IU to play Penn State in contest shown on ESPNU

The IU volleyball team is one of three teams tied for sixth in the Big Ten going into this weekend’s slated matches.

The Hoosiers (15-8, 3-5) could have tiebreakers over each of the other two after their road trip.

IU hopes to maintain pace with its conference rivals with visits to No. 1 Penn State (20-0, 8-0) at 8 p.m. Friday and Ohio State (15-6, 3-5) at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Two-time defending national champion Penn State has dropped only four sets this season.

IU coach Sherry Dunbar said the meeting with the Nittany Lions is about how her players approach it.

“If you serve easy and you’re giving them roll shots and half shots and everything, they’re going to kill you,” Dunbar said. “So we’re really focused on … being extremely aggressive in every area of the game and having fun with it.

“At some point they’re going to lose, and you have to go in with that mentality. You can’t go in and say, ‘Well, it’s Penn State; you’re gonna lose.’”

The match at Penn State will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU, which Dunbar said is exciting.

“You get the Big Ten audience with the Big Ten Network, but you get ESPN, you’re getting the entire nation,” Dunbar said. “I think it’s a great opportunity to showcase Indiana volleyball.”

The Hoosiers turn around the following day for a battle with the Buckeyes, one of the other teams tied for sixth in the conference. A win in Columbus would give IU head-to-head tiebreakers against Ohio State and Purdue, whom the Hoosiers upset in West Lafayette, Ind. on Sept. 30.

Dunbar said the Buckeyes are much-improved from last season.

“They have a real nice, balanced attack,” Dunbar said. “We have to serve extremely aggressive. It’s about that aggressiveness that we’re talking about as a team.”

Junior middle blocker Ashley Benson, now the most efficient hitter in IU history, said the team hopes to come out of this weekend strong.

“Hopefully we can get a win over Ohio State and play our hearts out against Penn State,” Benson said.