Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Wisconsin
Badgers, School Records Crumble in Madison
10/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 15, 2010
Final Stats
MADISON, Wis. - Indiana Volleyball notched its third consecutive Big Ten victory Friday night in Madison, disposing the Badgers swiftly in a three-set dismantling (25-16, 25-18, 25-8). The Hoosiers improve to 15-4 overall and 3-4 in conference play.
Indiana set a pair of all-time school records with a suffocating blocking performance. The team's 17.5 blocks broke the three-set record set earlier this year versus UAB. Ashley Benson played a roll in 13 of those stuffs with one solo swat and 12 block assists, crushing the previous three-set best of 10 rejections set back in 1996 by Melissa Rooney.
The Hoosier blocking extravaganza drove the Wisconsin attack efficiency into the red, hitting at a minus-.084 clip. On the flip side, Indiana swung at a .263 rate (26-6-76) for the match culminating with a .455 effort in clinching third set.
Sophomore right-side hitter Kelci Marschall paced the Hoosiers with seven kills and a .500 attack percentage. Fellow sophomore Jordan Haverly matched her seven put-aways while hitting .273 on the night. Tayor Wittmer did her part as well, terminating six of 12 attempts. In the back row, Caitlin Cox dug up a team-high 12 balls.
Indiana's aggressive service from last weekend carried over into Friday night's contest. The Hoosiers recorded eight aces, including a pair each from Haverly, Melanie Hicks and Caitlin Hanson.
Whitney Granado served the first five points of the match as the Hoosiers jumped out to an earl 4-0 lead in the opening set. On the strength of 6.5 team blocks, Indiana never relinquished their lead and led the entire way en route to the 25-16 final tally.
Indiana continued to lead through the first half of set number two. When Wisconsin took their first lead at 14-13, the Hoosiers responded by stringing together a 12-4 run to go ahead two-sets-to-none with a 25-18 winner. Marschall and Wittmer each hammered home four kills in the second stanza.
As mentioned above, the Hoosier offensive started to click in the final set, hitting .455 (11-1-22). Add in six blocks for Benson, and the result was a lop-sided 25-8 score in favor of the Cream and Crimson. Indiana held a 24-6 lead, earning themselves 17 straight match-point opportunities. It would only take them three, however, as an attack error by Wisconsin's Elise Walch mercifully ended the match at 25-8.
Head Coach Sherry Dunbar and her Hoosiers have no time to rest on their laurels though, slated for a Saturday night showdown with the Fighting Illini. Illinois is the conference's highest ranked squad, coming in at No. 8 nationally, and own a 14-3, 6-1 mark following a four-set win over Purdue Friday night.
