Indiana University Athletics
INDIANA OPENS BIG TEN SEASON
9/22/1998 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
September 22, 1998
INDIANA OPENS BIG TEN SEASON--No. 28 Hoosiers host No. 6 Wisconsin, Iowa
THIS WEEK -- The Hoosiers kickoff the 1998 Big Ten Conference season hosting No. 6 Wisconsin Friday, Sept. 25, and then Iowa Saturday, Sept. 26, at University Gym (Tenth Street and Highway 46 Bypass). Both matches will start at 7 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children. Indiana University students are admitted free with a valid ID.
ABOUT THE HOOSIERS -- The Hoosiers enter the 1998 Big Ten season 7-2 overall and are in the midst of a five-match win streak. Playing one of the most difficult nonconference schedules in the nation, Indiana's only losses through preseason play were to nationally ranked Arizona (2-3) and Southern California (1-3).
LAST WEEK -- Indiana captured the Ameritech Cellular and Paging Classic title, defeating Eastern Washington (3-1), Oakland (3-0) and Alabama (3-0). Junior Ryann Connors was named tournament MVP after averaging 5.1 kills and 2.2 digs per game. Against Eastern Washington she totaled a career-high 25 kills and posted a .415 attack percentage for the weekend. Teammates Jen Magelssen and Kristina Sanderson were also named to the all-tournament team.
HOOSIERS RECEIVE VOTES -- Indiana received 42 votes in the latest USA TODAY/AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll released Sept. 21, just three spots out of the top 25. Last week the Hoosiers entered the poll with 24 votes. Indiana garnered its first ever national ranking last season when the squad was voted in at No. 25, Sept. 30, 1997.
COACH KATIE WEISMILLER -- Katie Weismiller begins her sixth season as Indiana's head coach with a 80-87 (.479) school record and an eight-year career mark of 130-111 (.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.
PLAYING WITH THE BEST -- Twelve of the Hoosiers 19 opponents are currently ranked or receiving votes in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Hoosiers have already faced No. 8 USC and No. 20 Arizona along with receiving votes teams Notre Dame, Colorado State and Eastern Washington.
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 Lady Lions are joined in the poll by No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 14 Ohio State, No. 18 Michigan State, No. 23 Illinois and No. 24 Minnesota. Indiana, Michigan and Northwestern are receiving votes for Top 25 recognition.
VERSUS NO. 6 WISCONSIN -- The Badgers are currently on a 10-match win streak, dating back to the team's only loss to USC in their season opener. Currently ranked No. 6 in the country, the Badgers have won four matches against Top 25 teams since that loss, including a rematch with the No. 5 Trojans. Middle blocker Kelly Kennedy leads the Wisconsin attack, averaging 3.68 kills per game. The 6-4 junior's .392 attack percentage ranks second in the Big Ten. The Badgers are coached by John Cook, who in seven years at Wisconsin has coached his program to a 141-69 record. The Series: UW has won the last four matches of the series and holds a 22-17 all-time lead over Indiana.
ON IOWA -- Prior to their league opener at Northwestern Friday evening, the Hawkeyes were 6-3 overall through nonconference play. Junior outside hitter Julie Williams averages 4.47 kills and 2.06 digs per game to lead the squad while Katie Panhorst follows with 3.41 kills per game. Head coach Rita Crockett is in her first year with the program. The Series: The Hoosiers lead the all-time series 20-17.
CANNON CONNORS -- When outside hitter Ryann Connors winds up for a swing, opponents and fans are noticing that the outcome of such a motion is similar to standing next to an exploding cannon. Connors, a 5-11 junior, currently leads the Hoosiers and is ranked fourth in the league for kills per game (4.56) and is 10th in hitting efficiency (.338). In the Hoosiers win over Eastern Washington last week, Connors tallied a career-high 25 kills. Through nine matches this season, she has registered 20-plus kill matches on four occasions.
GAL FRIDAY -- For the fourth-straight year, Jen Magelssen has proven that she is Indiana's all -around player. Through nonconference play she has tallied 90 kills, 12 service aces and 87 digs.
SPECIAL DELIVERY -- Setter Kristina Sanderson has been impressive in her quarterback role through nonconference play. Currently she ranks sixth in the league, averaging 11.57 assists per game while also setting the squad to a .266 attack percentage.
SWINGING ON THE RIGHT -- Sophomore Amanda Welter has settled in nicely as IU's new right side hitter. Replacing the graduated Julie Flatley, Welter pounded home a career-high 17 kills against both Eastern Washington and then-No. 3 USC. Welter is presently averaging 2.57 kills per game which ranks third best on the team.
THE ERASERS -- Middle blockers Cydryce Carter and Laura Mettes did a nice job of patrolling the net in IU's win over Eastern Washington last Friday, posting a combined 11 blocks. Mettes leads the team with 20 blocks this season while Carter has put up 18.
TOP OF THE LEADERBOARD -- Senior Jen Magelssen already holds the school record for service aces and digs and is currently in pursuit of the school record for kills. She presently ranks fifth on the all-time list with 1,162 kills and needs just 219 more to become the program's career leader.
HAT TRICK -- Outside hitter Ryann Connors is three-for-three in being named to all-tournament teams this season. The junior was named to the University Park Holiday Inn Classic all-tourney team after posting a .358 attack percentage with 38 kills, 20 digs and seven blocks. She was then named to the Inntowner Invitational alltourney team after registering 18 kills and 10 digs against No. 3 USC and a match-high 23 kills and 11 digs against No. 18 Notre Dame. This past weekend she was named MVP of the Ameritech Cellular and Paging Classic after sending home 51 kills and recording a .415 attack percentage average for three matches.
INJURY
UPDATE -- Sophomore outside hitter Jill Mudge underwent
arthoscopic
surgery on her left knee Aug. 28, and will begin practicing
with the team
this week. Also, freshman outside hitter Katie Klink will
be out
indefinitely after undergoing arthoscopic surgery on her right ankle
Sept. 16.
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