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(10/26/01 5:52am)
Confidence and revenge are on the minds of the women's volleyball team this weekend as they enter the second round of Big Ten play, hosting Iowa and Minnesota. IU has home court advantage after visiting both teams earlier in the month and is looking to continue its newfound winning ways after beating long time rival Purdue last weekend. \n"It was great to get a win, it was great to gain some confidence and now the most difficult thing is knowing we can compete with these teams and now doing it," coach Katie Weismiller said. "We've seen all these teams, we know their level of play and we are going to have to up our play and bring down our unforced errors. But we know that we can compete with them." \nThe Hoosiers' first match of the weekend will pair them against Iowa, whom IU beat after a two game comeback earlier in the season. The battle against Iowa gave IU few problems in the last three games of the match. Freshman outside hitter Christina Archibald and sophomore middle blocker Melissa Brewer scored 21 and 20 kills against the Hawkeyes. \n"The team played with a lot of confidence (against Iowa) and whenever we do that it's an opportunity for anyone to have a good night," Brewer said.\nThe Hawkeyes (I3-14, 1-9) broke their 10-game losing streak and won their first Big Ten match of the season in a win against Northwestern. The Hawkeyes have confidence and are preparing for a tough match with IU, said Iowa head coach Rita Crockett. \n"Indiana is a very scrappy team, and they are very well-coached," Crockett said. "We are going to have to go out and try to play hard. We go in of course being the underdog. Indiana beat us last time 3-2, and we were ahead the first two games, and they came back and won the next three. So we know that they are capable of playing fairly well against us." \nThe second threat of the weekend poses to be a bigger challenge for the Hoosiers, as they gear up to play Minnesota. Minnesota gave IU competition in their last meeting, playing to five games and powering over the Hoosiers in the end. \nMinnesota (11-7, 5-5) is a strong team. Senior powerhouse setter Lindsey Berg and middle hitter Stephanie Hagen gave the Gophers a boost in a victory against Illinois, who was fourth in the Big Ten. Berg has tallied 728 assists and 43 service aces for the season, while Hagen leads the team with 197 kills and 59 blocks. \nThe Hoosiers are looking at University Gym and their confidence from the Purdue victory as major advantages going into the weekend.\n"We are so confident," junior Hillary Toivonen said. "Ending the first half of the Big Ten with a win is huge, and we are ready for Minnesota and Iowa here. Our fan support definitely helps. Minnesota was a tough place to play, because they get a lot of fans. But we are ready to seek some revenge on them"
(10/22/01 6:09am)
The rivalry was in full swing Saturday as the women's volleyball team swept Purdue in three games to regain confidence after a four game losing streak. The team reclaimed the Monon Spike, a traveling volleyball trophy that represents the competition between the two teams. IU's record improves to 5-13, going 2-8 in the Big Ten with the win. Purdue falls to 2-15, going 1-9 in the conference.\nAfter a tough loss to Illinois last week the Hoosiers took a break from their usual scouting and practice exercises to try different tactics for the match up against the Boilermakers.\n"Typically we have a real elaborate scouting plan and we didn't give them a scouting plan for Purdue; we talked about our side and what we needed to do," coach Katie Weismiller said. "I think a lot of people might disagree with what happened (at practice), but we wouldn't let them out of practice till they accomplished some goals and we were there for some quite some time … we wouldn't let them quit and I think after that they came out and they knew that they could do it and they might have been tired, but I think that we cleared a hurdle last night in practice."\nIU charged out in game one to lead Purdue 6-2. The Boilermakers came back to take the lead, but the Hoosiers regrouped, tying the score at 12 after a kill from freshman Christina Archibald. The Boilermakers blazed ahead, causing IU to take a short timeout at 19-24. Purdue came back from the timeout to rack up numerous hitting errors, putting IU back into the game, down two points at 25-23. Senior Disney Bronnenberg and freshman Katie Pollom entered the game to aid the fighting Hoosiers and to push the score to 27-29. After a crucial timeout and a powerful kill by Pollom, IU went on a run to win 33-31. \nGame two did not give IU time to celebrate as Purdue stayed in step with the Hoosiers' score, not allowing IU to lead by more than a few points. IU gained the lead at 7-5, but Purdue attacked back with unstoppable blocking to move ahead 10-8. Tensions were high as Purdue contested referee calls and both teams competed at their highest levels. The score was tied at 21, but IU regained the lead and wouldn't allow Purdue to lead for the rest of the match. IU won 30-23. \nIU confidently began game three with an 11-4 lead sending Purdue scraping and diving to the ground in an effort to save kills. Long rallies forced the Hoosiers to play at their best, causing senior Crecia Keithley and junior Hillary Toivonen to pounce on the floor numerous times for saves. The Hoosiers outscored and outplayed Purdue to end the game 30-22. \nThe Hoosiers unstoppable playing held Purdue's kill tallies to single digits and Boilermaker sophomore leader Eryn Leach to only five kills for the evening. \n"We came our here knowing that Indiana was going to be a good team and we always have to be ready for them, they played a good game," Leach said.\n"This is a turning point in the Big Ten, we are going into the second half of the season, it's going to work really well for us," said sophomore Melissa Brewer. "Getting a win away, beating Purdue, and doing it in three games, I mean, what more could you ask for"
(10/19/01 5:53am)
The Hoosiers are out for a win as they travel to Lafayette Saturday to carry on IU's long-standing rivalry with Purdue. IU was defeated Wednesday by top ranked Illinois, who out-scored and heavily blocked the Hoosiers in three games. After the mid-week loss the Hoosiers carry their 4-13 overall and 1-8 conference record to Purdue, who was defeated in three games by Wisconsin last Saturday. The Boilermakers fell to 2-13 overall and 1-7 in the Big Ten. \nAfter tough losses to Michigan and Michigan State during the weekend the Hoosiers are taking their mistakes and turning them into building blocks for their much-anticipated match against Purdue. \n"We are obviously disappointed that we lost, but we are looking to win this week," sophomore Anna Makowski said. "The Michigan game gave us another idea that we really can win and we just need to push to the end of the game." \nThe Boilermakers are also recovering from tough losses to top Big Ten teams, but are looking at the Hoosiers as a chance to regain confidence. \n"I feel like we've improved a lot from the beginning of the season, however, we play in a conference that leaves little room for any errors," Purdue head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer said. "We really just have to focus on what we are doing on our side of the net and execute. To be successful against Indiana we will need a total team effort." \nPurdue's team troubles have not stood in the way of individual player success, though. Two sophomore Boilermakers have stepped up to score in the double digits. Against Northwestern, Joanna Lowry had a standout performance as she led the team with 15 kills. In Purdue's last match Eryn Leach led Purdue with 11 kills in the effort against Wisconsin. \nThe in-state rivalry against IU and Purdue is a tradition that each varsity sport carries on. For women's volleyball, the rivalry started in 1975 with the first Purdue victory over IU. The win against Purdue Saturday would award the Hoosiers with the Monon Spike, a traveling volleyball trophy Purdue has had custody of after they defeated IU in five games last season. \n"I think (the rivalry is) definitely a big deal for us because we have a lot of Indiana people on our team and I know we have some freshman that are from out of state, but I think once we get them in the atmosphere of playing against our big rival everyone will instill that among the younger girls," junior Hillary Toivonen said. \nThe preparation has been tough for IU, but with sophomore powerhouse Melissa Brewer, who scored her 500th career kill against Illinois, and freshman newcomer Christina Archibald, who leads IU with 212 kills of the season, anything can happen. \n"As the season goes on we are getting better and better and I think that\'s the most frustrating thing. We are getting better as a team we are just making unforced errors at real key times for us," Head coach Katie Weismiller said. "We are working on how to finish a game; we are competing, we are in the matches, it doesn\'t matter who we play…we are doing everything except for finishing the match. When you look at the big picture it\'s Indiana against Purdue and that\'s a night that everyone gets up for no matter what"
(10/05/01 6:46am)
The women\'s volleyball record has not effected its spirits as the team hits the road this weekend. The Hoosiers will travel to Minnesota Friday to face Iowa on Saturday. IU is 3-8 overall and a disappointing 0-4 in the conference.\n"I think (the past weekend\'s matches) have taught us to really take from those experiences and move on," senior Meghan Stout said. "I think that we all have a different attitude now and I think it has inspired us because we know our potential and we know we are so much better than that."\nThe absence of junior setter Laurie Gardner hurt the Hoosiers Saturday. IU fell to Northwestern in four games. Head coach Katie Weismiller said Gardner will be back in action by the weekend.\nMinnesota won last season's meeting with IU, sweeping the Hoosiers in three games.\n"The No. 1 main thing that we are going to work on right now is our side of the court," Weismiller said. "Offensively we know that we can compete with anybody and so this week in practice we have been working really hard on our passing and serving." \nThe Gophers return to the court this weekend after losing two matches against Michigan and Michigan State. The team\'s record of 8-4 and 2-2 in conference matches gives them a slight advantage over the Hoosiers, after they defeated Iowa and Purdue. \nMinnesota packs a young team. Ten players are freshmen or sophomores, but they return four seniors. Among the senior force is setter Lindsay Berg, a two-time All-District selection, All-Big Ten and conference leader in service aces for three seasons. \nThe next challenge is Iowa; who also lost its last two matches against Michigan and Michigan State. The Hawkeyes\' season is off to a rough start with a 2-8 record (0-4 Big Ten). \nIowa has six newcomers and only two seniors, outside hitter Sara Meyerman and setter Larissa Lopes. Meyerman was named to the 2001 Preseason All- Big Ten team and posted 191 kills last season. Another Hawkeye to watch is junior Jamie Lansing, who recorded 12 kills and four blocks in Iowa\'s last game against Michigan State. \nThe challenges the team face have only brought on confidence.\n"Minnesota gets a lot of fan support and I really like playing there," junior Hillary Toivonen said. "It\'s good team atmosphere … we just need to go in there and do what we need to do. Iowa is a little more difficult place to play because they have a huge arena and they don\'t get a lot of fans. We just need to step up our communication and push through. No matter what happens Friday night, Saturday is a new day"
(10/02/01 5:00am)
The Little 500 Fall Cycling Series has two events down and one to go after completion of the Cyclocross Sunday night at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The series consists of three biking events: the Biathlon Sept. 23, the Cyclocross and a time trial Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Monroe State Forest. The events are open to any IU undergrad, many whom are in training for the Little 500 race. The series concludes Oct. 7 with a rider barbecue hosted by the IU Student Foundation, which coordinate all Little 500 events.\nThe series events not only offer experience for prospective Little 500 riders, but prizes for the top winners of the series. The 1st place overall male and female winners each receive a $250 scholarship from Bicycle Garage Inc. The individual second place overall male and female win official IU Cycling Club jerseys. The overall male and female teams win two 2001 men's or women's Little 500 bicycles each, and every event division winner receives official IU Cycling Club riding socks.\n"The series is insanely competitive," said graduate student Alex Ihnen, assistant director of the IUSF and Little 500 coordinator. "Many Little 5 riders don't compete because they don't want to show their competition how good they are," he said.\nThe first event of the series -- the Biathlon -- began with a one-mile run, followed by an 11-mile bike trek and finished with another one-mile run. The five divisions of competitors included women's individual, women's team, men's individual, men's team and coed team. The winners of the event were junior Katie Mackey, riding for Delta Gamma in the individual women's, junior Allison Ward and sophomore Sarah Rietman,l riding for Alpha Xi Delta in the women's team event. Pi Kappa Phi senior Brian Wire won the individual men's, and Alpha Tau Omega sophomores Stan Regan and Michael Kehrberg took in the men's team and senior Katie Zeller and junior Tom Moore taking the co-ed division.\nThe second event, the Cyclocross, was primarily an obstacle course while carrying bikes. Riders dismount and remount their Little 500 bikes as they and their bikes jump hay bales and climb stadium steps. The riders competed in two-person teams completing one lap at a time of the 12-lap race. \nCyclocross is regarded as the most dangerous event of the series because of the hay bales, stadium steps and high riding speeds. It was apparent in the first seconds of the men's race that injury was inevitable. The winners of the men's division, senior Charlie Metzger and sophomore Brad Davies riding for the Dodds House prevailed over the course with an astounding time of 26:15, nearly 15 seconds faster than their competitors.\nThe risk of the race didn't seem to bother third place finisher, senior Michael Choinacky, who represented Teter. \n"I think this race is fun and I did it a couple of years ago and I really liked it and it's tough so not everyone can do it ... it might scare some people away," Choinacky said. "It's different, more interesting and a change of pace from training."\nThe change of pace and spirit of the race attracted Phi Mu riders junior Analisa Dziedziejko and senior Jane Terfler who won the women's race by a mere two seconds. The strategy for the tough course was to be aware of the courses' obstacles.\n"Basically (our strategy was) just to be cautious out there and not get hurt," Dziedziejko said. "At this point we aren't that scared to go out there and have fun." \nThe women's race wasn't as competitive as the men's 18-team turnout; only four teams came out to race in the women's division. \n"We were hoping for more women's teams, but some people didn't show up tonight," said IUSF committee member and junior Sarah Ferraro. "There will definitely be more coming out for the Little 500 race"
(09/26/01 4:02am)
Getting ready to play No. 9 Wisconsin Friday and Northwestern Saturday might require intense preparation. But the volleyball team said it has no doubt it can hold its own and prove it has what it takes to be a winning program.\nThe team trains for hours a day to develop communication, skills, physical strength and the mental aspects of the game. Being mentally prepared is one important aspect to the team. \n"So much of the game is mental. We focus on taking out distractions and to work together for a common goal," coach Katie Weismiller said. "We work on how to approach practice and matches and how to be relaxed when you play."\nThe team takes one hour each week for "inner-athlete," a program devised for each player to focus on the mental aspects of play. They do everything from visualization to role-playing, Weismiller said. \n"We work on situations to better the team…we do visualizations. 'How do I focus on the goal at hand?'…How to better communicate," Weismiller said.\nWorking on mental strength has made a difference in the first year Weismiller and her staff has implemented the plan in the fitness routine. Weismiller said many matches have been lost because of mental breakdowns and is sure the new program will make players stronger and more confident. \nSenior Crecia Keithley has seen changes in her game since participating in the mental training.\n"It's one of those things that you have to force yourself to do and believe, but it conquers your mind, and in sports it's 90 percent of it," Keithley said. "We are getting that mental advantage over the teams that we play."\nThe mental aspect of the game is something sophomore Monique Pritz said she feels is just as vital as physical training. \n"Mental is just as important, it gets you relaxed before a game and it gives you confidence," she said. "I think about how I'm going to block and hit…and play my best." \nThe Hoosiers said they believe their mental and physical game is ready for the strenuous competition, as long as they don't lose their mental edge. \n"Mental is a higher percentage (of the game) then physical because if you lose your mental game then your physical game breaks down and you have to be there mentally to play the best that you can," Pritz said.
(09/19/01 5:30am)
The women's volleyball team had few problems holding its ground Tuesday against Indiana State University. The Hoosiers got a quick lead in the first game, dominating the Sycamores by as many as 10 points. After the first timeout, the Hoosiers came back to the court with a 12-5 lead. Sophomore and outside hitter Nikki Hill recorded 13 kills in three games. \n"All week we have been working on lines ... most teams don't scout lines so it was wide open for me," Hill said. "We had to respect this team ... but we made them play our game."\nSenior Disney Bronnenberg kept the ball alive each play and added the score with a gutsy dive to push the Indiana score to 23. The Hoosiers won the first game of the match with nearly double the score of ISU, 30-17.\nISU came out quickly in the second game with a three point lead, but it was the largest margin they would hold in the second game. IU eventually tied the score at 10 and fought the Sycamores. ISU gave the Hoosiers trouble with wild passes over the net, but also committed several errors. \nThe first timeout of the second game came with the Hoosiers leading ISU 26-20. Coming back from the timeout ISU senior Cheryl Berg came out swinging and added one point to the ISU score, but IU answered back with an ace serve by sophomore Melissa Brewer. The Hoosiers won the second game 30-23. New NCAA rules this season added rally scoring and playing to 30 points, but the change didn't seem to affect the Hoosiers. \n"You are to push past it, in practice we concentrate on playing points two to 14, and then go from there. You have to play one point at a time," Brewer said.\nThe third game offered a new change of pace adding sophomore Katie Pollom, senior Laurie Gardner and freshman Stephanie Blevins to the lineup. The Sycamores lead for the majority of the third game, but the Hoosiers quickly tied the score at 13. The teams then flip-flopped for the lead and tied at 16, but a forceful kill by Pollom inched the Hoosiers to an 18-17 lead. \nThe Sycamores were no match for the Hoosiers, who lead 25-22 at the timeout because of more ISU errors. Following two short timeouts IU lead 28-26. The last serve of the evening by ISU bounced out of bounds and the Hoosiers ended the third game with a score of 30-26 to win the match in three games.\nCoach Katie Weismiller said she was pleased with the Hoosiers effort. \n"Having a mid-week match we had to challenge our athletes," Weismiller said. \nAfter tonight's performance, Weismiller said she is looking forward to the upcoming Big Ten Conference play. \n"I couldn't be happier. Our team is really understanding communication ... we are getting better. We gained confidence and we know that we can be a strong team," she said. "The last few practices have been all out. I think that we are really going to surprise some teams"
(08/31/01 5:27am)
The women's volleyball team starts off their season by hosting the Blimpie/Holiday Inn Classic at Assembly Hall this weekend with their season opener 7 p.m. Friday. \nThe Hoosiers continue Saturday with almost back-to-back games starting their first game at noon and their second game of the day at 7 p.m. \nThe Hoosiers' first match of the season pairs them against the University of Maryland, which is the first meeting between the two teams. Maryland's lineup consists of four returning starters and All-ACC candidate Carey Brennan, who had a record-setting season for Maryland last year. Brennan also led the team in kills and digs.\nThe Hoosiers come back for more on Saturday starting with a match against Bowling Green State University who was defeated by the Hoosiers last season. \nThe Hoosiers beat the Falcons in four out of five games and had 59 kills in their season-opening tournament, the IU Credit Union/Indiana Invitational, last season. \nBowling Green has six seniors returning to the roster, but it doesn't seem to faze the Hoosiers who have been preparing for the opening with two-a-day practices, an intrasquad scrimmage Aug. 25 and concentration on their weaknesses according to head coach Katie Weismiller. \n"We have been working on our outside court game and have been more concentrated on getting ourselves ready," Weismiller said. \nThe last match of the tournament is against the Lady Vols from Tennessee, who boast the top setter in the SEC conference, Erica Lear. The Vols also lost one player from their previous season's roster, which did not necessitate much rebuilding.\n "We are really more concerned with our side of the court," Weismiller said about the Hoosiers preparation. "As the season goes on, normally we would watch film on the teams and strategize according to their players, but since this is the first game we are working on our own game."\n Senior Meghan Stout said the concentration has been on the Hoosier's game. \n"We have been working on our combinations and our communication," Stout said.\n"The good thing about a tournament is the girls have time on Friday to scout the teams that we will play," Weismiller said.\nThe Hoosier team is excited; Senior Laurie Gardner said that the team has a lot of confidence in themselves to make this tournament a good first step. \n"I think that we can expect to come out the winners of this tournament," she said. "It's going to be a great first tournament for us. A lot of us will be excited to get this first one out of the way." \nThe Hoosiers are also looking to break one record that has nothing to do with volleyball statistics. \n"We want more people to come out to the games this season and break all attendance records," Gardner said.
(08/30/01 5:11am)
For senior Disney Bronnenberg, "There's no place like home." \nBronnenberg, a Bloomington native, spent the first three years of her college volleyball career playing for Kansas State University, a member of the Big 12 conference. \nIt's rare for a senior athlete to transfer, but Bronnenberg said although the transition was tough, she couldn't be happier to be back in Bloomington.\n"I just couldn't stay away," she said.\nThe transfer from Kansas State to Indiana was not hard, despite rigid NCAA rules, she said. Since the Hoosiers are not in the same conference as the Wildcats, there was no problem getting released from former Kansas State head coach Jim McLaughlin and the Big 12 conference. \n"I wanted a school with a balance between athletics and academics...and nothing against K-State, but IU could provide that for me," Bronnenberg said. "IU has a great volleyball program and great academics. Everyone at Indiana cares so much; the coaches, girls (on the team), athletic director, the administration. The girls have been so supportive and welcoming. It feels like home." \nHead coach Katie Weismiller said she is impressed with the way Bronnenberg has come into the team and fit in without problems. \n"Disney has come in and done a nice job," Weismiller said. "She has experience as a senior and it's different (than a freshman), she came in and has played with other teams. She runs the court ... as the season grows I think that she is going to become more of a leader." \nFellow teammates said Bronnenberg, although not the tallest on the roster at 5'9", makes of the biggest impressions on the court. \nThe first words that came out of senior Meghan Stout's mouth about Bronnenberg was that she is a "spark plug" on the court. \n"She knows the game well. She's a smart player and she knows how to win," Stout said. \nAs a setter on the team, Bronnenberg has a responsibility of running the court and setting up plays for other teammates. \n"Victoria (Zimmerman) and Laurie (Gardner) are two of the best setters that I have ever played with," Bronnenburg said. "There are high expectations at IU and I like that... Coach Katie has really high expectations for setters ... being a setter is like being the quarterback to volleyball"
(08/27/01 5:20am)
The women's volleyball team tuned up for the season with an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday. The rain didn't stop the Hoosiers' as they warmed up for their first scrimmage in University Gym. The scrimmage had the two teams cheering each other on with screams, high fives and encouraging advice. \n"We are really starting to gel as a team," head coach Katie Weismiller said. "The team chemistry is great and they didn't have any trouble playing against each other. They all remained friends."\nThe teams were red versus white, and Weismiller said the two teams are not a preview of who will start in the upcoming season. \n"We looked through the past two weeks to divide the teams," Weismiller said, "it was a matter of seeing what we need."\nIn collegiate volleyball matches, games are played until a team has won three out of five rounds, but Saturday was played differently for the team to get in extra practice. \nThe white team won the first three out of five games. They also played by the new collegiate volleyball rules that were changed this year. A big rule change is scoring, which has been changed to rally scoring. This entails a point at every sideout opposed to the former method that only gave points to the team that served. \nThe third game of the match offered up a close game with the white team leading 27-25. They then pulled ahead to a 29-25 lead and were one point away from a win when the red team used blocking to bring them back into the game. But red failed to win with a faulty serve and delivered white their third win of the afternoon 30-27. \nThe fourth game consisted of both teams flip-flopping the lead the entire game. Red claimed the game with a 30-28 win over white. The fifth game with was only played to 15 points, and ended with white's fourth win of the day. \n"They are all such good friends, and it didn't matter that they were split into two teams, because you can see they were all congratulating each other afterwards and stretching with each other," Weismiller said after the match. \nSophomore Melissa Brewer agreed. \n"We had a great time. We tried to make this as game like as possible…it was a great showing." \nSophomore Anna Makowski and Brewer said they couldn't wait for the season to start. \nThey said they look forward to conference competition.\n"Any Big Ten game, but the first game of the season is always the best. We have been working so hard," they said.