IU starts conference play 0-2

Senior setter Whitney Granado, a three-year veteran on the IU women’s volleyball team, saw her first action of the season this weekend.

The co-captain had been battling a case of mononucleosis during the nonconference portion of this season’s schedule, and she said she was excited to get back onto the court this weekend in the team’s first conference matches of the season and lead her team.

“I think for not having practiced for a long time, I’m pretty happy with how I played,” Granado said. “But obviously I have a lot to improve on, trying to get back into the flow of things.”

Yet even during the hype of Granado’s return, the Hoosiers lost their conference opener Friday 8-6 (0-2), falling to Michigan in four sets (25-19, 16-25, 25-20, 25-21).

The Wolverines took a 23-12 lead in the first set. At that point, Granado was substituted into the lineup for freshman setter Katie Gallagher.

IU Coach Sherry Dunbar said she thought she needed to inject some energy into her team and that Granado could fill the role of spark plug for her team.

“We were down by about six in that first set, and I felt like we needed something different,” Dunbar said. “She (Granado) practiced only one day, but she’s been feeling really good the last few days, and I just thought, ‘Let’s try it.’”

IU fell in the set but ended on a 7-2 to take the momentum of the match.

The second set saw the Hoosiers hold Michigan to a .000 hitting percentage, tallying up 17 kills for the 25-16 set win.

IU jumped out to a 15-10 lead in the third set — because Granado had been inserted in the lineup, the Hoosiers had outscored the Wolverines 47-28.

At that point, the tides turned. The Wolverines took back the momentum and went on a 15-5 run, taking the third set 25-20, and they closed out the match with a close fourth set victory 25-21 to take the match.

Despite the loss, Dunbar said she was proud of how her team battled on the road.

“Last night, I was really inspired,” Dunbar said. “I thought we fought really hard last night. We really had some opportunities to beat Michigan.”

The next day, the Hoosiers failed to recover from their loss to Michigan and suffered their second loss of the weekend when No. 25 Michigan State defeated them in straight sets (25-21, 25-17, 25-17).

The Spartans had trouble putting away the Hoosiers in the first set as they led 24-16 until IU went on a 5-0 run, winning five-straight Spartan set points to cut the lead down to 24-21.

But Michigan State was finally able to secure the final point and took the first set.

The second set was tightly contested with the Spartans leading 17-15, but Michigan State then overwhelmed the Hoosiers on an 8-2 run and took the second set.

The Spartans also controlled the third and final set of the weekend for the Hoosiers, winning again 25-17 to take the match in straight sets.

Spartan outside hitter Lauren Wicinski had a game-high 14 kills on the night.

Granado contributed 19 assists and led the team with 11 digs, recording a double-double in her first match of the season.

However, Dunbar said she’s still unsure whether Granado has officially taken the job as the team’s setter away from Gallagher.

Granado’s health is still a concern, Dunbar added, because in the Michigan State match, the senior had to be taken out because she was starting to feel ill.

“She struggled a little bit tonight with her stomach and everything, so we had to take her out,” Dunbar said. “It’s a battle. Every position to me is a battle. You earn it in practice, and that’s how we’re going to choose who plays.”

Granado was pleased with her team’s progress this weekend. Even though the team went 0-2, she said the team made big improvements.

“I think this weekend was a really big step for us in terms of playing hard and playing the Indiana way,” Granado said. “I know the results don’t really show it, but as a team, this was the first time that we really brought it, and we should be proud of what we put on the floor.”