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(11/22/02 5:18am)
The 2002 women's volleyball team is just two weeks away from learning if they will be eligible for its first NCAA Tournament bid in three years. Running on an 18-10 overall record and 8-8 in the Big Ten, the last two weekends are important for the Hoosiers. This weekend will pit the Hoosier volleyball team against the No. 6 Minnesota Golden Gophers on Friday and the Iowa Hawkeyes Saturday. Unfortunately, both matches will be played on hostile courts. \nBut hostile courts are not the only problems facing the Hoosiers this weekend as the wear and tear of the 32 match season is beginning to show.\n"Our normal team will be in the lineup, but the wear and tear of the season has caught up with them," assistant coach Ryan Theis said. "We're limping into the last two weekends of the season, and the biggest thing is just trying to get healthy."\nThe Hoosiers will have to fight through their physical strain in Friday's match against Minnesota. The Golden Gophers will provide a battle for IU as they are currently first in the Big Ten with a 15-1 conference record and a 28-3 record overall. The Gophers are also hungry for the win, as it would clinch their first Big Ten title outright. 6'2" junior outside hitter Cassie Busse is the Gophers' main offensive force with a 4.16 kills per game average, good for fifth in the Big Ten. She is also the conference leader in service aces with 66 aces this season. 6'2" junior middle blocker Bethany Brafford provides Minnesota's defensive strength with 1.16 blocks per game. Freshman libero Paula Gentil supports Brafford's blocking prowess with a conference leading 4.43 digs per game average.\nSaturday's match will bring the Hoosiers to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes who are running with a lowly 2-14 Big Ten record and 8-18 overall. But, the Hoosiers will not overlook Iowa as sophomore defensive specialist Pam Kadavas ranks third in the conference with 3.47 digs per game. To flank Kadavas' abilities, junior setter Renee Hill plays a balanced game for the Hawkeyes by pacing the offensive team with 3.76 kills per game along with 2.97 digs per game.\nIU sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald again sits at second in the Big Ten with 4.37 kills per game along with junior middle blocker Melissa Brewer's respectable 3.81 kills per game rating. Sophomore setter Victoria Zimmerman paces the Hoosiers with a 13.68 assists per game, ranking her at second in the conference.\nSuprisingly, one of Minnesota's two Big Ten wins came against the Hoosiers earlier this season. But, the team used the loss as inspiration before and will most likely follow suit this time around.\n"A loss like this hurts deep down, but we are going to take this with us into practice this week and next, any team you lose to you want to come back even harder, and so we will use this," Archibald said after IU's loss against the Golden Gophers Oct. 26th.\nComing off of two straight losses, the Hoosiers are are on a skid as both losses came at the hands of ranked opponents. Last Wednesday's Ohio State match also went down to the wire with the Buckeyes managing to win 18-16 in the fifth game of the match. \n"Losing two in a row in the Big Ten is just part of the schedule, seven of the teams in the Big Ten have had top 25 votes," Theis said. "They're alright and they're focused for the last two weekends.\nThis weekend's pair of formidable opponents brings a real challenge to the team, but senior libero Hillary Toivonen said the Hoosiers remain confident in their abilities and aren't intimidated by their enemies.\n"Everyone knows that it's getting down to crunch time, and if we want to get into the NCAA tournament, that we need to do well," Toivonen said. "They're a good team, they're No. 1 in the Big Ten, but no one's intimidated"
(11/19/02 4:35am)
Dropping two matches against conference rivals Ohio State and the 13th ranked Penn State in a single week, the IU volleyball team has fallen to seventh in the conference with an 8-8 record.\nThe stumbles have caused IU to lose some of its thrust in trying to secure a 2002 NCAA Tournament bid. \nHowever, the team said its hope has not been lost with last Wednesday's upset and the dashed hopes of toppling Penn State for the first time.\nDespite IU's recent losses IU is still two wins away from reaching an all-time NCAA season win record of 20 and reaching the NCAA tournament for only the fourth time in school history. Helping the Hoosier team reach single season goals, many players are reaching single season records of their own. \nSophomore setter Victoria Zimmerman has performed well this season after seeing little action in her freshman season. Zimmerman currently sits at second in the Big Ten by notching 13.74 assists per game, placing her at just .02 assists per game behind current conference leader Wisconsin's junior setter Morgan Shields. These numbers place Zimmerman at second on the single season list with 1,519 total assists. Zimmerman needs 58 more assists to break Kristina Sanderson's 1997 record of 1,577.\n"Victoria Zimmerman has done an incredible job. Really you can look all the way around," coach Katie Weismiller said.\nAlong with Zimmerman's single season accolades, sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald came off of a match-high 18 kill outing last weekend to move her 2002 season total to 485. This total moves her into second in single season kills by overtaking Ryann Connor's 1998 total of 482. In order to gain the all-time single season record, Archibald must overtake Anne Eastman's 1994 record of 539 kills. Running second in the Big Ten with 4.41 kills per game, Eastman's record is within Archibald's reach. Simply playing to her averages, Archibald would be within two kills of overtaking Eastman's mark with every IU match being three-and-outs.\nHowever, Archibald is not alone in her pursuit of single season records. Sophomore middle blocker Katie Pollom logged eight block assists in the Hoosiers' last outing against Penn State, with this performance, Pollom has moved into third in single season block assists with 113 total. Pollom's block assist performance overtook teammate junior middle blocker Melissa Brewer's 110 block assist total set in her freshman season. However, Brewer is padding her own block assist statistics with 106 to date, good enough for sixth all-time with four more matches this season.\n"Setting for our blockers (Pollom, Brewer) and hitters (Archibald, junior outside hitter Nikki Hill) has been great, I've just got to put it up and I know they'll get it," Zimmerman said.\nTag-teaming with impressive individual play all around the court, the "One Match at a Time" mantra has kept IU's head above water this season. \n"We need to play each match one at a time," Pollom said. "The NCAA Tournament is still our primary goal and we will probably have to win at least half our matches to earn an invitation. We'll have to treat every opponent with the utmost respect to achieve that goal"
(11/12/02 9:52pm)
The sixes were wild coming into this weekend for the Hoosier volleyball team, floating on a 6-6 Big Ten record and running sixth place in the conference. The team said they could turn the tide with a pair of matches against the 25th ranked Michigan State Spartans Friday and the Michigan Wolverines Saturday.\nIU managed to sweep Michigan State 3-0, and take a close match against the Wolverines 3-2, improving their overall record to 18-8, and conference record to 8-6, good for a fourth ranking in the Big Ten, and their best conference start in seven years. \n"I think we had a great weekend. We put everything together and came through with a sweep," coach Katie Weismiller said.\nSaturday's match against the Wolverines was a battle with the Hoosiers coming back from a 2-1 deficit to take the match. The first game of the evening had the Hoosiers taking a 7-0 lead. From this point, IU never looked back and took the game 30-19.\nGame two was a close battle that had the Hoosiers looking as if they had the game in the bag 28-25. But Michigan couldn't be vanquished, taking game two 31-29, tying the match 1-1.\nGame three was yet another battle, with Michigan keeping the Hoosiers at bay with small leads throughout the game. IU was able to pull itself back to a 26-26 tie, but the Wolverines were able to regain their composure and took the game 30-26 and a 2-1 match lead.\nFacing potential defeat, the Hoosiers managed to overtake an early Michigan run and tie the game 6-6. IU then ignited by scoring 14 of the next 17 points, placing the score at 20-9. Michigan was again able to climb back to within seven with a service error by junior middle blocker Melissa Brewer, placing the score at 22-15. The Hoosiers took the game 30-21 by quadrupling Michigan's hitting percentage .206 to .048, and tying the match at two games apiece. \nGame five was a thriller with the Wolverines taking a 10-7 lead, until Brewer and sophomore middle blocker Katie Pollom turned the tide by blocking a powerful Michigan hit, allowing a close 15-13 Hoosier victory.\nSaturday's match was a thriller for the team, but the Hoosiers said they kept themselves focused.\n"We didn't let anything get to us. We just came out and kept on playing, and after an error, we just came back and brought out something new," sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald said. Archibald led the game with 26 kills, along with Pollom adding a career-high 23 kills of her own. Victoria Zimmerman controlled the offense with 71 assists, just two shy of her career record. After such a close victory, the team was elated by their tough play.\n"It feels great to finish," Pollom said. "We played extremely well at different times tonight, and struggled at times, but we regained the momentum in game four and finished well in game five."\nFriday's match against the 25th ranked Michigan State Spartans had the Hoosiers in top form. Game one began with the Hoosiers on top 26-22 forcing a Spartans timeout. IU then extended their lead by two, only to have Michigan State score three straight to bring the score to 28-25. The Spartans pulled themselves back to a 29-27 deficit, but junior outside hitter Nikki Hill finished it out with a kill 30-27.\nGame two had the Hoosiers rocket out to a 10-2 lead, but the tide turned with the Spartans pulling themselves within two for a 20-18 score. The Hoosiers controlled the rest of the way and overtook Michigan State 30-26.\nThe third game of the night had the Hoosiers fighting to keep up with Michigan State until knotting the score at 19 apiece. IU went on a three point run with a kill by Pollom to place the score at 22-19 IU, but the Spartans then answered back with their own three point run to knot the score again. Following tradition, IU answered back with another three point run to place the score at 25-22 Hoosiers, and taking the game 30-26, sweeping the match.\n"Michigan State is a good team, and I felt like we came in prepared," Weismiller said. "(IU) came in confident, and we executed tonight. We stuck with our game plan. We knew what they were going to do, and it gave us a lot of confidence."\nWith the Hoosiers moving into a tie with the Wolverines for fourth place in the Big Ten, the team still said there is something to prove.\n"This win is one more step in the direction of proving ourselves," Pollom said. "We have worked all season on gaining respect and this was just one more way to do it"
(11/12/02 4:41am)
On a roll with three straight Big Ten wins, an 18-8 overall record, and its best conference start since 1995, the Hoosier volleyball team seems quite poised for an at-large spot in the NCAA Tournament. With just two more wins this season, IU will tie the school record for wins since the inception of NCAA sponsored women's volleyball. \nAlong with its impressive record, the Hoosiers have defeated numerous ranked opponents, including last weekend's back-to-back victories against No. 27 Michigan and No. 26 Michigan State. Along with their successful 2002 season, the Hoosiers remain true to their "One point at a time" motto and the reality that the work is not over yet.\n"We're happy with our success this season, but we've got more matches ahead of us," junior middle blocker Melissa Brewer said. "It's still just one point, one match at a time."\nIU's last NCAA tournament bid came in 1999 when the 20-11 Hoosiers were defeated in the second round against Northern Iowa. Senior libero Hillary Toivonen is the only remaining member of the 1999 NCAA tournament team. Ironically, Toivonen led the 1999 bid by posting 25 kills and second on the team with five blocks in IU's match against Northern Iowa, despite the fact that her current position prohibits her from both hitting and blocking. Regardless of leaving behind Toivonen's hitting and blocking ability, the libero position has treated her well, posting an eighth ranking in conference digs with 3.14 per game.\n"The libero position is tailor-made for her, it truly is," coach Katie Weismiller said earlier this season. "If there's a player to fill that role, it's Hillary."\nSince then, the road has had its ups and downs for IU, posting a decent 18-12 record in the 2000 campaign, followed by a dismal 8-26 record last year, and already matching the 2000's win record with six matches to go this season. However, the Hoosiers have blossomed back into life this season, with numerous players ranking in the conference top ten in countless statistical categories.\nSophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald is IU's team leader in kills per game with 4.19, and just .02 shy of moving back into fourth in the Big Ten. Brewer has moved to just two spots short of Archibald's ranking by upping her kills per game average to 4.07. Leading the offense is sophomore setter Victoria Zimmerman, coming off of a strong 71 assist performance against Michigan, is sitting at second in the conference with 13.75 assists per game. \n"Victoria Zimmerman has done an incredible job. Really you can look all the way around," Weismiller said. "We have our two outsides Nikki (Hill) and Christina (Archibald) certainly carry a huge load for us. But we really look at it as a team effort."\nThe service ace category has also treated the Hoosiers well with junior outside hitter Nikki Hill coming off of a 5 ace match, good for fourth in the Big Ten with 25 with Archibald running fifth in the conference with 22 service aces.\nWith all of the team's wins and impressive play across the board, the Hoosiers are still set on the belief that there is something to prove. \n"We've been working all season trying to prove ourselves," sophomore middle blocker Katie Pollom said. "When we're on, we can play with anyone"
(11/08/02 5:26am)
A lake of Michigans will pour into the University Gym this weekend for the match against the Hoosier volleyball team. IU faces the 25th ranked Michigan State Spartans Friday and the Michigan Wolverines Saturday. Standing at 6-6 in the Big Ten, this weekend is a pivotal point for the Hoosiers' conference season. \nAlong with a 25th ranking, Michigan State is riding high off a season-best 84 kill upset against the 11th ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. Junior middle blocker Jenny Rood and sophomore outside hitter Kim Schram are Michigan State's main offensive weapons, posting 3.57 and 3.51 kills per game respectively. 6-foot, 4-inches senior middle blocker Angela Morely is the Spartan's defensive leader, logging 1.43 blocks per game, good for a third ranking in the Big Ten.\n"Offensively for Michigan State, they have some go-to players, but their blocking and defense is an area we need to capitalize on," coach Katie Weismiller said. "We have a better offense this year, and we need to take advantage of that."\nSaturday's match against the Wolverines will be no easy task as they already overtook the Hoosiers in a match earlier this season. Weismiller said Michigan's main asset is an impressive offense and ball control. Sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Gandolph brings an impressive 3.95 kills per game rating to the table along with junior outside hitter Chantel Reedus' 3.41 kills per game. Senior middle blocker Katrina Lehman follows up MSU's Morely in the Big Ten with 1.38 blocks per game.\nWhile the Michigan teams bring an array of talent to the University Gym, IU is not coming to the table empty-handed. Sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald has been the offensive leader throughout the season, logging a second in the conference 4.38 kills per game along with 2.32 digs per game. Flanking Archibald's prowess, junior Melissa Brewer adds 3.74 kills per game of her own and a .304 hitting percentage.\nSophomore Katie Pollom brings a balanced game to the court by logging 3.41 kills per game along with a team leading 1.12 blocks per game. Senior libero Hillary Toivonen has filled her role as a purely defensive player by notching 3.21 digs per game, placing her at eighth in the Big Ten.\nDespite the Hoosiers' abilities, blocking has been IU's achilles heel. Despite a consistently impressive offense, blocking and defense have provided a few problems. However, the team is taking steps to aid their ails.\n"We've been working on our defense and blocking," Brewer said. "That's what's going to win our matches this weekend because our offense has been consistent this season."\nAlong with the Hoosiers' prowess on the court comes a bit of a grudge due to previous defeats at the hands of both the Wolverines and Michigan State this season.\n"Michigan is always a rival for us. We always come out wanting to beat them, and Michigan State is always a really strong team," Pollom said. "We're going against two huge opponents, but it will be great to get a couple of wins."\nWhile this season is a far cry from last year's dismal 8-24 record, the team is focusing on breaking through this season. Running at .500 in the Big Ten, IU is looking at this weekend as a pivotal point to get back into winning form.\n"This could be a turning point in the season, and it's a huge weekend for us," Pollom said. "If we do well this weekend, it will set the tone for the rest of the season"
(11/07/02 5:12am)
The 2002 Big Ten women's volleyball season has been full of ups and downs for IU, with winning streaks and losing streaks trading off to a hard-fought .500 rating within the conference. While the Hoosiers sixth standing in the conference puts them in the middle of the conference, the Hoosiers have managed to overcome ranked opponents including Big Ten rivals Penn State and Wisconsin. \nDespite their streakiness, constant factors including impressive hitting throughout the season have kept the Hoosiers afloat. Statistically, the Hoosiers have controlled their opponents in the team kills category by leading their opponents by 2.4 kills per game. Overall, their 16.4 kills per game is good for a third ranking in the Big Ten. The main contributors to IU's hitting prowess include sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald, sophomore middle blocker Katie Pollom, junior middle blocker Melissa Brewer and junior outside hitter Nikki Hill.\nThroughout the season, Archibald has led the Hoosier attack with powerful kills and a second in the conference 4.38 kills per game along with 2.32 digs per game, second only to senior libero Hillary Toivonen. As the sole Hoosier to win player of the week honors in 17 years, Archibald has lived up to her billing.\nDespite her awards, Archibald is certainly not IU's only offensive weapon. Brewer has improved her game throughout the season by logging career highs in kills this season. Her improvement has moved her into the conference top ten by notching 3.74 kills per game. Along with her hitting strength, Brewer brings an ability to place her spikes well to gain a .304 hitting percentage.\n"Melissa Brewer and Christina Archibald are just killing balls, but they are not the only players I can go to," junior setter Victoria Zimmerman said. \nNikki Hill, although quiet off the court, has made a voice for herself on the court, by logging 2.82 kills per game and is third on the team with 2.29 digs per game. On defense, opponents may look at Archibald, Brewer or Pollom, but Hill certainly makes her mark.\n"Nikki Hill is one of the best passers on our team, offensively she's really exploding, maturing," coach Katie Weismiller said.\nWhile blocking has been a bit of a problem for the Hoosiers, they managed to find their sweet spot within last week's Northwestern match by logging 14 team blocks to the Wildcats' 6.\nMain contributors to the IU blocking attack are one and the same with the team's main hitters. Katie Pollom as the current IU leader in blocking with 1.12 blocks per game to place her at 10th in the Big Ten conference. Brewer follows up Pollom by adding 1.03 blocks per game of her own to place her at 13th in the conference.\nWith four impressive hitters leading the Hoosier offensive attack, paired with budding blocking prowess, IU is quick to credit a team ethic and their ability to play as a unit.\n"The thing about volleyball, it's so much of a team sport," Brewer said. "It's fun to go out on the court with five other girls and just totally gel on the court. They're your best friends, your sisters"
(10/28/02 6:14am)
The Hoosier volleyball team split their Big Ten weekend by overtaking the Iowa Hawkeyes on Friday and falling to the Minnesota Golden Gophers 24 hours later.\nThe eighth-ranked Golden Gophers overpowered the Hoosiers 3-1 Saturday with long runs throughout the match. \nThe Hoosiers were steamrolled 30-19 in game one at University Gym on Saturday. Minnesota set the tone early by taking a 5-2 lead, but the Hoosiers managed to pull within two for a 9-7 Golden Gophers lead. Minnesota then ignited with a four point run that put the score at 13-7 to prompt an IU timeout. The Hoosiers then notched a three point run of their own to bring the score to 13-10. From then on, the Gophers stood strong and overtook the Hoosiers 30-19.\n"We just didn't step on the court with the intensity that we needed to, I think we were a little too excited," coach Katie Weismiller said. "Passing was off in game one, and that's not our team."\nGame two brought about a shift in momentum for the Hoosiers. Throughout the game, IU displayed impressive play. The Hoosiers and Gophers battled to a 5-5 tie, but the Hoosiers had the power for the rest of the game. A service ace by sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald brought about a 25-19 IU lead and IU coasted for a 30-24 victory.\nGame three brought about another momentum shift for the Golden Gophers who catapulted to an early 11-3 lead. The Hoosiers could not recover from this early run and again suffered a double-digit loss 30-18.\nDespite the previous loss, IU quickly scored 5 straight points. However, Minnesota managed to claw back to a 8-8 tie with a service ace by Minnesota sophomore setter Lindsey Vander Well. Archibald took control and managed to log three straight kills to bring about a 16-12 IU lead. Archibald's impressive play continued with a service ace to bring about a 19-13 Hoosier lead. However, the Golden Gophers hit their stride at just the right time by scoring six straight points and stealing game four 30-27.\nSophomore middle blocker Katie Pollom led the Hoosier attack with 15 kills, while Archibald and junior middle blocker Melissa Brewer logged their own 14 kills apiece. Sophomore setter Victoria Zimmerman notched a career-high 18 digs with another 52 assists.\n"A loss like this hurts deep down, but we are going to take this with us into practice this week and next, any team you lose to you want to come back even harder, and so we will use this," Archibald said.\nFriday's match against Iowa was a different story with the Hoosiers overtaking Iowa 3-1. Iowa brought an untradtional playing style to the table by sending over many first and second balls.\nIU had the power in game one, blasting down powerful spikes, yet Iowa stuck around with mini-runs. The Hoosiers led most of the way, but Iowa found their notch at the right time by gaining their first lead with a block by freshman outside hitter Echaka Agba 28-27, and took game one 30-28.\nGame two began with a 9-1 IU run that brought about a 13-6 IU lead. The Hawkeyes began a six point streak of their own to bring Iowa within three to a 20-17 IU lead. The Hoosiers then reignited and coasted to a 30-24 win.\nGame three was a back and forth tussle that left both teams with nothing more than two point leads until the Hoosiers broke loose and took the game 30-24 with a service ace by sophomore Beth Heimann.\nThe final game of the match was another struggle for the lead that kept IU and Iowa tight until the Hawkeyes took a 21-17 lead to lead coach Weismiller took a timeout. The timeout proved to be the right medicine as IU took the game with a powerful kill by Pollom for a 30-24 win. \nIowa's atypical play proved to be a nuisance, but the Hoosiers took it in stride.\n"We knew that they were going to send a lot of first and second contacts over," Pollom said. "So we concentrated on getting the small balls and terminating and transitioning as best we could."\nKatie Pollom notched a career-high 19 kills while senior libero Hillary Toivonen overtook current IU assistant coach Cydryce Carter for no. 2 on the career digs list with 1,154.\nWeismiller said the weekend's split should not deter the Hoosier team in any way.\n"A loss is tough, but I know this team will come back and rebound," Weismiller said. "We will work hard and get back at it"
(10/25/02 5:39am)
All guts, no glory. That's the kind of play liberos and setters have to put together for every match. The proverbial point guard of volleyball, a setter simply puts the ball where the hitters want it, and watch them crush the balls down to the cheers of the crowd. Without the glory of scoring points, save the occasional trick play, a setter lives a relatively boring offensive life. \nDespite the position's offensive shortcomings, a setter occasionally gets to play offense. A libero, on the other hand, is a purely defensive player who must stay in the back row and is barred from truly starting the game and even serving. Despite these position challenges, two players from the Hoosier volleyball team have settled into the roles without trouble.\nSophomore Victoria Zimmerman came into this season with little experience; yet as time went on, Zimmerman has become one of the premiere setters in the Big Ten. She currently ranks fourth in the conference in assists with a 13.35 assist per game average, helping IU to a No. 15 assist ranking in the nation while consistently improving her play. In only one year as a Hoosier starter, Zimmerman has already recorded over 1,000 assists. Despite Zimmerman's ability, she is quick to credit senior libero Hillary Toivonen in helping her reach such high assist numbers.\n"Due to the passing the libero brings, I don't really have to move, and I can just look at the block," Zimmerman said.\nThe libero position was introduced to the NCAA starting this season. The Hoosiers have taken the libero rule change as a blessing, due to the play of Toivonen. Early in the season, team members could not say enough about how well Toivonen would fill the role.\n"Her new role as a libero, in terms of defense, it's tailor made for her; it truly is," coach Katie Weismiller said. "If there's ever a position that's made for a player, it's Hillary."\nToivonen has indeed filled her billing by consistently averaging team-leading numbers in digs with 3.11 digs per game overall.\nIn last week's match against Illinois, Toivonen showed her resolve by logging a season-high 22 digs. \nFor Toivonen, changing to a purely defensive specialist came with a price. Prior to her role as team libero, Toivonen held her own on the squad as an all-around player.\n"You look at Hillary, going from an all-around player, attacking in the front court," Weismiller said. "Often, it's the kills that get players the MVPs and everything and all-tournament, and those are the players who are swinging at the ball."\nEven though she has not yet swung at the ball a single time, Toivonen did capture an all-tournament award earlier this year and is enjoying her position.\n"I like the libero position," she said. "I think it works well with my skills, and I think I can fill the role."\nToivonen isn't the only one who is pleased with her play.\n"When we have great passing from Hillary, we are really hard to stop," junior middle blocker Melissa Brewer said.\nToivonen currently ranks No. 14 in the conference against Big Ten opponents in digs with three a game. Along with impressive average numbers, career numbers place her amongst the Hoosiers' all-time best defensive volleyball players. With just seven more digs, Toivonen will surpass current IU assistant coach Cydryce Carter for second all-time on the IU digs list.\nDespite the lack of thanks for their roles, both the libero and the setter positions remain integral parts of every volleyball team.
(10/25/02 5:38am)
The Hoosier volleyball team is on a roll again. The squad has risen from a four game losing streak to begin anew with three straight wins. IU is now looking to extend this streak with two home matches this weekend against Iowa and Minnesota Friday and Saturday, respectively.\nBoth teams will certainly provide challenges for the Hoosiers, although each team will be a challenge of a different type.\nThe Hawkeyes' main weapons are scrappiness and an unorthodox playing style, junior middle blocker Melissa Brewer said.\n"The thing about Iowa is that they're a very scrappy team that doesn't play as orthodox as other teams play," Brewer said. "They send a lot of first and second balls over, a lot of back row attacks; it's one of those teams that can be really frustrating if you don't play your game."\nIowa is also coming off of two straight home losses. The Hawkeyes' offense is led by Renee Hill, who leads the team with a 3.75 kills per game and 3.08 digs per game. Hill has elevated her level of play for conference opponents averaging 4.21 kills per game against Big Ten teams.\nThe Hawkeyes' main defensive weapon is libero Pam Kavadas who averages 3.56 digs per game, which puts her at third in the Big Ten. Kavadas is flanked by the blocking prowess of middle blocker Abby Tjaden who averages 1.06 blocks per game.\nThe Minnesota Golden Gophers bring a completely different challenge to the Hoosiers with an impressive physical stance and a No. 8 USA Today/ACVA ranking to boot. Minnesota has 12 players standing at 5-feet, 10-inches or more, including eight standing at six feet or more.\n6-1 junior Cassie Busse leads the Gophers' offensive attack with a 4.18 kill per game average and a .309 hitting percentage. Busse's hitting is aided by sophomore setter Lindsey Vander Well's 12.53 assists per game along with 2.76 digs per game. Vander Well has been named the Big Ten co-player of the week two times this season.\nThe Gopher's defense is paced by 5-9 freshman libero Paula Genti,l who leads the Big Ten with 4.59 digs per game.\nDespite a pair of worthy opponents, the Hoosiers are confident in their playing ability and their chances. Senior libero Hillary Toivonen comes into Friday's match just seven digs away from overtaking assistant coach Cydryce Carter for second all-time on IU's career dig list.\n"I told Cydryce at the beginning of the year that my goal was to beat her, and I'm about to," Toivonen joked. "It's something that's in the back of my mind, but I don't concentrate on it."\nAlong with Toivonen's defensive ability comes three impressive offensive attackers ranking within the Big Ten top 20 in kills. Sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald, sophomore middle blocker Katie Pollom, and Brewer lead the Hoosier offensive attack to 16.41 kills per game. Ranking third in the conference, Archibald leads the team with a 4.51 kill per game average, followed by Brewer's 3.67 and Pollom's 3.35. Pollom and Brewer also rank 1-2 on IU's block list with 1.10 and 1.04 blocks per game respectively.\nBut, a team cannot have good hitting without good setting, and sophomore setter Victoria Zimmerman fills that bill for the Hoosiers. Zimmerman brings 13.56 assists per game which ranks her fourth in the Big Ten.\nWhile Zimmerman's own statistics rank amongst the country's best, she is quick to credit her teammates' play.\n"The libero position and (sophomore defensive specialist) Beth Heimann coming back, and their passing makes it really easy to set," Zimmerman said.\nDespite ranking No. 20 in the nation kills per game and No. 15 in assists, IU has only managed a No. 34 ranking in the USA Today/ACVA polls. \n"We're just trying to work up that ladder, slowly; we're going to get there to that top 25," Archibald said. "I think it's an advantage because other teams still see us as 34th, but we're going to prove them wrong."\nDespite the relatively low ranking, coach Katie Weismiller said the IU team is happy where it stands and remains confident regardless of where USA Today/AVCA ranks them.\n"We certainly know what we're capable of, but it's going to take time for people to believe in us," Weismiller said.\nAfter stopping a four game skid, pulling themselves back to a .500 Big Ten average and starting a new winning streak, Brewer said a fire has ignited in the Hoosier volleyball team.\n"I think things have picked up tremendously; everyone's going hard all the time," Brewer said. "There's a new fire now that we're back on a winning streak"
(10/14/02 3:47am)
The storm has subsided. After losing four straight games against Big Ten opponents, the Hoosier volleyball team has lurched back to life with an upset win against the No. 15 ranked Wisconsin Badgers Saturday. But, Saturday's win came with a price as the Hoosiers fell to the unranked Northwestern Wildcats just 24 hours earlier.\nSaturday's match against the Badgers looked like a monumental task for the Hoosiers. Wisconsin came into University gym sporting an 11-4 overall record and a 2-2 record in the Big Ten.\nDespite Wisconsin's ranking, IU drew first blood. The Hoosiers broke out to an early 9-5 lead. The Badgers seemed rattled in the first game, routinely letting balls drop to floor. IU utilized Wisconsin's mistakes, going on a 10-3 run to bring the score to 26-18 and eventually a 30-25 victory.\nGame two was a constant back and forth battle with neither team going on streaks of more than three points. Both IU and Wisconsin kept the game neck and neck until Wisconsin's sophomore outside hitter Jill Odenthal went on her own three point tirade to bring the score to 25-20. The Badgers eventually overtook IU 30-26.\nGame three was yet another close battle, featuring 15 ties. Trailing by two points late in the game, the Hoosiers were able to put together a three point run to gain the lead 21-20. Both teams kept trading blows for five consecutive ties until the Hoosiers nearly lost the game by trailing 29-28. Sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald then took control by logging the pivotal kill to tie the game at 29 before gaining a service ace to take the game 31-29.\nIntensity reigned in game four with players from both teams constantly diving on the floor to keep the ball in play. IU trailed 18-19, but impressive Hoosier hitting eventually had the Badgers following suit. Despite the "floor play," the Badgers scored four straight points to win the game 30-26.\nGame five, however, was all Hoosiers, with Wisconsin constantly playing catch-up until junior outside hitter Nikki Hill smashed home the game's final point for a 15-11 IU win and 3-2 match victory. \nJunior middle blocker Melissa Brewer led the team with 25 kills along with 6 block assists. Archibald and sophomore middle blocker Katie Pollom also had 20 and 19 kills respectively. Senior outside hitter Erin Byrd paced Wisconsin with 18 kills. \nPollom said Saturday's victory proved to be an important victory for the Hoosiers by proving that IU can go the distance.\n"The fact that we won in five was very important for us, because that's a goal of ours, and that has become an expectation now," Pollom said. "We've proved to ourselves more than once this year that we can finish a game."\nThe Hoosiers came into Friday night's home match against Northwestern with much anticipation after three straight road losses. But, the Hoosier's home crowd was not enough, as IU dropped a heartbreaker, 3-2.\nThe first game had the Hoosiers blasting out of the starting blocks with all cylinders firing, constantly keeping the Wildcats playing catch-up. Ignited by Brewer's hitting prowess, IU went on a 10-3 run early in the game to bring the score to 17-9. Northwestern tried to hold on with mini-runs throughout, but the Hoosiers overpowered the Wildcats 30-19.\nThe Wildcats came back in game two to an early 5-1 lead. Northwestern kept the Hoosiers at bay with a 7-3 run to bring the score to 15-9. The Hoosiers regained their composure by stringing together their own set of mini-runs to bring IU within three points for a 25-22 Wildcats lead. This was as far as the Hoosiers could get, with Northwestern overtaking IU 30-27, tying the match.\nNorthwestern's momentum held strong through game three with powerful hitting. The game stayed close with neither team posting more than three point streaks. But, the Wildcats had the upper hand and overtook the Hoosiers 30-25.\nThe fourth game proved to be a battle with both teams knotting the score 15 times. The match was hard fought until IU logged an 8-2 run that brought the win within reach for a 27-20 Hoosier lead. Northwestern kept themselves alive by turning in a 6-1 stanza of its own to bring the Wildcats within one for a 28-27 IU lead. IU finally overtook Northwestern 36-34 to tie the match at 2 games apiece.\nThe fifth game of the match had both teams tying five times in a 15 point game. With both teams knotted at 12, Northwestern took three of the next four points to take the game 15-13 and the match 3-2.\nCoach Katie Weismiller said the team was dissatisfied with their play on both sides of the court after dropping the 3-2 match. \n"We staggered getting our offense going, out of rhythm," Weismiller said, "We have to find a way to get more blocks." \nArchibald again paced the Hoosiers with 23 kills, and Northwestern's junior outside hitter Iwona Lodzik logged 18 kills to lead the Wildcats. Northwestern buried the Hoosiers in blocking logging 19 to IU's 6. Northwestern's record improved to 11-6 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten. \nThis weekend's split brings the Hoosiers to a 12-6 overall record and a 2-4 record in the Big Ten. Despite the team's big win, the Hoosiers' focus is to look ahead.\n"The big thing is to move on really quickly," Brewer said. "We're on the road again, and we've got to move on and carry this over to the next game"
(10/11/02 7:09am)
The 2002 Hoosier volleyball season began with spectacular results as the team bolted out to an 11-2 record. But three road losses and two ranked teams later, the IU women's volleyball team is looking to turn its young Big Ten season around. This will be no easy task as the squad faces a two match weekend against the Northwestern Wildcats tonight and the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday.\nTeam health has become a concern for the Hoosiers. IU's main offensive weapon, sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald has been fighting illness the past two weeks. Despite that, Archibald currently reigns as the team leader in kills and service aces for the Hoosiers. \n"We were a little beat up last weekend from sickness and injuries, but we'll be in better shape this week," coach Katie Weismiller said.\nDespite falling to 1-3 in the Big Ten, Weismiller said the team is keeping a strong morale.\n"Team morale is great, (the players) are frustrated with the losses, no doubt about it, but now they're more committed than ever," Weismiller said.\nNorthwestern comes into tonight's match boasting a 10-6 overall record and a 3-1 Big Ten record. The Wildcat's main offensive weapon is 6-foot-3-inch junior middle blocker Erika Lange. A preseason All-Big Ten team member, Lange boasts team best stats in blocks and kills with 67 and 193 respectively. \n"Erika Lange is definitely an offensive threat, if we can stop her, and we can stop the slide, we'll be in good shape," junior middle blocker Melissa Brewer said.\nWisconsin brings an even heavier hand to the table with a No. 15 ranking in the latest USA Today/AVCA Coaches poll. The 11-4 Badgers are coming off a 3-0 sweep of Iowa and have a 12 game winning streak against the Hoosiers. \nWisconsin's offensive leader is 6'0" senior outside hitter Erin Byrd, who was also a Preseason All Big Ten member. Byrd has a team leading 3.76 kill per game and is second on the team with 3.20 digs per game. Byrd's offensive attack is flanked by 6'3" senior middle blocker Amy Hultgren with a 1.04 blocks per game average while adding 2.75 kills per game of her own. \n"Wisconsin has six all-around good players, they're good every year, they're ranked, it's just our one chance to play them at home and get an upset," Brewer said.\nIU brings a balanced offensive attack with three players in the Big Ten top 20 for kills. Archibald has been the perennial leader smashing home 4.62 kills per game, good for second in the Big Ten. Brewer adds 3.55 kills of her own along with sophomore Katie Pollom's 3.25. \nSophomore setter Victoria Zimmerman's passing has been a major factor for the Hoosiers' hitting prowess. Zimmerman is currently fifth in the nation with 13.72 assists per game and is second to Archibald in service aces for the team.\nDefensively, senior libero Hillary Toivonen provides the Hoosiers with a solid base, averaging 3.18 digs per game and is inching closer each game to third all-time in Hoosier career digs.\nDespite a tough three game losing streak and a set of tough opponents this weekend, hope still reigns throughout the Hoosier volleyball team.\n"We realize that we've had a few losses, but if we can play well and win this weekend we can turn this season around," Pollom said. "We're in control of our future"
(10/11/02 6:59am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>"I didn't know he left so quick, eight years, and then all of a sudden he decides to up and drop it. So I hope he does a good job, and I wish him well."
(09/19/02 5:02am)
One match, one game, one point at a time. \nThis doctrine has been the 2002 women's volleyball team's motto. The Hoosiers are off to one of their best starts in team history, going 7-2 after nine matches with one of the losses coming in the closing moments of the final game against the Dayton Flyers. With just one more win, the team will have already tied last season's total win column in a third of the matches. \n"Last year was a learning experience for everyone," senior Libero Hillary Toivonen. "This year we've put it behind us, and we've worked out with the strength and conditioning coach and made a huge commitment this year."\nThe entire team tackled a strenuous conditioning program over the summer with strength and conditioning coach Geoff Eliason, and at last Saturday's Terrapin Invitational, the Hoosiers won back-to-back, hard-fought, five game matches that occurred within just two hours of each other. \n"Our all-out effort was definitely a lot more than it has been in the past; it's something that we've really focused on," junior middle blocker Melissa Brewer said. "I'm very proud of the team; even balls that aren't playable, people are diving on the floor."\nLast Saturday's impressive display of physical stamina and mental toughness has all but galvanized preseason team expectations.\n"We have higher expectations for this year," sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald said. "We worked really hard; we came back in the summer to get us up to where we are at." \nThe squad has earned individual performance records. Archibald herself is mounting impressive numbers, logging a career high 29 kills and 18 digs in a recent match against Loyola Marymount and was named to the all-tournament teams for all three of the team's weekend tournaments. Sophomore setter Victoria Zimmerman also logged career highs with 69 assists and 15 digs during the Maryland Tournament.\nAlong with Archibald, Brewer and sophomore middle blocker Katie Pollom have been named to two all-tournament teams. Toivonen also has lived up to coach Katie Weismiller's hefty expectations, putting together impressive defensive shows in each of the nine matches. She was also named to the all-tournament team at the Terrapin Invitational. \nWhile there is still quite a long road ahead, the 2002 women's volleyball team seems poised and prepared for what shall come.\n"No matter who we see, we're going to be ready for them," Weismiller said.
(09/09/02 6:06am)
The Taylor/TIS Tournament was held in Bloomington this weekend bringing excitement to the over-heated University Arena leading to affectionate nicknames for the arena like "The Sweat Box," "The Inferno," or simply, the "Sauna."\nThe first match of the tournament pitted the Hoosiers against Dayton on Friday. The match was hard fought, along with an unbelievable Dayton comeback in the fifth game that left spectators with wide-eyes and jaws dropped.\nDuring the first game of the match the Hoosiers began the night with an impressive 22-12 lead over the Flyers. Dayton tried to mount a comeback, but passing by sophomore setter Victoria Zimmerman and crushing kills put down Dayton in the first game to a final score of 30-20. The second game had the Flyers and Hoosiers trading off rallies to a 15-15 tie until Dayton broke out with a 9-1 run to a 24-16 Flyers lead that all but ended the game. However, the Hoosiers would go out kicking and screaming as they put together a 9-2 run that brought them within 2 points of Dayton until the Flyers finally sealed the victory 30-27. Games three and four were back and forth battles with IU winning the third game 30-26 and Dayton winning the fourth 30-26 tying the match at 2 games apiece.\nThen insanity began. IU began game five with a 8-1 lead in a 15 point game that seemed to all but win the match. The Hoosiers couldn't hold onto their seven point lead as Dayton battled to a 9-2 run that tied the game. The Flyers never looked back, winning the fifth game 15-12 and breaking the Hoosiers' 3 game winning streak 3-2. Spectators were awestruck by the outcome.\nEven Dayton coach Pete Hoyer was surprised by the outcome. \n"I think we played ugly volleyball, we got outplayed in virtually every statistic, but we scrapped," Hoyer said.\nWhile the loss surprised junior Nikki Hill, she saw a reason for it, "It comes down to mental toughness and I can't really add any more than that." \nDespite the loss, Hill looked at the match as more of a building block, "It's one of the things that you put behind you, but you want to remember it so it will never happen again."\nThe Hoosiers began to put the loss behind them Saturday when they defeated both the Evansville and Cal State Fullerton 3-0 in both matches. \nThe Hoosiers' play against Evansville ended the match against the Purple Aces before it even started. IU made extremely short work of Evansville by sweeping all three games of the match 30-19, 30-21, and 30-19 respectively. \nTeam dissent for the Evansville match was to "wash their hands" of the previous loss against Dayton.\n"There was a certain fire, they came out in game one wanting to put away last night and start anew," coach Katie Weismiller said.\nIU's final match against Cal State Fullerton brought excitement to the heated arena. IU mashed the accelerator in the first game of the Cal State match, manhandling the Titans to a 21-15 lead only to see Cal State had a bit of "horsepower" of their own. The Titans answered with a 9-2 run tying them with the Hoosiers at 26, leading to a tense back and forth battle to a 31-29 Hoosier victory.\nAfter such a tense first game, neither of the teams let up as the second game was a hard fought battle until the Hoosiers finally won 30-24. Both of the first wins were aided by impressive serving with sophomore Katie Pollom, sophomore Christina Archibald, sophomore Victoria Zimmerman and Hill all logging two service aces a piece. Game three was even harder on IU as Cal State proceeded to "hang around" by three points or less for the entire game. The Hoosiers eventually overcame the battle 30-26.\nOverall, the team seemed pleased with their play and effort within the game. \n"I think our effort has really improved. We are diving for balls even when we might not even have a legitimate chance to reach them. Our goal is to come and play to our potential and for the most part we did that tonight," Junior Melissa Brewer said.\nThe Flyers were named tournament champions, winning all three of their matches. The all tournament team included Dayton's senior middle blocker Susan Westbrock and junior outside hitter Erin Treadway, who was also named the tournament MVP, along with Cal State Fullerton's senior setter Kim Levey and sophomore outside hitter Lauren Goins. Archibald and Pollom represented Hoosiers on the all tournament team.\nThe tournament may have snapped the Hoosiers' three game winning streak, but the team has begun anew. "We've just started another winning streak," Brewer said. "I hope that this week in practice we can go out there and work really hard"
(08/30/02 6:33am)
The women's volleyball season begins this weekend with a three game invitational.\nThe Northern Illinois Best Western Invitational will pair the team against Drake on Friday followed by two matches against IUPUI and Northern Illinois on Saturday.\nFriday's game will pit the team against the Drake Bulldogs who have six returning players and five incoming freshman. Maggie Black is the only experienced senior, yet junior outside hitter Lacey Corocan should provide a challenge for the team.\nThe IUPUI Jaguars will be the first game on Saturday. Junior outside hitter Rebekah Pallikan and sophomore middle blocker Michelle Sobocinski are the only returning starters. Sobocinski ranked third on the team in kills and digs last season.\nThe final match of the weekend pairs the Hoosiers against the Northern Illinois home team. The Huskies have faced their fair share of losses with Mid Atlantic Conference Player of the Year Jenny Bowman and league Coach of the Year Todd Kress leaving the program during the last year. But the team still provides a challenge for the Hoosiers with four returning starters including three All MAC Conference players Tenisha Wilkins, Rena Widboom and Tara Lobdell, who was also the MAC Freshman of the Year.\nThe Hoosiers said they are confident they have enough firepower to overcome their challenges and start the season on the right foot. This confidence is aided by four returning starters including team captain sophomore Katie Pollom, senior Hillary Toivenen and Big Ten Freshman of the Year sophomore Christina Archibald along with former Big Ten Freshman of the Year junior Melissa Brewer. \nAlong with a strong returning core of players, the team has an obvious cohesiveness. Many of the team members even live together. The friendly atmosphere prompted Beth Heimann, who took a hiatus last year, to try on her volleyball shoes again.\n"I live with three of the girls so I am kind of in the middle of it," Heimann said. "The opportunity came up so I decided to give it a chance again."\nDespite four returning starters, the Hoosiers had to overcome a few hurdles this season including a major rule change. This rule change added a new position to the roster called a Libero (LEE-bah-ro). The libero is exempt from substitution rules and may not serve. The position is used as a back row defensive specialist. Head coach Katie Weismiller doesn't see the new position affecting the Hoosiers; Toivonen will serve the role well.\n"Her new role as a Libero, in terms of defense, it's tailor made for her; it truly is," Weismiller said. "If there's ever a position that's made for a player, it's Hillary." \nIn addition to new rules the Hoosiers also have added two assistant coaches to the volleyball family. Cydryce Carter and Ryan Theis take on the reigns of Hoosier assistant coaches this season. "(Carter and Theis) bring a lot of fire," Weismiller said. "You look at these two coaches who are coming in for the first opportunity to coach at this level, they've got a lot of drive and a lot of determination. There are two people in here who want to prove and want IU to be the best this year. They put in the time; they have the commitment."\nThe commitment of the assistant coaches has also aided a dramatic improvement from many of the team members over the summer.\n"While we haven't changed much in personnel, we've certainly changed how we play," said sophomore Victoria Zimmerman. "I think we've improved in a ton of areas."\nWeismiller said the team is prepared for the coming season.\n"No matter who we see, we're going to be ready for them," she said.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
The wind whips through her hair as the cold droplets of water hit her face and the FJ's slice through the waves. Yet this "Flying Junior Scotts" boat is not all alone in the ocean -- it's in the middle of seven other boats each vying for victory within the Sailboat Regatta.\nThe basics of Sailboat Regatta involve sailing a boat with one to three passengers through a course with a triangular shape. The boats are called Lasers, Flying Junior Scotts or FJ's for short, and Sloops for their prospective amount of passengers.\n"The sailboat most collegiate Regattas use are the Flying Junior Scotts," said sophomore and IU team member Adam Ledyard.\nThe Regatta involves a sailing contest where each competitor participates in at least three races, typically over a weekend of time, vying to have as many races as possible so that the most participants can get sailing time. \n"We might get six or seven rotations in on Saturday, and maybe four or five in on Sunday. You have to have at least three full rotations on one day to be considered a Regatta," Vice Commodore (sailing equivalent to Vice President) Katie Triplett said.\nWithin these races there are two levels to each team, called A and B Fleets, that each have to participate in the same amount of races. Unlike other sports, the letters A and B do not entail the skill level of the team, but is rather a method of dividing the teams into divisions, similar to conferences in other sports. \nThe IU Sailing Club began more than 13 years ago, but interest in the team was lost and eventually fizzled out. But, in 1998, the team was resurrected and re-entered sailing competition.\nThe IU Sailing Club is a member of the Midwest Collegiate Sailing Association. \n"There are three different levels of the MCSA, and we just moved up to the second level, and are now able to compete in major regattas all over the US," Triplett said.\nWhile the team was a member of the third level, it was not able to run for the various delegations within the MCSA and was also unable to be ranked for competitions. The team is able to participate in major regattas for the first time this year. But, the participation within the tournaments has relied on the attendance of members.\n"The team's just starting out, so we're only trying to make it to competitions with enough people," Ledyard said. \nDespite this fact, this fall season's outings have proved successful for the team, winning two out of three of the tournaments they entered. \n"We took first at a Michigan State, took first at our own Regatta at Indiana during the 20th-21st, and we took sixth out of 10 teams at Detroit," Triplett said. \nWith the successful season comes a berth to the "Timmy's Qualifiers," which is similar to a Midwest team championship that will take place in Wisconsin this year. If the team places within the top four at this tournament, they would then advance to the "National Timmy's" and compete with the top teams from all over the country.\nEven with the team's success, fun is still the main goal.\n"At our tournament we made various gag prizes, including a 'Bobby Knight Award' that was a folding chair," Ledyard said. Even a spare tire with "Most Miles Traveled" painted on it was given to the team who took the most time to reach the finish line.\nThis light-hearted attitude is always apparent throughout the club, which is always searching for new members. Information will be posted throughout campus in February.\n"The sailing team is always interested in finding new sailors," Triplett said. "There is no need for experience, we're just out to have fun"
(04/17/02 4:29pm)
Rows three and four of this year's race all have a grounded mentality, a sort of "give it your best shot" look at things. Most teams within these two rows are also relatively inexperienced. Within the rows, Delta Gamma is bringing the most know how.
(04/02/02 6:58am)
Six a.m., the sun has barely risen, yet there they are, warming up on four miles of jogging, rooting out the players with true dedication to the sport of lacrosse. \nThis year's IU men's lacrosse team is relatively young and inexperienced, yet they do not look at this aspect as a flaw.\n"We have a lot of young players beginning to step up, and they're beginning to find the back of the goal. I feel really confident," team president Tom Fell said.\nPartly due to its youth, the lacrosse campaign has had a bit of shaky start at 3-4, but the team is still pleased with the effort so far. While the record does not look so great, three of its four losses have been by three points or less, including a 7-8 overtime heartbreaker against Emory early in the year. Luckily, along with effort comes experience and the experience is beginning to show.\n"Each game we're getting better and stronger and we try to look at the start of our season as a primer," associate president Willy Knight said.\nThese first six games have also had their fair share of bright spots. The team's defense is suffocating, and is looked upon as the strong point so far. Along with their defensive prowess, they are not left without offensive weapons as well. One of these weapons is sophomore attacker Jon Hatton who has amassed 29 points in only five games along with sophomore midfielder Jim Derrick's 15.\nWhile the team is confident in their abilities, they are also taking a realistic look at the season ahead.\n"From the beginning of the year, we've decided that we're just going to take it one game at a time," Fell said.\nLong term goals are also very grounded, beginning with getting into the Central Collegiate Lacrosse Athletic Association tournament at the end of the year. Of course, their goals do not stop there as they want to take this tournament and advance into Nationals.\nLast Saturday, the team obtained its third win of the season by overcoming Washington University 9-8. While the close home win adds confidence to the team, a challenge lies on its horizon.\nFriday, the team begins a difficult three-game road trip that will pit them against solid Marquette, Michigan State and Western Michigan teams April 5-7. This road trip will test the team's endurance both mentally and physically. \n"We're going to have to be on the bus for six hours, seven hours and then we have to get off and play a game, and we'll get into the hotel pretty late. It's going to be tiring, and we're going to be a lot more exhausted than we normally would be (in Indiana)," junior defenseman Jon Rieger said.\nHowever, this tiring three-game stint is not the end of the Hoosiers' troubles.\nA mere three days later, the team will then head over to Urbana to take on the powerful Illinois team they have never been able to overcome. This game was originally scheduled for last Thursday, but due to weather conditions it was postponed. Despite the postponement, the importance of the game has not decreased.\n"That game will determine how the rest of the season will go, in my opinion. I think that this year, when you add into the equation that they've lost a lot of key players, our freshman and sophomore classes are much better than theirs," Fell said.\nThe team is looking ahead at its 2002 campaign with high hopes and confidence in its young squad. \n"We expect to go into every game and play competitively, and we're going to play to win," Fell said.
(01/29/02 6:34am)
There is a legend involving a young boy within a small school in Rugby, England playing a game of soccer in 1823. Instead of kicking the ball towards the goal, he simply picked it up and carried it, therefor creating a wildly popular sport with the same name as its place of origin. \nThe sport of rugby is relatively similar to American football in many ways except for the illegality of forward passing and a ball that is much more oblong to allow easier kicking. \nAt IU the highly successful men's team, the Mudsharks, is not the only team for the IU rugby fanatic.\nThe IU women's Red Storm rugby club team brings more punishing rugby entertainment for everyone. It may be a surprise to see the existence of a women's rugby club, but the Red Storm has been around for quite some time. Generally, the game's rules and basic style of play is the same for both men's and women's teams.\n"The women's game doesn't use kicking as much as the men's game, but it's all still legal, and the pacing is a bit different, but the same rules and formations are used," senior Kathleen Krueger,team fundraising director, said. \nMuch like their male counterparts, the team has had a decent amount of success, with a set of perennial enemies. \n"We played (Purdue) last semester and beat them by quite a bit," junior Katie Lawson, team president and match secretary said. Lawson also noted wins against Eastern Illinois and Vanderbilt as significant ones. \nThe team travels to various tournaments around the Midwest along with the typical games from various colleges and clubs. \n"We're going to two tournaments, ('The Nash Bash' in March and the 'Rugger-Fest' in April), and we're also going to be playing in the Indiana Select," senior team member Kim Collins said. \nThe tournaments also bring heated competition, as there is no shortage of women's teams within the Midwestern area.\n"There are many women's teams in the Midwest, so there is never any problem finding teams to come to the tournaments," Collins said.\nBut it is not the simple game itself holding the Red Storm together.\n"The game is great, but the girls are so great. It's just the companionship from the best group of girls," Krueger said. \nMuch of the kinship also comes from veteran players showing new players "the ropes" of the game.\n"As far as the 'old girls,' it's about advancing their skills, playing and being able to teach the new players the rules of rugby," Lawson said. \nDue to a relative amount of obscurity for American rugby, the Red Storm has had trouble finding the funds for the team. This has caused a great number of fundraising activities that the team participates in.\n"We've (sold) pizza a couple times a semester, we have worked at Fazoli's, we usually make T-shirts and we have Rugby balls that have 'Indiana University women's rugby' on them," Lawson said.\nAs with most club sports, women's rugby requires a great amount of dedication.\n"Practices are three nights a week. Being a club, we have to raise a lot of money ourselves, so you have to commit yourself through practice, games and so forth," Lawson said.\n"Rugby really is a lifestyle," Krueger said. \nWhile the team is enjoying success and camaraderie, the Red Storm is always looking for more people, regardless of skill level, to join the team. A call-out meeting is today at 7 p.m. in the Charter Room at the Indiana Memorial Union.
(11/12/01 6:09am)
Game one of Friday night's volleyball match against the No. 9 Ohio State Buckeyes saw a hard-fought OSU lead at 13-9, only to have the Hoosiers claw back to a 25-24 deficit, before the Buckeyes wone the game, 30-27. Such was the weekend for the Hoosier women's volleyball team.\nThe Hoosier team came into the weekend facing two top-ranked teams with No. 9 Ohio State Friday, and the perennially powerful No. 13 Penn State Nittany Lions Saturday. \nDespite the tough opponents, the Hoosiers were not intimidated in either match. \nAfter Ohio State beat the Hoosiers in game one, the Buckeyes gained their footing in game two, turning the momentum around.\nThe second game of the matchup saw Ohio State jump out to an early 8-2 lead and they never looked back. The Buckeyes scored 10 straight points until senior setter Disney Bronnenberg's service ace put the score at 18-4. Ohio State went on to win the game 30-12. \nThe final game of Friday's match saw much of the same, as OSU jumped out to a 13-3 lead and never looked back until a final OSU win of 30-14. \nStatistical leaders for Friday's game include senior Anne Botica with 15 kills, along with freshman Stacey Gordon with 14 kills for Ohio State, while IU's freshman Christina Archibald put up eight kills along with sophomore Melissa Brewer's seven for the Hoosiers. \nIU was optimistic because of their strong start.\n"I felt like we came out in game one and we played some of our best volleyball we've seen all year. We came out, we competed, offensively we were on, we just gave up a few defensive keys," coach Katie Weismiller said.\nThe positive first game performance came truncated by the relatively dismal second and third games.\n"The first game we actually came out ready play," junior outside hitter Hillary Toivonen said. "Usually we have a little trouble coming out right at seven o'clock. We actually did that, but it didn't just carry over to the second game."\nBrewer agreed with Toivonen's appraisal of the situation.\n"The hard thing is that, this year we've really worked on coming out the first game," Brewer said. "Tonight we really showed that we can do that. The hard thing is we didn't do what we haven't been doing all year, and that's coming out in the second and third games and working hard." \nThe problem did not show itself on Saturday night against Penn State.\nGame one saw a nose-to-nose battle with ties at five and seven. Penn State then jumped out to a 16-9 lead until IU made a powerful run to tie the game at 25. The teams traded points until a final kill by Penn State junior Mishka Levy ended the game at 34-32.\nGame two brought another close battle with IU taking an 14-11 lead and never looking back for a 30-24 victory. The charge was led by Brewer and Archibald along with Toivonen stepping out of character with some powerful kills.\nGame three was yet another close battle that ended in a 30-22 PSU victory.\nFinally, game four of Saturday night's volleyball match saw a hard-fought PSU lead at 19-12. The Hoosiers pulled themselves back to a 22-22 tie, only to see the Nittany Lions take the game, 30-25.\nSuch a close match against the Penn State team brought confidence to the IU squad.\n"The players were upset that we lost, but it feels so much better tonight because it's the first time we played our hardest the whole entire time," senior defensive specialist Crecia Keithley said.\nWeismiller gave an example from the first game.\n"We gave up a string of points and we could have easily continued in our ways and said, 'Oh no, they're ahead.' Instead we fought back, we fought back and got right back into the match"