Hoosiers take on ranked foes

The No. 1 team in the country and winner of four of the last five national championships with a 16-1 overall record. That is the résumé of Penn State, against which the IU volleyball team will square off this weekend.

After a narrow loss to then-No. 3 Nebraska on Oct. 6, the team is even more focused this week in practice, senior setter Whitney Granado said.

“Nebraska was a bit of a heart breaker in that we had them,” Granado said. “And we just didn’t pull it out in the end. So, we were a little upset and kind of pissed off.”
Being competitive was not enough for the team to be happy, senior middle blocker Samantha Thrower said.

“It may have been our best volleyball this season, but it doesn’t satisfy us,”
Thrower said.

IU (8-10, 0-6) will turn its attention to this weekend’s action as it goes on the road to face No. 19 Ohio State and No. 1 Penn State.

Ohio State (13-5, 4-2) is in the midst of a three-game win streak.
Buckeye senior Mari Hole averages 4.06 kills per set, seventh in the Big Ten.

Comparatively, IU’s kills leader, unior outside hitter Jordan Haverly, is averaging 4.07 kills, sixth in the Big Ten.

After battling the Buckeyes, IU will take a trip to central Pennsylvania to face the top program in the nation: Penn State.

During a streak in which it has also bested three nationally ranked teams, Penn State has outscored opponents in total sets 30-4.

Anchoring the Nittany Lions’ defense is junior Katie Slay, who leads the conference with 1.39 blocks per set.

Penn State’s sophomore Micha Hancock also leads the conference with 11.66 assists per set and has been named Big Ten Setter of the Week three times this year.

Granado said the Nebraska match has motivated her team to get in the gym and work.
“We’re ready to take the next step,” Granado said.

The team has increased its level of focus and looks to alter things, IU Coach Sherry
Dunbar said.

“I felt like the mood was great in practice,” Dunbar said. “Determined, high energy and ready to make some changes this week.”