IU turns corner against Purdue

The rivalry was in full swing Saturday as the women's volleyball team swept Purdue in three games to regain confidence after a four game losing streak. The team reclaimed the Monon Spike, a traveling volleyball trophy that represents the competition between the two teams. IU's record improves to 5-13, going 2-8 in the Big Ten with the win. Purdue falls to 2-15, going 1-9 in the conference.\nAfter a tough loss to Illinois last week the Hoosiers took a break from their usual scouting and practice exercises to try different tactics for the match up against the Boilermakers.\n"Typically we have a real elaborate scouting plan and we didn't give them a scouting plan for Purdue; we talked about our side and what we needed to do," coach Katie Weismiller said. "I think a lot of people might disagree with what happened (at practice), but we wouldn't let them out of practice till they accomplished some goals and we were there for some quite some time … we wouldn't let them quit and I think after that they came out and they knew that they could do it and they might have been tired, but I think that we cleared a hurdle last night in practice."\nIU charged out in game one to lead Purdue 6-2. The Boilermakers came back to take the lead, but the Hoosiers regrouped, tying the score at 12 after a kill from freshman Christina Archibald. The Boilermakers blazed ahead, causing IU to take a short timeout at 19-24. Purdue came back from the timeout to rack up numerous hitting errors, putting IU back into the game, down two points at 25-23. Senior Disney Bronnenberg and freshman Katie Pollom entered the game to aid the fighting Hoosiers and to push the score to 27-29. After a crucial timeout and a powerful kill by Pollom, IU went on a run to win 33-31. \nGame two did not give IU time to celebrate as Purdue stayed in step with the Hoosiers' score, not allowing IU to lead by more than a few points. IU gained the lead at 7-5, but Purdue attacked back with unstoppable blocking to move ahead 10-8. Tensions were high as Purdue contested referee calls and both teams competed at their highest levels. The score was tied at 21, but IU regained the lead and wouldn't allow Purdue to lead for the rest of the match. IU won 30-23. \nIU confidently began game three with an 11-4 lead sending Purdue scraping and diving to the ground in an effort to save kills. Long rallies forced the Hoosiers to play at their best, causing senior Crecia Keithley and junior Hillary Toivonen to pounce on the floor numerous times for saves. The Hoosiers outscored and outplayed Purdue to end the game 30-22. \nThe Hoosiers unstoppable playing held Purdue's kill tallies to single digits and Boilermaker sophomore leader Eryn Leach to only five kills for the evening. \n"We came our here knowing that Indiana was going to be a good team and we always have to be ready for them, they played a good game," Leach said.\n"This is a turning point in the Big Ten, we are going into the second half of the season, it's going to work really well for us," said sophomore Melissa Brewer. "Getting a win away, beating Purdue, and doing it in three games, I mean, what more could you ask for"