Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Wisconsin
Block Party in the USA
11/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 27, 2010
Final Stats |
Photo Gallery 
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana University volleyball team (21-11, 9-11 Big Ten) concluded the 2010 regular season with back-to-back wins, Saturday topping the visiting Badgers of Wisconsin (16-15, 5-15) in straight sets (25-16, 25-20, 26-24). Indiana's defensive wall at the net created 15 team blocks and limited the Badgers to a dismal .061 hitting efficiency.
The Hoosier offense was also on point, attacking at a .309 clip for the match. Kelci Marschall was IU's top weapon, firing 13 kills on 20 swings with just two errors (.550). Ivie Obeime joined her in the double-digit kills club, putting away 10 of 18 swings (two errors) for a .444 hitting efficiency. Ashley Benson, playing her last career regular season match inside University Gym, posted nine kills and a whopping nine blocks.
Benson had plenty of help in the defensive frontcourt as five other Hoosiers had three or more stuffs. Fellow senior Taylor Wittmer has second-best on the squad, rejecting six Wisconsin attempts on the evening.
Indiana made their presence known right off the bat, posting back-to-back-to-blocks to take a 6-1 lead early in the opening set. In total, the Hoosiers gathered six blocks, including a team-high four block assists for Benson. Offensively, Indiana rolled to a .400 hitting percentage, led by Marschall and Obeime who combined for nine kills on 11 swings, each hitting .800 or above. Mary Chaudoin was also very aggressive from the setter position, converting each of her three attacks into kills. The Hoosiers never trailed in the frame.
Set number two was much the same as Indiana swatted seven blocks while Marschall and Obeime continued to pound balls at the pins. Benson and Haverly each totaled four block assists with the Marschall/Obeime duo piling on six more kills with no errors.
Wisconsin awoke midway through the third set, erasing a five-point early deficit to tie the score at 20-20. The score remained deadlocked at 24-24 before Indiana then snagged the final two points to clinch the match, 26-24.
The Cream and Crimson will find out their NCAA Tournament first round opponent on Sunday with the airing of the NCAA Volleyball Selection Show; airing sometime between 3-3:30 p.m. on ESPNEWS.
