249 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(09/28/01 5:22am)
Sally Schulte, assistant coach of the women's volleyball team, says it's good to be home for the second round of Big Ten play that will take place this weekend.\n"Having the home court advantage should really help out a lot," Schulte said. "We need the fan support."\nCoach Katie Weismiller shared Schulte's sentiments.\n"We really need to get fans in the stands and get this place loud, to take advantage of having the home court," she said. We also have to protect our home court and play aggressively."\nThe Hoosiers said they are concerned with Wisconsin's offense. The Badgers are 2-0 in the Big Ten and already have had two players named Big Ten Player of the Week.\nSenior Laurie Gardner is excited about the Wisconsin game this weekend. Her sister, Korie Gardner, will be on the other side of the net this weekend playing for Wisconsin.\n"It's got to be different to have your sister across the net but I think she prepares for Wisconsin just like she prepares for any other game," Weismiller said.\n"I don't think about it when I'm playing," Gardner said, "I would say we're competitive, but not necessarily with each other. When we talk on the phone, there's not much we say about volleyball."\nGardner thinks if they keep their confidence high this weekend they can beat Wisconsin Friday night, and Northwestern Saturday, especially with their recent blocking improvement.\n"Northwestern is a good blocking team," Gardner said, "But we have shown that we're a great blocking team, so I think it will be a good match up."\nNorthwestern has won their first two Big Ten games against Michigan and Michigan State.\n"Northwestern's middle blocker is very good," Schulte said. "They have a young setter, but are still very strong."\n"They are coming off two big wins and feeling confident," Weismiller said. "We have to step up and play. The one thing about the Big Ten you learn early is that we have to respect every team. Northwestern has shown that 2001 is a different year for them and they're ready to play."\nFreshman Victoria Zimmerman said the weekends games are going to be tough.\n"Wisconsin is experienced but Northwestern has been blocking a lot of teams really well," Zimmerman said. "We actually are turning into a really good blocking team, we out blocked Penn State last weekend. If we can pass well, we can be an amazing team."\nFriday night's game is also Nike High School Night at University Gymnasium. High school volleyball teams around the state are invited to attend the game, with chances to win different Nike attire. The NCAA restricts what IU can and can't do for the students because they might be prospective athletes. The teams are encouraged to come and receive a special group rate for tickets.
(09/21/01 4:34am)
The Big Ten season starts tonight for the volleyball team, and it said it is psyched and prepared to show what it's made of.\nHaving the last four games postponed has not hurt the team's readiness to play. In fact, coach Katie Weismiller said the team has become better prepared for the two important games this weekend.\n"I think the time off from games has given us a lot of good practices," Weismiller said. "And I think the teams we have played have been great practice for us as well."\nThe Hoosiers left for the weekend Thursday after practice. The first game of the weekend takes place Friday night against Penn State. Penn State was ranked third in the Big Ten last season and will go into play Friday with a record of 6-1.\nAfter flying into Columbus Friday night, the Hoosiers will get some rest before taking on Ohio State Saturday evening. The Buckeyes finished fourth last season in the Big Ten and are carrying an undefeated season of 8-0.\n"Each of these games will be tough for different reasons," Weismiller said, "Penn State is kind of big and they're going to try and overpower you, and Ohio State is really fast."\nSenior Crecia Keithley said she agreed. \n"Penn State will be the harder game, but Ohio State is the more mental game for us."\nBoth games will be tough, said senior Meghan Stout.\n"We have been practicing really hard," Stout said, "Our practices have been very intense and that's going to help us this weekend against the two teams."\nDespite the fact that Buckeyes are undefeated and Penn State has only lost one game, the Hoosiers said they could not be more excited to start the Big Ten season.\n"I think we're more excited than nervous for the weekend," Keithley said. "It's fun to start the Big Ten. We have a really great team so it's going to be great to see where we measure up against these teams."\n"We've had a lot of time off from games, it seems, but it's good that we ended on a win," Stout said. "I know we've improved and this will show what we're made of."\nWeismiller said she is confident in the team's performance and has noted a lot of the players' abilities improving in practice.\n"We've seen a lot of different players step up recently in a lot of different aspects of the game," Weismiller said. "As I look out at the team there's quite a few of the players that have improved and continue to do so."\nWeismiller also said the team is going into this weekend with a few things on their side.\n "We're coming off two wins and this is a great opportunity to start the Big Ten season and to start it fresh," Weismiller said. "We're going in with a clean slate, it's the Big Ten and that's what we look forward to. I can guarantee that this team's psyched and ready to play"
(09/14/01 5:49am)
Sophomore Melissa Brewer said it was easy to chose where she would attend college. She has always lived in Bloomington and said she plans to spend the rest of her life here. The 6'1" middle blocker said she loves her hometown. That was the deciding factor in where she would attend college.\n"Pretty much, if they offered me a spot on the team, I was coming here," Brewer said, "I didn't even look at any other schools. I just left it up to IU."\nBrewer said she noticed a major difference between playing for Bloomington North High School and playing as a Hoosier.\n"The pace is three times as fast in college," Brewer said, "You've also got more than one good player on your team. There are a lot of different players on a college team that can do many different things. \n"You spend a lot more time with these girls. We're all best friends in college; and in high school you only see each other at practice, and that's about it."\nLots of sleep and good nutrition play a big part in Brewer's life off the court, she said. The team members had a cooking class where they learned about nutrition and how to eat well. \nBrewer said anything she can do to help the team is what she needs to work on.\n"This last weekend, my blocking was not very good," Brewer said. "That's something I need to work on to help the team play better defense. Also, I need to work on my quickness."\nCoach Katie Weismiller said Brewer has a competitive spirit.\n"The thing with Melissa is, she listens. She really applies what we try and do with her," Weismiller said. "You want her on your side of the court. She's going to find a way to win. I hope that continues to be contagious and that the rest of the players pick that up."\nSophomore Katie Pollom said she likes the way Brewer communicates on the court and brings the team together.\n"She's very competitive, but also very team-oriented," Pollom said. "She always puts the team first and is very humble."\nBrewer may be competitive, but sophomore Nicole Hill said she mainly brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the team.\n"She can bring leadership at times when you won't expect it," Hill said. "Brewer is a very smart hitter. She's tall and dynamic so she gets her kills that way, but she also hits all kinds of smart shots that you can learn from."\n Freshman Karla Crose echoed Hill's remarks.\n "She brings so much excitement and pumps other people up with how she plays," Crose said. "She also supports other people. She's an all-around good player."\nTeammates said Brewer's house is one of the team's favorite hang out spots.\n"Everybody loves to go to her house," Hill said. "It's the first place everyone thinks of when we're wondering where we're going to go that night."\nJunior Hillary Toivonen and senior Laurie Gardner are two teammates Brewer said she looks up to.\n"There's a lot of leaders on our team, but Hillary and Laurie really took me in when I came here. They've taught me a lot about the game," Brewer said. "They know they can give me feedback and tell me what I need to do and where I need to be. They're just people I can really look up to."\nWeismiller said she notices how much Brewer loves the game.\n"She comes in and is very laid back but very focused," Weismiller said. "She just loves the sport right now and loves to play. She has such a desire and will to win and just does a nice job with her composure on the court."\nBrewer battles volleyball and academics but said the athletic department does an excellent job of helping Hoosier players.\n"If you need tutors, you get tutors," Brewer said. "And coach Katie helps you all the time, if you need help with a class or something, she's totally supportive of that."\nMedical school is next on Brewer's list after college. Her current plans are to become an anesthesiologist or dermatologist. As for volleyball, Brewer said she is far from being finished.\n"I want to play after college, whether it be parks or (recreation), or whatever comes along," Brewer said. "Just to stop playing would be awful, and I'd miss it way too much"
(09/06/01 4:00am)
Take "Dead Poets Society," "The Skulls" and "Cruel Intentions" and put them in a blender. Out comes "O," the latest remake of William Shakespeare's "Othello." \nSet in a private high school in South Carolina, "O" was actually finished in 1998, but the outbreak of school shootings, including Columbine, prompted Hollywood to hold back the movie for two years. For that reason, one will be surprised to see that it is not even remotely as violent as most scary teen movies such as "Scream." \nJosh Hartnett plays the jealous and threatening Hugo, while Martin Sheen portrays his father, Coach Duke. Although Hugo plays his best on the court, he cannot measure up to team MVP and NBA hopeful Odin James (Mekhi Phifer). Julia Stiles comes in as Odin's girlfriend, Desi, the dean's daughter. \nViewing the trailer for the movie, many people might have thought "O" was going to be a rip-off of "Save The Last Dance." But the racial difference between Desi and Odin is an issue only with her father.\nThe real conflict in "O" is Hugo's plot to ruin people's lives in a clever and evil way. Hartnett plays a very convincing Hugo, making even his most loyal fans hate him. \nYou might find yourself thinking about this movie days after you've seen it. It's disturbing and leaves you with an almost eerie feeling. The entire movie is worth seeing just for the powerful ending and a monologue that Phifer delivers with perfection. \nDon't go expecting to laugh a lot; don't go expecting to see an epic Hollywood film. Instead, be prepared for a movie with excellent acting, a decent soundtrack, but some scenes that could have been fixed in the two years before the movie was released.
(09/05/01 3:52am)
Many might say being a biology major is tough work. Put that on top of being a member of the women's cross country team, the indoor/outdoor track team and battling an injury from last season, and more pressure arises. But junior Allyson Hammond seems to pull it all off.\nHammond attended Bellmont High School in Decatur, Ind., where she placed ninth in the state cross country meet her sophomore and senior years.\nAs a junior in high school, she earned first team All-State honors.\nLast season at the Big Ten Championship, Hammond finished in the top five. She placed 48th at the 2000 NCAA Cross Country Championships. \n"Last year, she really wanted to go to Nationals and with her talent, she made it," coach Judy Bogenschutz said. "She's really focused on running and she wants to be good. Six of seven days she thinks, good today, better tomorrow."\nTeammate and junior Jessica Comfort said Hammond is always bettering herself for running.\n"Living with Allyson, I can see that she is a very determined and motivated runner. She takes her training through everything," Comfort said. "She eats well, gets enough rest and everything about running she takes with her on and off the course.\n"You can tell she's a serious athlete by the way she lives."\nDespite her determination, Hammond's hopes and dreams came to a halt with a foot injury last year. \n"I had the best season of my life and then I got injured. It happened right at the end of cross country last year, and I knew it was coming. As soon as Nationals were over with I knew I needed a break," Hammond said. "Last year all I did was cross train, pool workouts and elliptical workouts."\n"It has effected her a lot," Comfort said, "I know it has effected her mentally but she is trying really hard to not let it get to her too much, that it will effect her performance once she can run again."\nHammond's coach said she has faith in her as well.\n"If all goes well and she stays injury free this season, there's no reason she can't go back to Nationals," Bogenschutz said.\nIt has been discouraging to Hammond to see her teammates run and compete while she has to sit out, Hammond said.\n"It's been hard being injured, you really feel out of the loop when you don't even get to go to practice," Hammond said. "I went from being at a really high spot on the team to a really low spot. It's been difficult to sit out and watch everyone else, but my family, teammates and coach have been really supportive. \n"Right now, I just want to be able to stay positive and take one day at a time."\nHammond said she has confidence in her teammates for this season. \n"Our team should be really good this year," Hammond said, "We have a lot of really great freshman that are coming in that make our team really solid. Everyone has improved from last year and it's really got me excited. We came back from summer and everyone really stepped it up."\nSome of Hammond's teammates went to watch her run at Nationals last year, which proves the team's support for her, and each other, she said.\n"Everybody on the team gets along really well. We have a lot of people that push each other; it's not just one person out there running by themselves," Hammond said. "We're close. We're teammates, but we're not only teammates, we're also friends."\nNot only is Hammond busy with her running career, but also with academics. She is studying biology with hopes to someday follow in her father's footsteps and become a dentist. \nHammond earned Academic All-Big Ten status her sophomore year, and of the women who ran with her, the grade point average was 3.54 between the seven.\n"Allyson is a wonderful student," Bogenschutz said. "She is academically strong, and very conscientious of running and academics."\n"I study more when I am in season," Hammond said. "You have to learn to use your time wisely and you're forced to manage all your time well when you're so busy with activities."\nHammond attributes her success to her family and coaches, but most of the credit Hammond gives to God.\n"I know that without God, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish the things that I have," Hammond said. "God has blessed me with a talent."\nAs for the future, Hammond has high hopes of running at Nationals again.\n"I would definitely love to be an All-American in Cross Country, and in Indoor and Outdoor Track. \nThat's always been a goal of mine," Hammond said.\n"Any time you mix talent, a good attitude and desire together, that's a total package," Bogenschutz said. "Allyson's an example of a total package"
(09/05/01 3:47am)
If there's anything sophomore Katie Pollom brings to the volleyball team besides experience and athletic ability, it must be her enthusiasm.\n"I think first you have to look at Katie's spirit," coach Katie Weismiller said. "She's got a great outlook on life. Katie is almost always in a good mood and that brings so much to the team." \nThis 6'3" Indianapolis native graduated from Cathedral High School, where she was a four-year varsity starter in volleyball. Pollom, a middle blocker on the team, was an Indiana All-Star as a senior and in 1999 received the Class 3A IHSAA Mental Attitude Award. \nShe attributes her accomplishments to her coaches and family.\nPollom's father played basketball for Hanover College, and her grandfather played basketball for Butler. Pollom tried basketball in high school, but found she liked volleyball better. \n"I played basketball for two years in high school," Pollom said. "I wasn't aggressive enough as I needed to be on the basketball court, so I decided to focus on volleyball."\nPollom began playing volleyball in the fifth grade and started club volleyball in the eighth grade. \nAfter high school, Pollom wanted to play for a Big Ten school.\n"I love the competition in the Big Ten," Pollom said. "I also chose IU because it's close to home. I really like the coaches and the team as well."\nAn injury kept Pollom red-shirted last season. Two stress fractures in her back kept Pollom from being able to play as a freshman.\n"Katie has learned so much," Weismiller said. "I think she learned a lot sitting out and not being able to go through the drills or practice. It really gave her the want and desire to be on the court. \n"A lot of players take that for granted and she knows what its like to be on the sidelines. She's worked really hard to be in the position that she's in today."\nHer teammates had compliments for Pollom on the court as well.\n"More than anything, Katie is a great offensive player," junior Laurie Gardner said.\nPollom said she was excited to play in her first college game this past weekend. She said although college volleyball is a lot of tough work, it's worth it just to have the experience. \n Weismiller said she has seen Pollom improve throughout last year and said she is impressed with where her abilities are today.\n "A year ago, I might have been doubtful that she would step on the court this year at this point in time, but now she's looking at a starting position, and certainly providing us with a lot more offense," Weismiller said.\nLike many athletes, Pollom has goals for the team and herself.\n"I definitely hope to make it to the NCAA tournament this year, and to get as far as we can go. We have a strong team this year. We're a little older than we were last year and we've got a lot of potential with this team," Pollom said. "I hope to be a leader even though I'm young, and to help the team in any way I can by being an offensive threat and a strong blocker, are some of my goals."\nWeismiller said she believes Pollom has good leadership qualities as well.\n"She's a leader to some extent, even though just a freshman on the court," Weismiller said.\nIn high school, Pollom earned Academic All-State Honorable Mention. Now in college, although studying with an undeclared major, Pollom has to work even harder at grades, she said.\n"It's difficult, I definitely have to budget my time," Pollom said. "It makes me get things done because I know I have to do my homework."\nPollom is often seen joking with her team, but her teammates also said she knows when to get down to be business and be serious.\n"She's just a great girl," Gardner said. "She's such a fun person to have on the team and she makes me laugh. Katie brings a lot of humor to practices."\n"You look at her personality and athletic ability, and she's quite an individual," Weismiller said.
(08/24/01 4:29am)
Nine underclassmen are not going to keep the 2001 volleyball team from being successful and having great chemistry.\n"This year is actually like a repeat of last year with so many underclassmen, but we are more experienced," Coach Katie Weismiller said. "We have five of six returning starters, and when you look at us on the court, we look like we've aged. We truly look much more mature than we were a year ago."\nWeismiller also believes the team is much more physical.\n"We're touching higher, we're reaching higher, and we're faster," Weismiller said, "You'll see that offensively we're probably better than we've ever been."\nEven though the coaches aren't allowed to have hands on practice with players during the summer, the volleyball team has managed to work hard. "They've worked really hard on their own, getting into shape and being ready to step on the court in much better volleyball shape than in the past," Weismiller said.\n"Our biggest concern this season is the same as any other team, and that's to stay injury free. Injuries a lot of times can't be controlled so it's a big concern," Weismiller said, "The chemistry with this team will not be a problem at all. Adding chemistry is going to help win more matches than a year ago. The team chemistry is already starting to gel."\n"We're close friends," Freshman Christina Archibald said, "We get along off the court just as well as we do when we're on the court."\nNot only are there nine underclassmen, but also a transfer student from Kansas State. Senior Disney Bronnenberg, originally from Bloomington, set a NCAA record with 15.54 assists per game and was named to the 1999 First-Team All-Big 12 squad. During Bronnenberg's junior year at Kansas State she helped lead the team to a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2000 NCAA Tournament. This year however, she made the decision to come back to her hometown and play for the Hoosiers. \n"It was a very tough decision to make, especially after establishing roots in a place for three years. I finally decided that this was the right place for me," Bronnenberg said. Bronnenberg doesn't mind playing with so many underclassmen, and even looks at it as a good experience. "Working with the underclassman and dealing with the transition of my transfer has really forced me to mature in a lot of different ways. I think that's one of the things I can bring to this team is a little experience, little maturity, and I think the underclassman are great. They're fresh and excited to play."\nFreshman Christina Archibald from Belleville, Ill. will be a contributor in deciding the success of this year's team. This past May in the tryouts for the Junior Olympic National Team, Archibald reached the second round. This freshman, with impressive high school records, chose IU because of its great coaching staff.\n"The players are awesome to get along with," Archibald said, "It's a much more high level volleyball than what I'm used to and so much more upbeat. Overall though, I've been having so much fun here with the team."\n"I just love the girls on the team. They have been so welcoming to me and to the other new comers," Bronnenberg said, "The main focus off the court has definitely been team chemistry and bonding us as a team. We spend a lot of time together off the court and we've done a lot of different things to help the chemistry of the team."\nOff the court the IU women's volleyball team has participated in other activities together. One activity was volunteering to participate in the Adopt-A-Road program. The team walked up and down the road they adopted, picked up trash, and recycled what they could.\n"We also had a great promotional day where we went out to different parts of the town and passed out schedules and posters and that was a great time for the team to really bond," Bronnenberg said.\nThe season kicks off with the Blimpie/Holiday Inn Classic Tournament on the Hoosiers home court. The first game will be against Maryland and will take place 7 p.m. August 31.\n"The most important and difficult match for us will be the first one," Weismiller said, "We're more concerned this year about our side of the court, and how we play together. We're truly looking at every match, one match at a time"
(04/27/01 5:51am)
The season's injuries haven't kept the morale of the women's crew team down. Team members say their spirits are high as ever as they prepare for the Big Ten Championship Saturday.\n"There were a lot of injuries this year that made the season difficult at times, but as a team we have grown a lot and really progressed," sophomore Danielle Bird said.\nThe University of Mich. will play host to the event at their new boathouse at Belleville Lake in Belleville, Michigan. The biggest change in the Big Ten Championship this year will be the scoring. All six events, including varsity and novice races, will count toward the final score. In previous years, only varsity events counted toward the final score.\nSeven teams are participating in the championship -- Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin, which are ranked nationally, Minnesota, which will be competing for the first time, and IU, which will be competing for the second time.\n"We just want to row well and be competitive on Saturday," Bird said. "We want to give the ranked teams some competition." \nCoach Mark Wilson said the team has been practicing since Aug. 28, and they have been preparing for the Big Ten Championship all year. Each race at home and away prepared them for the next, helping them to improve in each race. \nSenior Beth Lund, All-Big Ten women's rowing, said she felt confident with the last few weeks' practices.\n"We've made a lot of changes and I'm confident with those changes," Lund said. "I think the entire team is excited about Saturday."\nWilson said he believes the Big Ten is one of the strongest rowing conferences in the country. \n"With five of the seven teams ranked and IU only in our second year, we aren't sure what to expect on Saturday," Wilson said. "It would be great to upset one of the ranked teams."\nWilson and the team said they were pleased with the support this year and thank anyone who was a part of the support.\n"Women's rowing appreciates the support this year," Wilson said. "There were three home events and it was nice to have supporters there for the team. The team has worked extremely hard and have been getting very focused. I feel we will be prepared for a great championship on Saturday"
(04/24/01 5:19am)
Junior Susan Woessner, who will compete in the World University Games, said she still can't believe where swimming has taken her.\n"I'm not sure it's really hit me yet," Woessner said about the Games, to take place in Beijing. \nThe Dayton, Ohio, native began swimming competitively late in her high school career. Woessner said she considered herself lucky to have a spot on IU's team and chose the school because of its athletic and academic reputation. As a freshman, she couldn't swim the 100-yard backstroke in less than a minute. \nNow she holds the school record in that event in 54.11 seconds -- one of six in her name. \nAt the U.S. Swimming Nationals in Austin, Texas, March 27 through April 2, she proved she was an asset to the team, finishing seventh in the 100-meter backstroke. The top two college-enrolled swimmers advanced to the World University Games, where Woessner will be swimming the 100-meter backstroke. \nWoessner will attend camp in Colorado Springs with about 40 other swimmers from the United States. This orientation camp will introduce Woessner to her new coaches and teammates. She said she plans to train all summer for the event and will travel to China on Aug. 18.\n"I want to hold Susan back a bit since the games are so late in the summer," coach Dorsey Tierney said. "Some of her training this summer will be low intensity. We don't want to work her too hard this summer and have her worn out for China. She needs to be ready both physically and mentally."\nAt the NCAAs, Woessner was named an All-American, taking seventh in the 100-yard backstroke and honorable mention in the 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 free relay. She was also unanimously chosen as next season's team captain.\n"Susan is so supportive of her teammates, which in return, earns support for her. Her perception of her teammates and insight on people around her is mature for her age," Tierney said. "This has helped her gain respect from the rest of the girls."\nWoessner's teammates complimented her success and interaction with the team.\n"It's incredible how far she has come so quickly," senior Jenn Cristy said. "Susan is one of the hardest workers on the team and she deserves everything she has accomplished. It's amazing what she\'s done, and Susan isn't even at the peak of what she has the potential to do. I'm very excited for her and this opportunity she has."\nTierney said that when Woessner swims, she swims to win, and no expectations or limits are put on her abilities for the World University Games. \n"I think it will be a lot of fun and a great opportunity, no matter how well I do while I'm there," Woessner said.\nTierney said Woessner might have started swimming later than most, but she is still a good athlete who is physically strong and an intelligent swimmer.\n"Susan is also a very well-balanced swimmer," Tierney said, "When she comes to practice, she leaves everything else outside the door, and when she leaves the pool, practices are left as well. She is a very gifted athlete both physically and mentally."\nWoessner said she didn't have to think twice about to whom she contributed most of her success.\n"No question, I contribute my success to Coach Tierney and the team. Everything the team accomplished this year was a team effort. We were really united as a team, and everyone has been very supportive and excited for me, for my trip to the World University Games"