IU loses conference games

Big Ten Conference play has proven to be a challenge to the women's volleyball team as they lost matches to Wisconsin and Northwestern Friday and Saturday. \nThe Hoosiers began their weekend against Wisconsin, ranked seventh in the NCAA. Junior Laurie Gardner also faced her sister.\nThe Badgers swept the Hoosiers in three games (30-15, 30-23, 30-26). Coach Katie Weismiller was optimistic about the team's play. \n"I would have to say that we certainly didn't play up to our full potential tonight, but we played a very strong team in Wisconsin," Weismiller said. "The hardest part is we know at times it's not Wisconsin beating us, it's us beating ourselves."\nThe Badgers have two All-Americans, including first team pick and senior Sherisa Livingston, who tallied 14 kills in three games. \n"It's not often that you are going to see an athlete who can play to the level she does," Weismiller said. \nThe Hoosiers changed up the roster for both of the weekend's matches, playing senior Disney Bronnenberg and Gardner -- both setters -- against Wisconsin. Freshman Victoria Zimmerman and junior Hillary Toivonen were added to the starting lineup for the Northwestern match. \n"Laurie is one of my favorite players to play with. I think she goes hard all the time and I know that both of us have made some adjustments lately to whether I'm in the back row or she's outside hitting. She's a player who I am always going to feel very confident whenever I'm out on the court with her," Bronnenberg said.\nSaturday evening's match against Northwestern began with a confident Hoosier lead despite the absence of Gardner.\n"Laurie has a shoulder injury that she sustained against Wisconsin," Weismiller said. "We don't know the extent of it yet. Her absence was certainly a factor." \nThe Hoosiers had no trouble containing Northwestern's wild passes that sent the team diving and scraping for each point. The Hoosiers won the first game 30-18. \nThe next game didn't give the Hoosiers time to celebrate as Northwestern beat IU. The third game put freshman Katie Pollom to the court. The Hoosiers fought the score to 27-26, but three short points later the Wildcats claimed the match.\nSaddened by the weekend's losses, the team stuck together despite 18 kills from freshman Christina Archibald and 13 by Toivonen. \n"It was a team effort," Toivonen said. "No matter how we do individually, there are other areas that we need to focus on as a team and that is always more important"