 66-59 and the Gophers 71-61.IU returns to action Wednesday when they travel to University Park, Pa., for a date with undefeated and defending national champion Penn State Nittany Lions at 7 p.m. Those wishing to watch the match can catch all the action on the Big Ten Network.Dunbar said she thinks IU needs to continue to improve as a team and not get too hyped up over the wins this weekend.“We just have to chip away and remember how we are getting here,” Dunbar said. “If we can stay focused and not get too much into winning all these matches and take it one day at a time, we will continue to get better as a team.”
(10/31/08 1:55am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Hoosiers are working their way up the Big Ten ladder, pulling out two more wins last weekend against Northwestern and Wisconsin and are now standing at 4-6 in conference. “I think the majority of them tried to focus on playing one point at a time,” IU coach Sherry Dunbar said. “They focused on forgetting about the last mistake and playing in the moment, and that allowed them to play more relaxed in that sense.”This weekend the Hoosiers are looking for revenge as they host the Iowa Hawkeyes on Friday and Minnesota on Saturday at 7 p.m., respectively, in the University Gym.Iowa and Minnesota have both beat the Hoosiers already this season.“We have film on them from before, and stat reports,” sophomore middle Ashley Benson said. “We adjust to what they did when they played us before, and we know that they tip a lot, so all we need to do is adjust to that.”The team has the confidence and skills to continue its aggressive play and teamwork they significantly improved on last weekend.“I think we’re a better team than we were playing them away,” Dunbar said. “We’ve already seen them once, so we know what we didn’t do the first time. We’re definitely fixing them at practice. We’re picking up a lot of things from that match, and they’re motivated to win.”The Hoosiers began last weekend on a strong foot, winning in five sets against the Wildcats 23-25, 25-23, 27-29, 25-18 and 15-10. This crazy back-and-forth match proved to be an accomplishment, out-killing the Wildcats 72 to 59 and out-digging them 74 to 65.The team’s success was guided by Benson, who not only scored a career-high of 23 kills and nine blocks, but was also awarded Big Ten Player of the Week and National Player of the Week. “She’s a huge reason why we were successful,” Dunbar said, “and I’m looking for her to do that on a consistent basis. I want her to do that over 10 matches, not just two. I want her to come out with that mentality that she can and needs to do that every time.”Sophomore defensive specialist Hayley Koetter and freshman setter Mary Chaudoin also contributed, tallying a combined 63 assists. “We talked about focusing on each point and not worrying about the score or worrying about the process of it, and we knew the outcome would happen,” Chaudoin said. “It was so much fun, and we really came together as a team and played in the moment.”After a day of rest, the Hoosiers came prepared to take on then-No. 25 Wisconsin, defeating them in four sets 22-25, 25-21, 25-23 and 25-20. Senior captain Erica Short said last weekend showed the true character of the Hoosiers.“I think we all know now that we are a great team and we should be winning,” Short said. “Who cares? It’s just Wisconsin. It’s just their name. We give too much credit to teams just because of their name. It really doesn’t mean much.”The Hoosiers ran with that idea by limiting the Badger offense to a measly .146 hitting percentage by putting up strong blocks and swings by Benson and freshman middle Lexie Woodson, who performed at a .429 hitting level percentage. The Hoosiers beat Wisconsin on the road for the first time since 1995, which was also the first against the Badgers in general since 2002.
(10/17/08 5:09am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The women’s volleyball team took a step backward last weekend on the road against Minnesota and Iowa, putting them 1-5 in the Big Ten with only 14 matches left. “We just didn’t show up,” said senior captain Erica Short. “We didn’t enter the building. I don’t know who played last weekend. It wasn’t an IU program at all.” The Hoosiers’ main focus right now is Ohio State. IU will take on the Buckeyes at 7 p.m. Friday as part of Hoosier Hysteria.Short said she is confident the Hoosiers can continue to carry a strong program.“We have to make sure that each player is playing their best, and we’re not just staying in our comfort zones,” said sophomore middle Ashley Benson. The Hoosiers will also take on Michigan at 7 p.m. Saturday.Senior captain Juli Pierce said the Hoosiers expect to see an aggressive and scrappy Wolverines team. Pierce said communication and teamwork skills are going to be crucial if the Hoosiers want two Big Ten wins. “We really need to come together and play as a team, worry about each other, do things for each other, play for each other,” Pierce said. Benson said a lack of communication and teamwork led to the team’s breakdown after losing 3-2 to Iowa last Saturday. “Right after the Iowa game, confidence was very, very, very low,” Benson said. “I thought, ‘maybe it’s just not our year to go to the NCAA.’” After last weekend, the Hoosiers have adjusted their team motto. Short said their past “Fight For 12” slogan has been replaced with “Fight For Now.”
(10/10/08 3:40am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With the Big Ten season well under way, the IU volleyball team is prepared to take on Minnesota and Iowa on the road this weekend. The Hoosiers’ win against Michigan State last weekend gave the team the confidence boost necessary to help them against Minnesota on Friday and Iowa on Saturday.Junior outside hitter Kelsey Hall put on a spectacular performance last weekend, throwing herself into the crowd for balls and contributing a great deal to the success of the team’s defense. Hall thought the win was a big boost now that the team beat a squad that was previously undefeated in conference, and she’s hoping that they can notch two more wins this weekend.Sophomore defensive specialist Hayley Koetter also showed her skills on the court, racking up a total of 26 assists, the highest number of assists scored by any Hoosier that night. Freshman setter Mary Chaudoin added 18 as well, playing a crucial role in the success of the team’s offense.The team won the match 3-1, losing the second set 23-25. Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Wittmer said she thought they went into the second set too confident, which ended up hurting them, but the Hoosiers quickly regained their confidence and pulled through two more set wins.The team had another strong week of practice, tweaking their offense and defense to cater to the styles of Minnesota and Iowa.“We’ve been running inside and outside attacks,” IU coach Sherry Dunbar said. “They’re a great defensive team, so we’re focusing on having to fight for every point, and we have to keep staying aggressive and thinking about playing in a different environment that’s different from being at home. “When you’re on the floor, you have to stay within the team and stay in the moment.”Each player has a special responsibility this weekend that goes beyond what their normal position requires of them. Freshman middle blocker Lexie Woodson said she has been told this week to focus on certain strategies, especially against Iowa. “I have to watch the setter’s hand, because I can get psyched out sometimes, and I’m trying to stay with the middle,” Woodson said. “I need to stay off the net, keep watching the pass and keep pressing over the net a lot.”The team has also been concentrating on their film, looking at their hitters and blocking schemes, Hall said.If there is one word to describe what the team feels about playing Big Ten teams, it would be “exciting.” “Knowing every night that you’re playing a top-10 team match is really exciting, “ Hall said. “Every match that we look at is taking us one step closer to our goal. Beating them is one step closer to our goal, and overall we want to win, and I think we can with everyone being so excited and energized.”On the other hand, being a part of the Big Ten conference can also be a challenge, and players recognize that there are major differences between the start of their season and their Big Ten season.“It’s very challenging, because when we started, it was just another match,” Woodson said. “Now that we’re Big Ten, it’s a bigger, faster match.” Woodson said she remembers watching Penn State as a senior in high school and being wowed by their skills. She said she feels like she can have that same effect if she puts her whole heart and mind into the game.As a coach, Dunbar also said she notices that the intensity during practice has perhaps changed from just being focused to being Big Ten-focused.“It’s definitely a different focus, so I think now that we’re in the Big Ten play, we can see the competition,” Dunbar said. “We played a lot of ranked teams already. We know where we stand. “I think we’ve gotten closer and closer every match and then beat Michigan State, so I think we’re getting closer to seeing what our potential is.”
(10/06/08 4:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU volleyball team put another Big Ten win on the board against the Michigan State Spartans on Friday night, winning in four sets (25-14, 23-25, 25-21, 25-20). The team’s main goal Friday was to take command early and record another Big Ten win, and that’s exactly what they accomplished. “One of our biggest goals is to always win the first set,” IU coach Sherry Dunbar said. “Once we hit point 20, we want to be on the attack instead of hoping Michigan State would make errors.” In the first game, the team displayed a strong desire to meet that 20-point goal. Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Wittmer shined with 10 kills for the match at a .476 hitting percentage. The team’s defensive skills and teamwork also came together throughout the entire first game, with solid play from freshman middle blocker Lexie Woodson and several solid digs by freshman defensive specialist Caitlin Cox and junior outside hitter Kelsey Hall. The team started strong and kept that fire throughout the entire first set. Once the second set came around, however, the wind started to change in the direction of the Spartans, who took the second frame 23-25.“We came out dominating in the first set,” Wittmer said. “We thought we would just crush them again, and we let them play with us a little. We needed to keep the same intensity, and it went down a little bit.”Although the team lost the set, the Hoosiers recorded several rallies, including a tough pancake from Cox and a strong recover by Hall which forced her into the stands to bring the ball back in play. The intensity of the attending crowd helped IU refocus and gain the will to win right back, said senior co-captain and middle blocker Erica Short. IU brought that intensity to the third set, and Woodson started off with a block to win the first point and pushed the ball over the net to record a joust for the second point to start them off at 2-0. Teamwork was strong again in the third set, with long rallies and tight defensive work. In the fourth and final set, IU started at 0-3, losing the first point on a shanked pass. Soon after, however, the Hoosiers got back on track, and finished the set 25-20.“We fought, we never gave up,” Short said. “Even though the fourth set we were down by three points, we came back and let them make errors, and we followed the game plan exactly.”After seeing the overall performance by the Hoosiers, Dunbar was proud of the end result. “I think we knew Michigan State as well as they knew themselves,” Dunbar said. “We practiced hard the last two days, and I felt like they really carried the game plan out.”Michigan State was undefeated until the Hoosiers came around, and Wittmer said she hopes this momentum will carry over to the rest of the Big Ten matches.“It feels amazing, because we needed that win so bad,” Wittmer said. “It makes it even more awesome to know that they were undefeated. Going in, we just said, ‘We’re going to win. We’re not going 0-4 in the Big Ten.’”
(10/03/08 3:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU volleyball team will finally get the luxury of facing an unranked team in the Big Ten.But even though it’s not ranked, Michigan State is a formidable opponent, carrying a 10-3, 2-0 record and a 10-match winning streak into Friday’s contest. IU sophomore Taylor Wittmer, however, isn’t impressed.“We are going to win this game and come out on fire,” she said. Even though she hopes for the same outcome as Wittmer, IU junior Kelsey Hall was a little more laid back in her prediction, admitting the opposition is tough.“Every team in the Big Ten is great,” Hall said. “Going out every night, we are going to play top competition, but we hope to get the win.” IU has dropped its first three Big Ten matches to No. 20 Illinois, No. 19 Purdue and No. 1 Penn State and sits at 0-3 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers were competitive in each match, however. In the most recent contest against the defending national champion Nittany Lions, the Hoosiers lost 25-17, 25-18, 25-19. The Hoosiers were on top for most of the third set, though, and carried a lead as late as 18-16 before Penn State took over.Against Purdue, IU lost in five sets in front of an energetic and nearly sold-out crowd at University Gym. Against Illinois, IU took the first set before dropping close contests in the final three sets. Friday’s match begins at 7 p.m. After Friday, the Hoosiers head to the road for matches against Minnesota and Iowa Oct. 10 and Oct. 11, respectively. Wittmer knows this match is imperative for the Hoosiers postseason chances.“We have lost to three Big Ten teams already,” she said. “It is unacceptable if we want to go to the NCAA Tournament to lose four in a row.”
(10/01/08 4:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU volleyball team might have thought it had it tough last weekend, facing two top-20 teams, Illinois and Purdue.But those teams are nothing compared to the next monster IU will encounter today at the University Gym.This monster comes in the guise of a lion – a Nittany Lion, to be exact. Defending national champion and undefeated Penn State will pay Bloomington a visit.The top-ranked Nittany Lions have not lost a single set in competition this year, let alone a match, as they stand at a perfect 14-0. They have also won 40 straight matches dating back to last year and have lost just eight total sets during that time period. The Hoosiers, meanwhile, have had more modest results, as they come in at 8-6 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten this year. Still, the Hoosiers aren’t intimidated. IU coach Sherry Dunbar is looking forward to the challenge the Lions will provide.“It is a great opportunity,” Dunbar said. “Why not play the best team in the country, as it should be a great experience for us?”Freshman outside hitter Danielle LaGrange said she believes the team just needs to be optimistic, and good things can happen.“We have to have a positive attitude and have the mindset that we are going to win,” LaGrange said. Today’s game will mark IU’s first television appearance of the season, as the game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network at 7 p.m. Following the Penn State match, competition will lighten up somewhat, as IU takes on unranked Michigan State on Friday to close out a four-match home stand that opened the Big Ten season. For now, however, the Hoosiers are focused on Penn State, a team that is literally on top of the college volleyball world at present. Freshman middle blocker Lexie Woodson knows that no matter what happens Wednesday, there is still an abundance of time to do well the rest of the season.“We have plenty of matches and practice to look forward to,” Woodson said.
(09/26/08 3:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It’s Big Ten time, and the volleyball team is welcoming its competition with open arms.This weekend marks the beginning of the Big Ten Conference matches against big-time rivals Illinois and Purdue on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Individual Hoosiers have made several accomplishments as they prepare for the challenge headed their way.Senior captain Juli Pierce’s accomplishment has been the most notable. Pierce became IU’s all-time digs leader last weekend, recording 1,332 career digs, which helped the Hoosiers sweep Ball State last Friday. “I think it’s very exciting,” she said, “but obviously it could’ve never been accomplished without my teammates and coaches helping me every step of the way.” The Big Ten Conference is the toughest volleyball conference in the nation, with teams like No. 1 Penn State, but beyond the Nittany Lions, the conference features No. 12 Minnesota, No. 19 Purdue and No. 20 Illinois. Now that the team will be stepping into Big Ten gyms, practices seem to have a different aura. Coaches are a little more intense, players are working a little harder, and everyone is more attentive. “It’s a whole new focus on the court and at practice,” said freshman setter Mary Chaudoin. “This is for real now, and this is what we’ve been practicing for. Now it’s time to execute what we’ve been practicing.”IU coach Sherry Dunbar is ready to embark on the journey the Big Ten offers.“I think the pre-season games prepared us, and we’ve really learned about scouting and have done a lot of film work of (Illinois),” Dunbar said. “They’ve also done scouting reports on their own and kind of mimicked U of I at practice. They’re mentally and physically ready.”The team is proud and honored to be a member of such a competitive conference.“I feel great being a part of Big Ten volleyball and a Big Ten school,” sophomore Ashley Benson said. “I think it’s the best thing. In volleyball, it’s the toughest conference, and I think all the teams bring their “A” game each game. I like it a lot.”The Hoosiers square off against Illinois at 7 p.m. Friday and then take on Purdue at 7 p.m. Saturday. Both games will be played at the University Gym.“I expect it to be really intense, loud and a lot of balls bouncing hard,” Chaudoin said. “I expect to see top-level volleyball and, of course, to win.”
(09/19/08 4:45am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With three matches on tap this weekend for the IU volleyball team, there is still one main goal in mind: Make it to the NCAA Tournament. The team goal is to “fight for 12,” meaning the month of December when the tournament begins.“We’re trying to win most of our conference games to qualify ourselves for the tournament,” said freshman setter Mary Chaudoin. IU coach Sherry Dunbar echoed that sentiment, saying she hopes her team can use the tough Big Ten season to ready itself for postseason play. “We’re looking to improve before the Big Ten,” Dunbar said. “We open with the (top three) teams in the Big Ten, and we’re hoping to go 3-0.”Last weekend, the team fought hard against Kentucky but couldn’t pull through. Although they started with complete confidence and focus through the first seven points, they seemed to slide early in the game.Still, players’ focus didn’t waver in their rivalry game.“Kentucky and IU have always had a big rivalry, “ said sophomore middle blocker Ashley Benson. “Growing up, my dad always told me that you always want to beat Kentucky.”Throughout the season, Dunbar gives the team several goals before matches to keep the motivation and morale high – against Kentucky, they were to win the first set and fight hard throughout. Unfortunately, goal No. 1 couldn’t be accomplished as the Hoosiers dropped their first set on the way to a 3-1 defeat. The Benson-Chaudoin duo shined through against Kentucky, however, with Benson swinging a .500 average with 21 kills and Chaudoin notching 28 assists.“It’s awesome as a setter to have (Benson), because if the set is not in the right place, she’ll still find a way to make a kill out of it,” Chaudoin said. Injury was added to insult after the loss against Kentucky, when freshman defensive specialist Caitlin Cox was dealt a concussion in Monday’s practice, and junior outside hitter Kelsey Hall is still battling an ankle sprain from two weeks ago. “I played in the Kentucky match, because it’s progressed really well,” Hall said. “I’m trying to get better by the Big Ten (season), so I’m limited at practice, and I’ll go to the side and practice with the trainer.” Hall hasn’t been able to hit for the past two weeks but said the ankle injury won’t slow her down. IU was the dominant team against both Albany and Eastern Kentucky, shutting both opponents down and giving the team a confidence boost for its upcoming matches.This weekend, the Hoosiers host the TIS Bookstore Invitational. They start at 12:20 p.m. Friday against George Mason, in-state foe Ball State at 7:30 p.m. the same day and Cincinnati at 3 p.m. Saturday.Friday’s matches will be held at the University Gym, and Saturday’s matches will be held at Assembly Hall.Several of the team members as well as the staff are looking forward to the match against Ball State. IU assistant coach Keith Schunzel and Dunbar both played for Ball State, while Cox’s brother played basketball and golf for the Cardinals, and her father was an athletic trainer.“The Ball State game I’m really looking forward to,” Benson said. “I have a lot of friends that go there, and hopefully it’s going to be a building weekend where everyone gets better and fulfills everything we need to fulfill.”
(09/19/08 4:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The “no boys allowed” rule might apply to most women’s sports at IU, but not to the volleyball team.Sophomore Ryan Sullivan and junior Nate Jones have been practicing with the team since day one this season.“We met coach (Sherry Dunbar) last year,” Jones said. “I helped coach a Hoosierland team here at IU, and I met (IU assistant coach) Keith Schunzel one day, and, through a reference, they asked me to help out.”Both Sullivan and Jones play at the club level at IU and are more than willing to come to practice every day to help the women’s team.In fact, it’s something they both really enjoy.“It was awkward at first,” Sullivan said, “but they’re so outgoing. Practice is a total blast, and we get along with them great. We can be a big help to them, and it definitely helps us out a lot, too.”Both men help the players with their defensive skills in hitting and blocking, and the players said that, so far, they have benefited from the help. They said both Jones and Sullivan bring not only intensity and competition to the practice court, but they’ve also become a great part of the program and are a pleasure to work with.“Let’s just say we won’t get the ball hit to us any harder than how they hit it,” said freshman outside hitter Danielle LaGrange.Her coach said she agrees.“They make such a huge difference for us,” Dunbar said. “They give us more competitiveness, and they have no ego. They love doing it, and they give us a bigger block and bigger hits in practice than the girls could get from anyone else.”Sullivan began playing competitive volleyball as a sixth grader and then at the club level in seventh grade for Sky High Volleyball Club in the Chicagoland area. His coaches noticed his strong talent and asked him to play at the varsity level, which he did all throughout high school as an outside hitter and then as a setter. He later played for the Adversity Volleyball Club, also located in the Chicagoland area. Jones, on the other hand, has only recently involved himself with the sport. He gained experience playing beach volleyball for the past four years and was given the opportunity to intern with the EVP Tour, which is just one level below the AVP Tour, the Association of Volleyball Professionals.Jones ran the tour in Chicago and said he had the opportunity to meet talented and passionate people while doing something he loves. Before Jones had the opportunity to coach the women’s volleyball team, he gained experience as an assistant coach for Hoosierland’s 18-year-old team. Both Sullivan and Jones help run drills at practice and give 100 percent through each play, each swing and each block. “If I see something I know how to do, I’ll give my advice and they accept our criticism,” Sullivan said. “It’s a peer-to-peer kind of thing.”The guys come to every practice on top of their own club practices and class schedules, and it can be draining.“I skip a lot of meals because I have 8 a.m. classes until 12 p.m. one day, and 11 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. on another day,” Jones said. “Tuesdays and Thursdays are really rough.”Their club team also practices from 8 to 11 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday nights, making their days jam-packed and with little time to do much extra. If they are not in class taking notes, they are on the court improving the team’s game as well as their own.But for these two, the time commitment is worth it to see this team succeed, and they plan to do what is needed to make this happen.“We’re doing this because it helps us so much, but more because it’s going to help this team a lot,” Jones said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”With a few weeks of practice under their belts, Jones and Sullivan spend time with the team off the court and have become a large part of the squad.“A bunch of the girls and I live close so we hang out a lot,” Sullivan said. “Now, they make fun of my jump serve all the time and really put the pressure on.”