Volleyball earns NCAA Tournament berth

Two wins this weekend not only boosted the home record for IU but also helped it make the NCAA Tournament.

The Hoosiers finished the regular season 21-11, good for their best winning percentage since 1999 and placed them in a tie for seventh in the Big Ten at 9-11.

It’s been eight years since the Hoosiers last made the tournament, and it’s mainly because of the accolades accomplished in the regular season.

Senior middle blocker Taylor Wittmer explained that the Hoosiers have improved in the Big Ten since the year before her freshman season at IU in 2007.

“The year before I got here, they got one win in the Big Ten, and now we have done so well and beaten some great teams,” Wittmer said.

IU defeated four top-25 conference opponents this year, including then-No. 4 Penn State, whom the Hoosiers had never beaten before in program history.

The Hoosiers went 11-2 at University Gym this year compared to last season’s 6-10 home record.  

“It definitely shows that the program has grown a lot,” senior middle blocker Ashley Benson said.

The main positive is that the Hoosiers will play host to the first and second rounds of the tournament.

“I think they are equally as important because we know how well we play at home,” IU coach Sherry Dunbar said.

IU’s first round game will be against Miami (Fla.) (23-8) on Friday at University Gym. Time is yet to be determined because the host team gets to choose what time it wants to play.

The Big Ten was awarded more spots in the tournament than any other conference with eight teams getting the nod.

“It’s arguably the best conference in the country,” Dunbar said. “The most after us is five from the Pac-10.”

The Hoosiers defeated No. 10 Illinois on Friday in four sets by scores of 25-20, 22-25, 25-20 and 25-22.

Benson led IU with 18 kills and tallied five block assists.

On senior night Saturday, the Hoosiers blocked their way to a three-set sweep against
Wisconsin.

IU outblocked the Badgers 15-4 in the match.

Benson led the blocks charge by recording nine assisted in addition to her nine kills on the offensive end.

The senior said the final two matches of the regular season would be nice for the team to look back on as it prepares to open the tournament at home.

The other two teams that will come to Bloomington to play this weekend are No. 11-seeded Tennessee (24-6) and Alabama A&M (16-10).

Dunbar stressed winning games and making it further in the tournament.

“We really want to make a run this year. It’s not just that initial step,” Dunbar said.