Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Evansville
IU Downs Purple Aces, 3-1
9/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 27, 2005
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana volleyball team put away a scrappy Evansville squad, 3-1 (30-27, 30-20, 31-33, 30-19), to improve to 8-6 on the season. The Hoosiers continued to dominate on the blocks with 17 team blocks, including 30 block assists. The assist tally tied for eighth in school history. Additionally, IU played its entire compliment of players during the conquest.
"We won," Indiana head coach Katie Weismiller said. "It is great to get a win at home. We had an opportunity to play a lot of people. We took the time to work on some new things. While we didn't have the serve we usually do, our block was as strong as ever."
Notably, senior middle blocker Mandy Eberle tied former teammate Katie Pollom's four-game University Gym match record with nine block assists.
"Honestly, the wing blockers were excellent on the block tonight," Eberle said. "All of my blocks were assists. It took a team effort, but I am excited about the record."
Individually, freshman middle blocker Erica Short tied for a match-high with 18 kills, while sophomore outside hitter Lauren Ditteon drilled 13 putaways of her own. Meanwhile, freshman setter Laura Holm amassed 28 assists, while fellow classmate Jessica Batliner posted 22 helpers in her first significant play of the season. Additionally, junior libero Sara Diehl added 16 digs, while defending Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Rachel Gerling recorded 10 saves of her own.
In the first match, Indiana came out on top, 30-27, in a defensive struggle as the Hoosiers held Evansville to -.023 hitting. The win moved Indiana into the lead, 1-0.
In the second stanza, IU fired on all cylinders with a 30-20 triumph in which the Hoosiers out-hit the Purple Aces, .424-.111., to take a 2-0 lead.
Evansville demonstrated its will and determination to not go away quietly by taking the third frame, 33-31, in a game that featured 16 ties and six lead changes. The win cut the lead to 2-1.
Indiana, however, closed out the match in dominant fashion with a 30-19 victory to win the match 3-1. In the final game, IU hit .341 against Evansville's -.023.
The Hoosiers return to action on Friday, Sept. 30 at Ohio State at 7 p.m., before tangling with Penn State on Oct. 1 at 8 p.m.
Players Mentioned
