Senior weekend triumphs keep IU volleyball's NCAA dreams alive

The 2004-06 seasons saw five combined Big Ten wins for the IU volleyball team. The 2007 season saw an improvement with six Big Ten wins.

Now in 2008, in IU coach Sherry Dunbar’s second year, IU sits at eight wins and in NCAA Tournament contention with a week to go in the season.

Thanks to two huge 3-1 victories on senior weekend against Wisconsin and Northwestern, IU sits at 8-10 in the Big Ten and possibly in the driver’s seat for a berth to postseason play.

Friday’s match was critical for the Hoosiers’ NCAA prospects as the Badgers were in sixth place, one game ahead of the Hoosiers in the Big Ten standings. IU responded by setting the tone for the entire match, winning 25-23, 25-19, 17-25 and 25-18.

Senior middle blocker Erica Short said the Hoosiers competed hard.   

“(Wisconsin) is a great team,” Short said. “We came out to play and stepped up and knew we could do it.”

On Saturday the Hoosiers got off to a slow start against the 2-16 Wildcats and lost the first set 25-20. The second set came down to the wire as IU nearly blew a 24-20 lead before ultimately prevailing 27-25 and squaring the match at one set apiece.

The Hoosiers came out a different team in the second half and won the third set in dominating fashion 25-18.

Dunbar said she tried to motivate the Hoosiers at intermission after their lackluster play in the first stanza.

“I got after them pretty good in the locker room,” she said. “I don’t usually yell too much, but I felt we were not playing to our ability.”

IU continued its strong play in the fourth and decisive set and won 25-20.

Senior defensive specialist Juli Pierce said IU’s play improved throughout the match.

“I think we weren’t playing up to our standards in the first two games,” Piece said. “We came out in the third game, though, knowing it was do or die, so we had to put it all on the court.”

The Hoosiers close the Big Ten season when they return to action next weekend on the road, facing two more must-win games against Michigan and Ohio State.

The No. 20 Wolverines sit at 11-7 while the Buckeyes have struggled to a 3-12 Big Ten record.   

Dunbar said the season is on the line next weekend, and the Hoosiers must respond accordingly.

“It is the last weekend, and we are going to have to play hard,” she said. “The team is going to have to find it within themselves to be able to play two hard matches since they mean so much, and hopefully the adrenaline will help.”