Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
North Carolina A&T
Hoosiers Conclude Non-Conference Slate With a Sweep
9/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 19, 2009
Final Stats | PHOTO GALLERY
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -
The Indiana University volleyball team completed their non-conference schedule with an 11-3 record after defeating North Carolina A&T Saturday night inside University Gym by lopsided scores of 25-10, 25-17 and 25-18. Indiana's Caitlin Cox and Ashley Benson were named to the All-T.I.S. Bookstore Invitational team for their stellar efforts over the weekend.
"We did a much better job of controlling the tempo tonight," said Head Coach Sherry Dunbar. "When the others (reserves) stepped in, we didn't lose much tonight."
Twelve different Hoosiers entered the contest with 11 of them recording at least one kill. As a team, Indiana hit .346 (41-14-78) while limiting the Aggies offensive attack to a .027 hitting clip. Whitney Thomas was IU's top player, compiling eight kills and a .636 hitting percentage. Jordan Haverly matched her with eight terminations as well. Freshman Whitney Granado handled the full-time setting duties for the evening and responded with a career-high 31 assists.
Jessica Weeg has an impressive third set hitting .571 after connecting for the kill on four of seven errorless swings. She tallied a block and dig in the set as well.
Indiana led by as many as 15 points in the opening set, including the final tally of 25-10. Taylor Wittmer made an impression early on, blasting four kills with her five swings (.800). Haverly also was red-hot from the start, responsible for six Hoosier points (four kills, two blocks). Indiana hit a blistering .542 for the set.
North Carolina A&T would not lay down so easily in set number two. The Aggies cut their deficit to just two points at 19-17 before Indiana ripped off six straight for the 25-17 victory.
As mentioned earlier, Weeg was the star of the show in the third and final set with her offensive barrage. Thomas was right there with her, hammering home three more kills in the 25-18 IU clincher.
Saturday night's win was the second of the day for Indiana as they swept Alabama A&M in a 10 a.m. match earlier in the day.
The Big Ten Conference slate begins next weekend. Indiana will welcome in No. 6 Michigan and No. 17 Michigan State for a pair of home matches. Michigan is 12-1 while the Spartans have sky-rocketed up the national rankings with some very impressive non-conference wins on their resume. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. starts inside University Gym.
"We are going to play a lot more live action this week in practice to prepare for the Big Ten season," said Dunbar. "With such a young team we had been concentrating the technical things. Now that it's Big Ten season though, we are going to have to compete everyday in practice so the transition to Friday and Saturday nights goes smoothly."
