Sports

Defense still focus as women begin season

The groundwork has been laid. Now, the waiting begins. Coach Kathi Bennett's vision of an aggressive defense has been drilled into her new team.

Junior transfer adjusts to new role

As Josh Rife played soccer at Bill Armstrong Stadium on a Friday night, his friends from Texas Christian University lined the stands with a banner that read "TCU is Pro-Rife." Rife, a junior, transferred from TCU to IU after his sophomore year, leaving behind a mediocre soccer program for a national powerhouse.

Big Ten soccer tourney begins

Two losses last weekend in California dropped the men's soccer team from contending for a top-four seed in the NCAA tournament to contending for a seed -- period.

Volleyball faces 2 crucial matches

It's crunch time for the volleyball team as it faces Wisconsin and Northwestern at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, respectively, at the University Gym.

Team awaits Big Ten awards

Freshmen shine in debut

Kathi Bennett made her debut as women's basketball coach Tuesday night in a 74-64 preseason loss to the Lady Reebok All-Stars.

Versatile volleyball player strives for success

A weather man would likely have a better chance at predicting the extent of Laura Dewitz's playing time. A tarot-card-toting, 800-number psychic might be a more suitable prognosticator of the length of the lanky senior's stint on the volleyball court.

Football team not calling it quits

Talk of the football team qualifying for its first bowl game since 1993 started during offseason conditioning. By the start of spring practice in March, the Hoosiers were a confident team. In the summer months before the season, some people in the program were confident the Hoosiers would play in the postseason.

Senior returns for one last cross country season

Senior cross country runner Dan Billish could have taken a few credit hours this summer, been a student teacher this semester and graduated in December. He could've been done and far away from Bloomington.

Secondary hurt by inexperience

No part of the football team has struggled more than the secondary. Name a pass defense statistic and it's a good bet IU is buried at the bottom of the category. The categories in which IU ranks last in the Big Ten include:

Exhibition game first chance to play

The women's basketball team faces off against the Reebok Lady Stars at 7:30 p.m. today in Assembly Hall, kicking off its exhibition season.

No. 3 Hoosiers upset twice at Cal-Berkeley tournament

When unranked California at Berkeley upset the No. 3 men's soccer team Sunday in Berkeley, Calif., Bear fans and athletes celebrated as if they had just won the national championship, IU coach Jerry Yeagley said.

Little sister finally wins

Although her team won the swim meet Saturday in Bloomington, Dorsey Tierney didn't stick her tongue out at her opponent and older brother Jimmy Tierney, who coaches the Northwestern team.

Strong quarterbacks lead Hoosiers, Illini

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois was in many ways similar to Indiana heading into Saturday's game. Like the Hoosiers, the Fighting Illini entered the game after a disappointing loss last weekend. Like IU, Illinois needed a late season surge to qualify for postseason play. Like their opponent, the Fighting Illini had a junior quarterback, who knows how to make big plays.

Hockey team still unbeaten

The hockey team continued its undefeated conference record and home record this weekend with its respective 6-0 and 7-0 wins against Ohio State University Friday and Saturday.

Hoosier teams compete with varied successes

The Hoosier women's swimming and diving team continued its undefeated season with two more wins this weekend against Kentucky and Northwestern in dual meets. Its record is now at 4-0.

Volleyball team defeats Iowa

The volleyball team rebounded from a loss against No. 7 Minnesota to defeat Iowa in three matches Saturday. The Hoosiers fell to the Golden Gophers (22-2, 11-2 in conference play) in three matches, 15-2, 18-16, 15-11. IU improved to 14-10, 5-9 in Big Ten play with a 15-7, 15-11, 15-13 win over the Buckeyes.

Team loses in overtime

The men's soccer team snapped a 10-game winning streak Saturday in a 1-0 overtime loss to Stanford. The Hoosiers then turned the loss into a two-game losing streak, losing 2-1 to Cal-Berkeley Sunday.

Hoosiers search for go-to man

With former guard A.J. Guyton graduated and drafted to the Chicago Bulls, the Hoosiers are searching for a go-to man. There were signs of promise from junior forward Jarrad Odle and freshman forward Jared Jeffries Sunday in IU's 84-74 win against Athletes in Action (5-2).

Freshman Jared Jeffries shines in preseason game

Interim head coach Mike Davis has said many times that Jared Jeffries is a good basketball player who will contribute a great many things to this year's team. Jeffries lived up to the billing Sunday as he led IU to an 84-74 victory against Athletes in Action.