During the 2016 Florida Gulf Coast Invitational, the Hoosiers dropped the first two sets to FGCU to go down 0-2 with their 9-0 record on the line. IU rallied back to win the next two sets and forced a fifth set. It went back and forth, but FGCU prevailed, 15-12, to win the invitational.
This year, the Hoosiers will have a chance to avenge that loss as they once again come into this weekend with a 9-0 record. The match will be played in Bloomington this year, too, as part of the Hoosier Classic. The Eagles are in town longer than expected, though.
Due to the effects of Hurricane Irma, IU Coach Sherry Dunbar-Kruzan and her staff contacted FGCU Coach Matt Botsford after the Wildcat Classic in Davidson, North Carolina, and suggested the FGCU team and coaching staff stay in Bloomington as opposed to Indianapolis, to prevent them from having to do any additional moving.
“They are kind of in a stressful situation because they haven’t been home in a while,” Dunbar-Kruzan said. “I think that’s what’s good about the volleyball community is that we should step up to the challenge and help them with whatever we can.”
IU administration is helping the team with some expenses, and FGCU is allowed to use University Gym to train throughout the week.
Even though the gestures are friendly off the court, the story on the court will be much different.
“We are really excited to play them,” sophomore outside hitter Kendall Beerman said. “It’s going to be great competition, and I expect a good game.”
Before playing FGCU, IU will play the University of Nevada at Las Vegas and Samford to start the tournament.
The Hoosiers won the tournament last year, and after being on the road for two straight weeks, they look forward to being back at home.
“We play awesome here,” Beerman said. “The morale is really high right now, and everyone is really confident.”
After a 9-0 start last season, the team went 8-16 in its final 24 games. That is due in part to the high level of competition in the Big Ten Conference.
All three teams the Hoosiers will play this weekend went to the NCAA tournament last year. So, the competition this weekend will be good preparation before the Big Ten season starts next Wednesday night.
“You’re going to pick up a few losses every now and then,” Dunbar-Kruzan said. “But, if we can keep picking up wins in these nonconference games, it will be really helpful.”
The team wants to focus on reducing errors this weekend. Beerman said she believes that if her team commits fewer errors, then it will have a good chance of winning.
IU plays UNLV at 7 p.m. on Friday, Samford at noon on Saturday and FGCU at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
“This weekend is going to be tough, and I think we just need to focus on us,” Dunbar-Kruzan said. “We’re still adding some things to our team and have some things we want to do this weekend to get some wins.”
