Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Spike No. 32 Illinois
10/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Hoosiers Spike No. 32 Illini
Champaign, IL - With victories already this season over No. 11 Ohio State, No. 15 Wisconsin, and 30th-ranked Louisville, let's not call Indiana's 3-2 victory over No. 32 Illinois this evening an upset. Instead, it just may be a strong sign that a young, yet talented, team is coming of age. After a controversial conclusion to game one, which essentially forced Indiana to win four games instead of three, Indiana defeated the Illini 31-33, 30-15, 30-24, 24-30, 15-9 before 1,220 at historic Huff Hall. Indiana's win over Illinois marked only the second time since 1984 that the Hoosiers were victorious in Champaign, including a win in 2000."This is such a difficult place to win so that makes tonight's victory that much more special," said head coach Katie Weismiller. "Our defense and blocking were impressive tonight."
Indiana couldn't have entered Illinois' Huff Hall at a worse possible time. Less than one week ago, the Fighting Illini upset No. 6 Minnesota in Minneapolis, 3-2. Tonight, the Fighting Illini returned home to an energized and Huff Hall, where Illinois has recorded a 201-57 overall record since 1985. The Illini's home court advantage, coupled with the fact that the Hoosiers had failed to secure a victory in three previous road matches this fall, made an IU win unlikely. A highly controversial ruling by a Big Ten officiating crew at the end of game one, which gave the opening game to the Fighting Illini (9-7 overall, 3-4 Big Ten) rather than the Hoosiers, made Indiana's test that much tougher.
"After losing game one in the fashion that we did made this win even that much more impressive," said Weismiller. "So many different people contributed to this victory."
Indiana was led by the stellar defensive play of senior libero Hillary Toivonen (Muncie, Ind./Burris) and the sophomore Victoria Zimmerman (Barrington, Ind./Barrington), who masterfully orchestrated the Indiana offense. Toivonen recorded a season-high 22 digs, while Zimmerman notched 60 assists. The triumvirate of Christina Archibald (Belleville, Ill./West), Katie Pollom (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral), and Melissa Brewer (Bloomington, Ind./North) recorded 23, 17, and 16 kills, respectively. Indiana recorded a hitting percentage of .215, while Illinois could only muster a hitting efficiency of .071.
"That's as well as Hillary has played all year," said Weismiller. "She was just tremendous. Katie Pollom just kept making plays all night long and Victoria did a great job running the offense."
After not recording a block throughout the fourth game, Indiana opened the fifth and deciding stanza with a block assist by Pollom and Archibald. The Hoosiers then took a 3-0 lead on a kill by Pollom. Following an Illinois timeout, another block assist by the Pollom/Archibald duo gave the Hoosiers a 4-0 advantage. Leading 6-2 following an Archibald kill, the two teams made the turn with Indiana leading 8-2 after back-to-back kills by Archibald and Brewer. After Illinois cut Indiana's lead to 10-6, a service error by Sue Webber again gave the Hoosiers a five-point lead and Indiana went on to win 15-9.
Controversy struck early in the match. With game one tied at 29-29, Indiana (13-6 overall, 3-4 Big Ten) was awarded a point that apparently gave the Hoosiers a one-point lead and set up game point for the Hoosiers. Following the awarding of the point by head referee Mara Wager, the officiating crew met at side court and discussed the decision. Following the conference, assistant referee Donna Carter overruled Wager. Instead of a 30-29 Indiana lead, the changed call resulted in a one-point lead for the Illini. Although Indiana regained its composure and took a one-point advantage, 31-30, on a kill by Nikki Hill (Muncie, Ind./Central), Illinois scored the game's next three points and escaped with a 33-31 victory. Without the overturned call, Hill's kill would have provided the Hoosiers with a game-one win.
While Indiana could have turned its attention to Saturday's match against Purdue immediately following the disappointment of game one, the Hoosiers cruised to a 23-12 advantage in game two before Illinois called time out. Showing tremendous resolve throughout the second game, the Hoosiers went on to win game two, 30-15. Indiana recorded a .308 hitting percentage in the second stanza, while Illinois only managed four kills throughout game and hit a paltry -.289.
With the match tied at one, Indiana was effective offensively early in game three and a kill by Brewer gave Indiana a 9-5 lead. With Indiana leading 14-9, Illinois scored the next five points of game three, tying the game on a kill by junior outside hitter Melissa Vandrey. Indiana again went back in front, 19-16, on a hitting error by Webber. A block assist by Pollom and Zimmerman gave the Hoosiers a 23-19 lead. Following an Illinois time out, Indiana extended its advantage to 26-21 on two heavy spikes by Pollom that had Illini defenders running for cover. At game point for Indiana, Vandrey's service error gave the Hoosiers the victory, 30-24.
Trailing 2-1 after three games, Illinois wasn't going to go away quietly, taking a 4-1 lead to begin game four. A kill by Monique Pritz (Columbus, Ind./East), however, tied the game at six. A seesaw battle ensued until Illinios took a 13-9 lead on a service error by sophomore Kathleen Bazzetta. Illinois took a 20-15 lead on a service error by Brewer but Indiana drew to within three points, 20-17, on a block assist by Hill and Pollom. Following a net violation by Illinois and yet another kill by Pollom, Illinois called time out, now only leading 21-19. The Fighting Illini went on to tally five of the next eight p oints scored between the two teams to take a 26-22 and prompt an Indiana time out. Indiana got no closer than the four-point deficit, losing 30-24, as the match was extended to the fifth and deciding game.
A timeout by Katie Weismiller proved critical in game one. With Indiana trailing 6-1, the Indiana head coach requested a stoppage in play and the break was enough to settle down the Hoosiers. Indiana tallied 12 of the next 16 points scored between the two teams, including back-to-back service aces by Nikki Hill that gave the Hoosiers a 13-11 lead. Indiana led 20-18 before Illinois rattled off five of the next six points and took a 23-21 lead on a kill by senior outside hitter Sue Weber. Indiana answered immediately, scoring the next five points to take a 26-23 lead. Following a timeout called by Illinois head coach Don Hardin, Indiana maintained at least a two-point lead until the Illini pulled to within one point, 28-27, on a kill by 6-foot-5 middle blocker Lisa Argabright. Indiana regained its two-point advantage, 29-27, on a kill by Hill but a service ace by Melissa Brewer pulled Illinois to within one point. Illinois then tied the game at 29-29, before the controversy began.
Indiana returns to action on at 7:00 p.m. Saturday as it travels to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on Purdue. The winner of the match will take possession of the Monon Spike, which is currently in the hands of the Hoosiers. The match will also commence this year's Titan Series, as Saturday's match will be the first sporting event contested between the two schools this school year.
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