Indiana University Athletics
INDIANA FACES CRITICAL WEEKEND IN MICHIGAN
11/15/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
INDIANA FACES CRITICAL WEEKEND IN MICHIGAN
THIS WEEK -- The Hoosiers will head to the state of Michigan this week, facing a must win situation. Indiana, which plays Michigan State, Friday, Nov. 19 and Michigan, Saturday, Nov. 20, must win both matches to keep any hope alive for an NCAA postseason tournament bid. Both matches will be played at 7 p.m. (EST).
ABOUT THE HOOSIERS -- Indiana (16-9 overall, 7-9 Big Ten) finds itself in a tie with Purdue for seventh-place in the league standings after splitting play last week. Last Wednesday the Hoosiers slipped a notch in the Big Ten race after a heartbreaking 15-9, 11-15, 15-3, 10-15, 13-15 loss to Illinois. For the Hoosiers, it was their first rally-scored match of the season. Four Hoosiers posted double figure kill totals, led by senior Ryann Connors' 20 kills. Sophomore Jill Mudge collected a career-high 18 kills while teammate Hillary Toivonen continued her consistent play with 18 kills also. Junior Amanda Welter added 13 and career-high seven block assists while freshman setter Laurie Gardner set a career-best with 72 assists. Against Northwestern on Friday, IU swept the Wildcats 15-8, 15-6, 15-7. Toivonen led the Hoosier offense with 17 kills.
FOR THE SEASON -- Outside hitter Ryann Connors leads the Hoosiers' attack this season, averaging 3.97 kills per game. Teammate Amanda Welter follows with a 3.57 kill per game average. Welter also leads the team with a .277 hitting percentage. Senior Cydryce Carter leads the team in digs and blocks, averaging 2.92 digs and 1.01 blocks per game, respectively. Senior Erin Heimann is tops in serving with 42 aces, while freshman Laurie Gardner sets the attack for the Hoosiers, averaging 12.12 assists per game.
COACH KATIE WEISMILLER -- Katie Weismiller is in her seventh season as Indiana's head coach and carries a 107-109 (.495) school record and an eight-year career mark of 157-131 (.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.
HEADING DOWN THE STRETCH -- The Hoosiers have just four matches remaining to be played before the NCAA announces its postseason tournament bracket. The Hoosiers will play Michigan State and Michigan on the road before returning home to host Iowa and No. 20 Minnesota Nov. 26-27, respectievely. The Hoosiers are 8-5 on the road this season and an 8-4 record at University Gym. To have a chance at receiving a postseason NCAA tournament bid, IU must win at the minimum, three of it's last four matches to finish an even 10-10 in the conference.
CARTER EARNS ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT HONOR -- Senior middle blocker Cydryce Carter has been named to the GTE Academic All-District V first team. Last season Carter was named to the second team. On the court, Carter is averaging 2.27 kills, 2.92 digs and a team-leading 1.02 blocks per game. In the classroom, the Houston native is majoring in biology.
MICHIGAN STATE INFO -- The Spartans fell at Ohio State and Penn State last weekend, dropping the squad to 8-8 in league action and 18-10 overall. Currently MSU is tied with Ohio State for fifth place in the Big Ten standings. Middle hitter Sarah Gustin leads the Spartan's offensive attack, averaging 4.25 kills per game. She is followed by outside hitter Erin Hartley's 3.98 kills and middle blocker Jessica Sanborn's 3.61 kills per game. As a team, Michigan State ranks third in the Big Ten in blocking, averaging 3.15 blocks per game. Head Coach Chuck Erbe is in his seventh season at MSU where he holds a 150-76 record with the program. The Series: The Spartans lead the overall series 24-22. Last month Michigan State defeated Indiana 11-15, 15-9, 11-15, 6-15 in Bloomington.
ABOUT MICHIGAN -- Michigan lost at Penn State and Ohio State last weekend, dropping the team's record to 4-12 in conference action and 12-13 overall. The Wolverines have lost five-straight matches prior to this Friday night's contest against Illinois. UM sports a balanced attack with four players registering over 200 kills this season. Nicole Kacor leads the team, averaging 3.62 kills per game. Mark Rosen is in his first season at Michigan after coached at Boise State last season. The Series: Indiana leads the all-time series 29-14. Last month the Hoosiers defeated the Wolverines 15-8, 15-11, 15-10 in Bloomington.
BIG TEN TOUGHNESS -- All nine of the Hoosiers' losses this season have been to Big Ten opponents, including six losses to ranked Big Ten teams.
CHASING RECORDS -- After having broken the school career-record for kills Oct. 29, Ryann Connors looks close to inking her name in the record books again. Connors currently has 74 career double-figure kill matches and needs just one more to tie Jen Magelssen's career mark of 75 (1995-98).
THE SETUP -- In just her first season of collegiate competition,
redshirt freshman Laurie Gardner has already inked her name in the record
books. Serving up 824 assists this season, Gardner ranks eighth all-time
for career assists and is just 60 assists shy of taking over the number
seven spot.
