Indiana University Athletics
HOOSIERS SET TO BEGIN SEASON AT FLORIDA STATE
8/27/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
HOOSIERS SET TO BEGIN SEASON AT FLORIDA STATE
THIS WEEK -- The 1999 Indiana volleyball season gets underway this weekend as the squad travels to Tallahassee, Fla., to compete in the Tallahassee Democrat/Florida State Classic Sept. 3-4. The Hoosiers open up against Florida International Friday, Sept. 3, at 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 4, the Hoosiers play South Carolina at 10 a.m., before wrapping up tournament play against host Florida State at 7 p.m. (All match times are Eastern).
COACH KATIE WEISMILLER -- Katie Weismiller begins her seventh season as Indiana's head coach with an 92-99 (.482) school record and an eight-year career mark of 142-123 (.536). 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. 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.
SEASON OPENERS -- The Hoosiers are 6-0 in season opening matches under Katie Weismiller. IU is 17-6 all-time in season openers and 12-6 in road opening matches.
IN THE POLLS -- After closing out the 1998 season ranked 25th in the nation in the final USA Today/AVCA Coaches' Top 25 poll, the Hoosiers begin the 1999 season ranked 31st after receiving 58 votes in the preseason poll released Aug. 12. Penn State garnered the No. 1 spot while five other Big Ten foes also received votes. They are: No. 9 Wisconsin, No. 14 Illinois, No. 17 Ohio State, No. 22 Michigan State and No. 30 Minnesota.
HOOSIER OUTLOOK -- Experience will be a major key to the season as the Hoosiers return 10 letterwinners and four starters in 1999. Leading the way for IU is All-Big Ten outside hitter Ryann Connors and three-year starting setter Kristina Sanderson. Connors ranked fifth in kills in the Big Ten Conference last year, averaging 4.55 per game, while Sanderson averaged 13.19 assists per game. Also returning for the Hoosiers are starters Cydryce Carter at middle blocker and Amanda Welter on the right side.
HOOSIERS IN THE BIG TEN -- In the Big Ten Conference's preseason poll announced July 15, the Big Ten Volleyball coaches unanimously selected 1998 NCAA Volleyball finalist Penn State to repeat as league champion. Wisconsin was picked to finish second while Illinois was chosen third. The Hoosiers, who tied Ohio State for fifth-place last season in the final league standings, are picked to finish seventh.
INJURY REPORT -- Preseason All-Big Ten selection Ryann Connors will be out indefinitely after having had orthoscopic surgery on her right knee Aug. 20. Connors, a 5-11 outside hitter, led the Hoosiers last season, averaging 4.55 kills per game. A 1998 All-Big Ten honoree, Connors was also named AVCA National Player of the Week as well as Big Ten Player of the Week last year.
NEW FACES -- The Hoosiers welcome four new faces to the squad this season. The newcomers are: Kristen Daly (5-10, Fr., OH, Chicago, Ill.), Emily Spencer (5-8, Fr., OH, W. Lafayette, Ind.), Hillary Toivonen (5-10, Fr., OH, Muncie, Ind.) and Kentucky transfer Meghan Stout (5-8, So., OH, Seymour, Ind.).
WELCOME BACK -- The Hoosiers also welcome back to the squad sophomore outside hitter Jill Mudge and redshirt freshman setter Laurie Gardner. Mudge missed last season after undergoing knee surgery while Gardner sat out the year
CLIMBING THE CHARTS -- 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 230 kills to take over the No. 1 spot and Sanderson, just 476 assists shy of holding the school assists career mark. Currently, Connors has 1,157 kills and Sanderson 3,818 assists.
ON FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL -- The Golden Panthers return five starters off of a squad that finished 4-21 overall and 1-13 in the Sun Belt Conference a season ago. Among those returning for first-year Head Coach Cookie Stevens are sisters Jessica and Kristy Andreolas. Jessica averaged 3.31 kills per game on the outside while Kristy tallied a team-high 66 blocks for her team. The Hoosiers will be the season opener for Florida International.
ON SOUTH CAROLINA -- Three starters return off of last season's Gamecocks team which advanced to the first round of the NCAA tournament with a 21-11 overall mark and a 8-6 finish in the Southeastern Conference. Sophomore Cally Plummer is South Carolina's top returnee after averaging 3.31 kills and 2.10 digs per game. The 5-11 outside hitter also served out a team-high 50 aces. The Gamecocks are coached by Kim Hudson Christopher who is set to begin her seventh season at South Carolina with a 124-66 school record. The Gamecocks open their season Sept. 1, against North Carolina A&T.
ON FLORIDA STATE -- Florida State returns three starters from
last year's team which went 25-11 overall and 11-5 in the Atlantic Coast
Conference to advance to the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Top returners
for FSU are middle hitter Aisha Thornton and outside hitter Jennifer Werrick.
Thornton averaged 3.87 kills and 1.24 blocks per game while Werrick averaged
3.76 kills and 3.08 digs per game. Head Coach Cecile Reynaud enters her
24th season with the Seminoles and boasts a 589-280 school and career record.
The Seminoles open the 1999 season Sept. 1, against Auburn.
