Hoosiers open Big 10 season

If there ever was a time for a team to hit its stride, it's when they start their conference season, and that's exactly what the IU volleyball team has done. The Hoosiers start their 2002 Big Ten season with a match against the nationally ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. \nThis match will provide a challenge for the Hoosiers. Ohio State comes into the match sporting a 6-3 record and a ranking of No. 11 in the country. The Ohio State volleyball program is highly touted as a perennial top 25 team. Pre-season expectations for the team ran high as they finished with a 25-3 overall record last season and were expected by most to finish first in the Big Ten.\nThe Buckeyes' are led by sophomore outside hitter Stacey Gordon, who was named the 2001 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and has begun the season averaging an impressive 6.03 kills per game for a total of 193 kills on the season. Gordon is also leading the team in total digs with 125. Along with Gordon, freshman outside hitter Stephanie Higgins poses a threat with 26 total blocks this season.\nThe Hoosiers seem ready for the challenge, coming off of a five game winning streak, sweeping last weekend's IU Credit Union Classic, and matching the second best start in team history with a 10-2 overall record.\nSophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald has been named to four straight All-Tournament teams and was named the IU Credit Union Classic's Most Valuable Player. Archibald's accolades do not end there, as she became the eleventh Hoosier volleyball player to be named the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week. The last IU volleyball player to do so was Amanda Welter in 2000. Archibald is currently averaging a team-best 4.67 kills per game which also places her at second in the Big Ten.\nBut, Archibald is not the only Hoosier having an impressive season. Junior middle blocker Melissa Brewer, junior Nikki Hill, sophomore middle blocker Katie Pollom, and senior libero Hillary Toivonen have earned all-tournament honors this season. Sophomore setter Victoria Zimmerman has also started the season second place in the Big Ten in sets per game with 13.72. \nAlong with impressive current season totals, Toivonen has also climbed to fourth place in IU career digs with 1,020 total. Coach Katie Weismiller is just one win away from reaching her 150th career win as head coach and is only 10 wins away from reaching IU's winningest volleyball coach honors. For the last 20 years, Ann Lawver has been IU's winningest coach with 158 career wins.