New swim coach brings high hopes
The newest and most impressive addition to the men's swim team isn't a freshman, but a well versed veteran of collegiate swimming.
The newest and most impressive addition to the men's swim team isn't a freshman, but a well versed veteran of collegiate swimming.
Much of the Hoosiers success this season can be credited to assistant coach Cydryce Carter, who at her first year of coaching at IU, has improved the Hoosiers' defense and blocking -- two main reasons for the team's turnaround.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Last week in practice, coach Gerry DiNardo and his staff worked on IU's Big Ten-worst red zone offense (scoring 57.7 percent of the times in the red zone this season). This week, the team was perfect inside the Illinois 20-yard line.
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- This is definitely movie material -- and the stars are the never-say-die Anaheim Angels. They came out of nowhere to reach their first World Series, rallying past every team in their way. Their rookie pitcher wins Game 7. And the best hitter in the world watches from the losers' dugout, knowing he was once just six outs away from winning the only title he has ever wanted.
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. The eighth-ranked Golden Gophers overpowered the Hoosiers 3-1 Saturday with long runs throughout the match. The 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 ended their fall rowing season on a successful note at the Head of the Elk Regatta Sunday. While Michigan State reigned supreme, the Hoosiers fared well in all of the races they competed in. Coach Mark Wilson said he was pleased with the team's performance and effort at the Regatta. "I feel good," Wilson said in a statement. "Last year, we didn't end as strong. We got stronger with every race this season. I know that the team is excited to continue conditioning and lifting. They are gaining confidence."
IU dropped to 2-2 this weekend after a pair of losses to No. 2 ranked University of Illinois. The Hoosiers lost 5-3 Friday and 5-0 Saturday. Senior defenseman Joe Rogers, junior forward Clint Heiber, and junior forward David Dassel scored goals for the Hoosiers. Senior goaltender Charlie Pulley recorded 34 saves Friday night as the Illini outshot the Hoosiers 39-20. The Hoosiers managed just one powerplay goal in 18 chances on the weekend while allowing three powerplay goals and two shorthanded goals.
The IU men's swimming and diving team won their first Big Ten meet of the season Friday 129 to 104 against Michigan State at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center. The Hoosiers (2-0) won 12 of the 13 events against the Spartans. "The effort level was outstanding," coach Ray Looze Jr. said. "I thought the spirit of the team was great. We were in control of the meet the whole time."
CHAMPAIGN, IL -- The Hoosiers' bowl chances took a big hit Saturday when Illinois manhandled IU 45-14. IU needed three wins in their final five games, and the struggling Illini looked like a good place to start. But the Hoosiers came out sluggish and could never recover from the early lead the Illini built. Illinois senior running back Antoineo Harris walked all over the Hoosiers on his way to outgaining the entire IU offense in the first quarter with 66 yards compared to IU's 43 yards. While IU went three and out on their first two possessions of the game, the Illini (3-5, 2-2 Big Ten) marched down the field and scored two touchdowns.
As quickly as the Hoosiers earned a No. 1 ranking, it looks like they're going to lose it even faster after dropping a match Friday night against Cal State Fullerton. IU (12-2-2) fell to Fullerton (6-6-2) in an intense 2-1 match, snapping its win streak at 11 games. The Hoosiers had not lost since Sept. 7. The Hoosiers owned Fullerton in the first half, out-shooting the opponent 14-5, but neither team could find the back of the net.
After three years of blood, sweat and tears, the IU field hockey seniors ended their home careers Saturday with a 2-0 win on Senior Day over the St. Louis Billikens. IU scraped out a win after being outplayed by No. 11 Iowa 3-1 Friday. Junior Jamie O'Pray scored all three Hoosier goals on the weekend for the squad (5-11, 1-4 Big Ten). Two of these seniors, back Akila Jones and forward Lindsay Schafer, saw their last game on the turf at Mellencamp Pavilion end in a victory. But Big Ten save leader senior goalie Molly Pulkrabek will return for her fourth year of eligibility, and the team awaits forward Erica Nilsson's decision on whether she will accept her fourth year.
The women's soccer team had a tough 0-1 loss Friday afternoon at Purdue, but came through with a solid 2-1 win over Indiana State in the first meeting ever between the two teams. In Terre Haute, the Sycamores struck first against the Hoosiers on a goal by sophomore forward Claire Hemkens. Junior goalkeeper Shaunna Daugherty said IU came out flat and didn't match the intensity of the scrappy opposition. "We definitely didn't play well at all." Daugherty said. "The second half was a lot better than the first. We should have won by a lot more."
The field hockey team will grace the turf at John Mellencamp Pavilion for the final time this season as they conclude their four game home-stand with weekend match-ups against the Iowa Hawkeyes and the St. Louis Billikens. The Hoosiers are coming off a .500 weekend, in which they were shut-out by No. 2 Michigan 5-0. But they rallied back and showed signs of offensive life, out-shooting Div. III Lindenwood 32-2 and defeating them 3-0.
West Coast road trips have not been kind to the IU men's soccer team in recent years. The Hoosiers have taken five road trips west since 1994 and they have compiled just a 5-5 record while their overall record during that span was 153-28-6.
The Hoosiers have been busy this week preparing for their final regatta of the fall season, the Head of the Elk Regatta in Elkhart, Ind. They are coming off of an impressive showing at the Head of the Charles and four victories at the Head of the Eagle last weekend. The Hoosiers are looking to build off of those strong performances.
The Hoosiers take their 2-0 start to Champaign, Ill. this weekend to take on the University of Illinois. Coach Rich Holdeman said he thinks this will be one of the toughest series of the season.
There are only two freshman on the men's tennis team this year but both are expected to be key contributors to the success of the team. Neither John Stone nor Viktor Libal has had too much trouble with the transition from high school to college.
The last time the IU men's swimming and diving team met the Michigan State Spartans in regular dual meet season was Jan. 30, 2000 at Michigan State. The Hoosiers lost 148 to 95. At 5 p.m. today at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center, the Hoosiers will look to avenge that loss and win their conference opener.
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.
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.