Hoosiers head to Valparaiso for weekend tournament

This weekend, IU will stay in the Hoosier state as they travel north to Valparaiso, Ind., to compete in the Valparaiso University Popcorn Classic. This will be the third tournament the Hoosiers have participated in so far this season, and the team will have one more next weekend before conference play begins.\nSenior right side Lauren Ditteon feels the previous tournaments have helped the team gel as a unit.\n“These past two tournaments, we have started to connect,” Ditteon said. “Our chemistry has improved, and we have started to take steps in the right direction.”\nUp first this weekend will be Marshall as IU takes on the Thundering Herd 11 a.m. Friday. Marshall’s senior outside hitter Kelly-Anne Billingy, the preseason Conference-USA Player of the Year, led her squad to the conference quarterfinals last season. IU won the only two previous meetings, and the Hoosiers hope to go 3-0 all-time against Marshall.\nThe second match will come at 8 p.m. Friday when IU faces tournament host Valparaiso. The Crusaders, also 0-2 all-time against the Hoosiers, recently swept the Western New York Invitational last weekend, going 3-0. Leading Valparaiso in digs in every game since Nov. 4, 2005 – 47 straight matches is junior Brittany Malicoat who will serve as a strong presence for the Crusaders.\nAlthough both of IU’s opponents have notable players, coach Sherry Dunbar wants to focus on her team heading into the weekend.\n“We’re not necessarily focused on one single player as much as we are focused on ourselves and what we can control,” Dunbar said. “We begin to study single players and more film as we get into Big Ten play.”\nFinally, the football team won’t be the only IU squad facing Western Michigan on Saturday, as the volleyball team wraps up their tournament against the Broncos at noon. The Broncos are coming into Valparaiso this weekend riding a six-game winning streak, with only one loss on the season.\nThese early season tournaments have made some players feel more comfortable, including freshman middle blocker Ashley Benson. \n“(At the) first tournament, I was nervous and scared, but (at) the second tournament, I felt more comfortable and began to get the hang of things,” Benson said. \nLast weekend, Benson was named to the all-tournament team after impressing at the UT Comcast Classic. \n“My confidence has definitely boosted, especially last weekend,” Benson said. “It made me realize that I am getting better.”\nDunbar also feels the team’s effort last weekend was an improvement over previous matches.\n“We definitely made good strides, and we are able to find out what to work on,” Dunbar said. “Preseason play is great for analyzing our weaknesses and working on them.”\nAlthough the team did perform better last weekend, Ditteon said she feels there are certain areas that still require some attention.\n“The main goal of this weekend is to improve our defense and blocking,” Ditteon said. \nDunbar sees the preseason as an opportunity to see what line-ups work best before heading into Big Ten matches. \n“We are still working on the line-up, that’s what preseason is for,” Dunbar said. “Our players are versatile, and we have been testing out different approaches, but the final line-up is still being worked on.”