Indiana University Athletics
INDIANA HOSTS NO. 18 WISCONSIN, PURDUE
10/5/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
INDIANA HOSTS NO. 18 WISCONSIN, PURDUE
"MONON SPIKE" MATCH TO BE CONTESTED SATURDAY
THIS WEEK -- After playing four-straight matches on the road, the Hoosiers finally return home to host No. 18 Wisconsin Friday, Oct. 8, and Purdue Saturday, Oct. 9, 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.
HOOSIERS ON THE TUBE -- Indiana will make an appearance on regional TV this weekend as part of the Big Ten Conference television package. Saturday's match versus Purdue will be broadcast tape delayed Sunday, Oct. 10 at 4 p.m. (EST) by Fox Sports Chicago. Dave Loane will call the play-by-play, while Angie Kammer will handle the color analysis.
MONON SPIKE MATCH -- Saturday's competition against Purdue is designated as the annual Monon Spike match with the winner of the match claiming the traveling trophy "Spike" for the 1999-2000 school year. The trophy symbolizes the rivalry between the two schools, dating back to 1975. The Boilermakers hold a 17-8 advantage in the series and have won the last three matches.
ABOUT THE HOOSIERS -- Indiana (10-3 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) returns to University Gym this weekend after having played its last four matches on the road. Last week the Hoosiers dropped both of their matches to No. 25 Ohio State 2-15, 9-15, 15-6, 4-15 and to No. 2 Penn State 6-15, 9-15, 10-15. IU struggled offensively against the Buckeyes, registering a season-low .098 attack percentage. Ryann Connors led all hitters in the match with 16 kills. Freshman Hillary Toivonen led IU at Penn State with 13 kills and seven digs.
HOME SWEET HOME -- The Hoosiers have won a school-record nine-straight matches at University Gym, dating back to Oct. 24, 1998. The nine wins equal the school mark for the program's longest home-court winning streak. The 1989-90 squads also posted nine-consecutive wins at University Gym.
RANKED LOSSES -- All three of the Hoosiers' defeats have been to ranked opponents. Indiana has lost to then-No. 25 Illinois, then-No. 25 Ohio State and No. 1 Penn State. The Hoosiers will have a chance to pick up a win against a ranked opponent this Friday when No. 18 Wisconsin comes to town.
COACH KATIE WEISMILLER -- Katie Weismiller is in her seventh season as Indiana's head coach and carries a 102-102 (.500) school record and an eight-year career mark of 152-126 (.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.
NO. 18 WISCONSIN INFO -- The 18th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers enter Friday's match tied with Illinois for third place in the conference with a 10-4 overall, 3-1 league mark. After dropping their league opener to Minnesota the Badgers have rolled off three-straight victories, including wins over Michigan and Michigan State last weekend. Teammates Jenny Maastricht and Sherisa Livingston lead the Badgers offensively, averaging 3.69 and 3.22 kills per game, respectively. Coach Pete Waite is in his first season with the Badgers after coaching the past 11 seasons at Northern Illinois. The Series: The Badgers lead the all-time series 24-17. Last season Wisconsin won both matches 3-0.
ABOUT PURDUE -- Prior to the Boilermaker's Friday night match at Illinois, Purdue is 10-3 overall, 2-2 in the Big Ten and tied with Iowa for fifth place in the league standings. The Boilermakers are coming off of an exciting weekend, defeating both Michigan State and Michigan in West Lafayette. Outside hitter Aneska Arosarena earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors after picking up a career-tying 34 kills against Michigan and a career-best 24 digs, while also collecting 29 kills and nine digs against the Spartans. Purdue is coached by Jeff Hulsmeyer who is in his first season with program. The Series: The Boilermakers lead the all-time series 38-25. Last season the two teams split play with each winning five-match games on their home court.
REUNION TIME -- Friday's match against Wisconsin will be a reunion of sorts for sisters Laurie and Jamie Gardner. Laurie, a redshirt freshman, is IU's starting setter while defensive specialist Jamie is a junior on the Badger squad. The two sisters are originally from West Bend, Wis., and were volleyball standouts at West Bend East High School.
THE BIG HURT -- Right side hitter Amanda Welter continues to lead the Hoosiers with 192 kills this season. Her 4.27 kills per game average and .330 attack percentage rank sixth and eighth best in the league, respectively. Welter has had an impressive junior campaign to date, being named Co-Big Ten Player of the Week, MVP of both the Florida State Classic and Duke Invitational and was voted to the HoosierTimes.com Invitational all-tournament team.
LINEUP CHANGES -- Since moving into the starting lineup four matches ago, freshman Hilary Toivonen has been offering some pretty impressive play. Against the No. 2 ranked Nittany Lions last weekend, the 5-10 outside hitter led the Hoosiers with 13 kills and and a .400 attack percentage. In Big Ten play, she is averaging 2.77 kills and 2.31 digs per game.
GOING FOR THE ACE -- Indiana has proven to be a tough serving team this fall, averaging 2.09 aces per game. In league games, the Hoosiers rank first and have out-aced their opponent 29-13. Senior Erin Heimann leads the team with 21 aces. Other top servers include Cydryce Carter with 15 and Amanda Welter with 13.
AT HOME OR ON THE ROAD -- Indiana is 4-0 when playing at University Gym and 6-3 when on the road.
INDIANA NOTES -- Indiana continues to out-hit and out-dig its opponents this season. The Hoosiers are averaging 17.24 kills per game compared to the competition's 13.51 per game average, while also tallying a better hitting percentage at .241versus the opposition's .174. In all, seven Hoosiers are hitting above .200. The Hoosiers' defense has also been impressive as it is out digging its opponents 14.93 to 13.64 digs per game. At the service line IU is also on top, averaging 2.09 aces per game.
ON RECORD PACE -- Both outside hitter Ryann Connors and setter Kristina Sanderson should become the school record holders in their respective categories this season with Connors needing only 91 kills to take over the No. 1 spot and Sanderson, just 226 assists shy of holding the school assists career mark. Currently, Connors has 1,296 kills and Sanderson 4,168 assists.
FAST STARTS -- Indiana's nine-straight wins through nonconference
play marked the program's best start since the 1997 season when the Hoosiers
ran their record to 15-0 for the school's longest winning streak.
