11-game losing streak stopped against OSU

The IU women's volleyball team was finally able to snap its 11-game losing streak after defeating Ohio State University Saturday 31-29, 30-18, 14-30, 30-20. \nOhio State brought last year's Big Ten player of the year Stacey Gordon, who had hit for an unheard of 41 kills the day before. Stopping Gordon was a major priority to being able to win the game.\n"I thought (IU assistant coach Ryan Theis) did a really nice job with the game plan in terms of who to serve to," IU coach Katie Weismiller said. "We have seen a lot of people serve Stacey, but we kept the ball away from her a little bit tonight and limited her opportunities. And the blocks, they did a nice job of getting some early blocks and taking her out of rhythm." \nThe Hoosiers set the season-high in blocks recording 32 block assists as junior middle blocker Katie Pollom led the way with nine blocks, also a season high. Pollom and senior outside hitter Monique Pritz tag-teamed on four blocks in the first game alone, and Pritz ended the game with six block assists to go with her nine kills. IU's all-time block assists leader, senior middle blocker Melissa Brewer, also got into the act with seven of her own to compliment her team-high 16 kills. \n"When I'm blocking, I really concentrate on closing the block," Pollom said. "I have got to give credit, especially on block assists, to the outside blockers, the right side and the left side because all I have to do is close. They set it up, and we just try to shift over and hope that we block the ball."\nOn the night that Gordon became Ohio State's all-time leader in kills, the Hoosiers were able to contain her to just 14 kills, hitting 15 percent from the floor. The win was a major victory for the Hoosiers considering the 41-kill match Gordon had the day before.\nFreshman setter Tasha Arsenych made only her second start and nearly recorded a triple-double in the win. After the entire team only had 29 assists in their loss to Penn State Friday, Arsenych was able to record 47 assists against the Buckeyes as well as eight digs and six block assists. \n"It's extremely encouraging to look at (the IU offense) and know even if the set is not perfect they are still going to do something with it," Arsenych said. "It helps you out a lot as a setter; it gives you confidence that even if it is not a perfect set, they are going to do something with it."\nThe weekend saw many of IU's younger players seeing some action and attempting to contribute with the chance they received. Freshmen Arsenych, outside hitter Katy Jo Mroski, defensive specialist Lindsay Cochrane, and defensive specialist Sarah Diehl all saw significant amounts of playing time over the course of the weekend.\n"I really look to the older players," Diehl said. "They help me out a lot, and I want to help them and do my best at staying consistent by passing and digging and just doing what I need to do to get the job done."\nDiehl was one of three Hoosiers with double-digit digs against Penn State. Penn State beat IU in three straight games 30-16, 30-15, 30-28.\nThe Hoosiers hit the road again this weekend as they travel to Iowa and Minnesota, the last two teams the Hoosiers had defeated before their win over Ohio State.\n-- Contact staff writer Brian Janosch at bjanosch@indiana.edu.