Indiana University Athletics
INDIANA HOSTS MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN STATE
10/19/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
INDIANA HOSTS MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN STATE
THIS WEEK -- The Hoosiers return home to close out the first half of Big Ten Conference play this weekend, hosting Michigan and Michigan State. Indiana faces the Wolverines Friday, Oct. 22 and the Spartans, Saturday, Oct. 23 at University Gym (Tenth Street and Highway 46 Bypass). Both matches begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children. Indiana University students are admitted free with a valid ID.
ABOUT THE HOOSIERS -- Indiana (12-5 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) currently is in a six-way tie for fifth-place in the league standings. Last week the Hoosiers split play, losing at No. 22 Minnesota 3-1, before defeating Iowa 3-1. The Hoosiers became the first team since Wisconsin in the league opener to win a game from Minnesota when it took game two of the match 15-9. Cydryce Carter led the Hoosiers with a season-high 15 kills and 10 digs against the Gophers while freshman Hillary Toivonen's career-best 23 kills against Iowa was tops. Senior Ryann Connors leads the team with 4.22 kills per game while junior Amanda Welter follows with 3.97 kills per game. Welter leads the team with a .305 hitting percentage. Senior Cydryce Carter leads the team with 2.88 digs and 1.03 blocks per game while senior Erin Heimann is tops in serving with 27 aces. Freshman Laurie Gardner sets the attack for the Hoosiers, averaging 11.56 assists per game.
ROAD WARRIORS -- The Hoosiers have played six of their first eight Big Ten matches on the road, posting a 2-4 record. By the time IU reaches the half-way point in league play, it will have played just four matches on its home court, leaving the Hoosiers with six home matches for the second-half of conference play.
RANKED LOSSES -- All five of IU's losses have been to ranked opponents this season. They were: Illinois (No. 25), Ohio State (No. 25), Penn State (No. 2), Wisconsin (No. 18) and Minnesota (No. 22).
COACH KATIE WEISMILLER -- Katie Weismiller is in her seventh season as Indiana's head coach and carries a 103-105 (.498) school record and an eight-year career mark of 153-127 (.551). Since coming to IU, Weismiller has led the Hoosiers to two postseason NCAA Tournament appearances, the program's first-ever NCAA tournament win and the school's first Top 25 ranking.
ABOUT MICHIGAN -- The Wolverines (11-6 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) are tied with Indiana and four other teams for fifth place in the league standings. Michigan comes to Bloomington fresh off of a 3-1 victory over Northwestern last Saturday. The Wolverines are led offensively by outside hitter Nicole Kacor and middle blocker Joanna Fielder who average 3.87 and 3.22 kills per game, respectively. The Wolverines are also a defensively sound squad as they lead the Big Ten with a 16.05 digs per game average. Head Coach Mark Rosen is in his first season with the program after spending last season at Boise State. The Series: The Hoosiers lead the all-time series 28-14. Last season Indiana swept the Wolverines in two three-game matches.
MICHIGAN STATE INFO -- The Spartans are one of six teams tied for fifth-place in the league standings and prior to Friday night's match vs. Illinois their record stood at 13-7 overall and 3-5 in the Big Ten. Last week MSU picked up two conference wins with victories over Michigan and Northwestern. As a team, the Spartans are hitting an impressive .285 and are led by Sarah Gustio and Erin Hartley who average 4.21 and 4.15 kills per game, respectively. Hartley was named Big Ten Player of the Week after averaging 6.00 kills, 3.33 digs and 1.0 blocks per game against Michigan and Northwestern last week. Chuck Erbe is in his seventh season at MSU and holds a 145-73 program record. The Series: Michigan State holds the all-time series lead 23-22. Last season the two teams split play with each winning on their home court.
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE -- The Hoosiers are 17-3 at University Gym over the past two seasons. Last year the squad went 12-2 at home while this season, they are 5-1 on their own court.
ON RECORD PACE -- Senior Ryann Connors should become the school record holder for career kills this season, needing only 41 more to take over the No. 1 spot held by former Hoosier standout Jen Magelssen. Currently, the 5-11 outside hitter has 1,346 kills.
TOIVONEN TOO MUCH -- Freshman outside hitter Hillary Toivonen turned in a career performance last weekend in the Hoosiers 3-1 win at Iowa. Against the Hawkeyes, Toivonen led IU with 23 kills, two service aces and 10 digs while also posting an impressive .304 attack percentage with just six errors on 56 attempts. For the season she is averaging 2.36 kills and 2.19 digs per game.
STEPPING UP -- Senior middle blocker Cydryce Carter has posted some impressive numbers in recent outings. Against Minnesota last Friday she led IU with 15 kills, 10 digs and five blocks before adding 14 kills, fours blocks and a career-high 26 digs the next night at Iowa. Carter is one of three Hoosiers this season to have tallied over 100 kills and 100 digs. The other two are Amanda Welter and Hillary Toivonen.
BALANCED ATTACK -- Although Ryann Connors and Amanda Welter are keyed as IU's two top guns, the Hoosiers really feature a very balanced attack with five players collecting over 100 kills this season. They are: Welter (238), Connors (189), Cydryce Carter (138), Hillary Toivonen (125) and Jill Mudge (111).
GOING FOR THE ACE -- Indiana has proven to be a tough serving
team this fall, averaging 1.85 aces per game. In league games, the Hoosiers
rank third and have out-aced their opponent 46-35. Senior Erin Heimann
leads the team with 27 aces, including five she served up at Minnesota.
Other top servers include Cydryce Carter with 17 and Amanda Welter and
Hillary Toivonen with 13.
