Indiana University Athletics
HOOSIERS HOST RANKED TEAMS
10/20/1998 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
UP NEXT -- After spending the last two weeks on the road, the Hoosiers return home to Bloomington, hosting No. 2 Penn State and No. 21 Ohio State. Indiana will meet up with the Nittany Lions Friday, Oct. 23 and the Buckeyes, Saturday, Oct. 24. Both matches begin at 7 p.m., at University Gym. Admission is $4 for adults and $1 for children. IU students are admitted free of charge with a valid student ID.
ABOUT THE HOOSIERS -- Since cracking the top-25 of the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll Oct. 5, the Hoosiers have dropped four-straight matches. Last week IU lost both of its road matches to Northwestern and No. 25 Minnesota. Indiana (10-7 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) is currently tied for seventh place with Ohio State in the league standings. Four players lead a balanced offensive attack for the Hoosiers, led by junior outside hitter Ryann Connors' 4.14 kills per game. Senior Jen Magelssen follows, averaging 2.90 kills per game while Amanda Welter and Laura Mettes average 2.89 and 2.44 kills per game, respectively.
REGIONAL RANKINGS -- In the latest NCAA District 2 Regional rankings released Oct. 6, the Hoosiers were ranked fourth behind No. 2 Penn State, No. 5 Wisconsin and No. 18 Illinois. District 2 is made up of 41 teams from the Big Ten Conference, Mid-America Conference, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and Northeast Conference.
HOME SWEET HOME -- The Hoosiers are 7-1 when playing at University Gym this season and 3-6 when playing on the road.
TOUGH SCHEDULE -- Of Indiana's seven losses this fall, five of those have been to top-25 ranked teams. The Hoosiers have lost to No. 5 Wisconsin, No. 11 USC, No. 18 Illinois, No. 18 Arizona and No. 24 Minnesota. On the flip side, IU has defeated No. 21 Michigan State and then-No. 18 Notre Dame.
COACH KATIE WEISMILLER -- Katie Weismiller is in her sixth season as Indiana's head coach with an 83-92 (.479) school record and an eight-year career mark of 133-116 (.541). Prior to coming to Indiana, Weismiller spent two years as the assistant coach at Florida where she helped lead the Gators to the school's first Final four appearance in 1992. She began her coaching career at St. Louis University, where she was head coach from 1989-91. There, she guided the Billikens to a 50-24 record, and in 1989, the Midwestern Collegiate Conference Championship.
BIG TEN TOUGHNESS -- Led by 1997 NCAA Division I runner-up Penn State, the Big Ten Conference has six teams voted in the latest USA TODAY/AVCA Top 25 poll, more than any other conference. The No. 2 Lady Lions are joined in the poll by No. 5 Wisconsin, No. 18 Illinois, No. 21 Michigan State, No. 23 Ohio State and No. 24 Minnesota.
ON NO. 2 PENN STATE -- Then Nittany Lions enter Friday's match with an unbeaten 18-0 overall, 8-0 Big Ten Conference mark. With weekend sweeps of Michigan and Michigan State, PSU is now 61-1 in its last 62 regular season matches. Penn State leads the Big Ten in hitting percentage (.364) and blocks (3.68). Individually, Middle hitter Lauren Cacciamani leads the Lions, averaging 3.67 kills and 1.91 blocks per game. Setting Cacciamani is All-American Bonnie Bremner who averages 11.07 assists per game. Head coach Russ Rose is in his 20th season with the program and holds a 638-119 career and school record. The Series: Penn State leads the all-time series with 16-straight wins over IU.
ABOUT NO. 21 OHIO STATE -- Prior to the Buckeyes' Friday night match against Northwestern, Ohio State is 10-7 overall, 3-5 in the Big Ten and tied with the Hoosiers for seventh place in the league standings. Last weekend, the Buckeyes split their matches, losing to Michigan State before defeating Michigan. OSU is led by outside hitters Rosie Snow and Angelee Abbring who average 4.71 and 3.51 kills per game, respectively. Head coach Jim Stone is in his 17th season with the program and holds a 374-156 school record. The Series: Ohio State leads the all-time series 27-13.
SPECIAL DELIVERY -- Setter Kristina Sanderson is just 12 assists shy of moving into third place on the all-time charts for career assists. In three seasons, Sanderson has accumulated 3,129 assists. Currently, the junior ranks sixth in the league, averaging 11.87 assists per game. -
TOP OF THE LEADERBOARD -- Senior Jen Magelssen already holds the school record for career service aces (181) and digs (1,203) and is presently in pursuit of the school record for kills. Currently she ranks fifth on the all-time list with 1,241 kills and needs just 132 more to become the program's career leader.
THE BIG HURT -- Starting rightside hitter Amanda Welter has become one of the Hoosiers top threats since conference play began. Through eight Big Ten matches, the 6-3 sophomore has averaged 3.26 kills while registering a team-best .285 attack percentage.
