Volleyball team faces Miami (Fla.) Friday in return to NCAA Tournament

In the NCAA tournament, if you lose, you’re done.

The good news for the IU volleyball team, however, is that IU will play host to the tournament’s first and second rounds Friday and Saturday.
 
The Hoosiers have an 11-2 home record and four victories against top-25 Big Ten opponents in University Gym this season.

Players discussed the importance of playing at home and the IU fans, even though the NCAA determines to make it a neutral site.

“We really need a huge home crowd,” sophomore outside hitter Lindsay Enterline said. “They can change the seating, and they can change the gym, but what they can’t change is the heart of the Indiana fans.”

The last time IU was in the tournament was in 2002.

When asked about the program’s recognition for making the tournament, senior middle blocker Ashley Benson said it would be substantial.

“It’s going to be affected a lot to see how far we have come since I got here,” Benson said.

IU players said they want to make an impact in the tournament, and they hope to capitalize on playing the first two rounds in Bloomington and advance.

“We want to take it as far as we can,” Enterline said. “This is really a good marker by saying this is the expectation every year.”

IU will first have to get through Miami (Fla.) at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Hurricanes are led by junior outside hitter Lane Carico, who has posted 455 kills and has attempted more attacks than anyone in Big Ten.

“Lane Carico has over a thousand attempts this season, which is huge,” Dunbar said.
Should they win, the Hoosiers will face the winner of the 5 p.m. match between No. 11 seed Tennessee and Alabama A&M at 3 p.m. Saturday in the second round.

Saturday’s winner will advance to the Dayton regional the following weekend.
If the Hoosiers get past the first round, they could possibly face Tennessee in the upcoming match.

The Hoosiers and the Volunteers have connections in the coaching staff from previous
volleyball experience.

IU coach Sherry Dunbar was an assistant for six seasons with current Tennessee coach Rob Patrick.

“He taught me a lot, and some things I still use to this day,” Dunbar said.

IU assistant coach Nancy Mueller graduated from Tennessee and played defensive specialist and setter for the volleyball team.

Making an NCAA tournament run is what Dunbar and the players are looking for.
“Now that we are in, we are not satisfied,” Enterline said. “We just want to keep winning and winning to show what Indiana volleyball is all about.”