Indiana University Athletics
IU Loses 18-16 in fifth at OSU
11/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
November 13, 2002
Columbus, Ohio - If tonight's Indiana-Ohio State volleyball match had been televised, it would certainly be broadcast later this week as an "Instant Classic" on ESPN. Unfortunately for Indiana, it was more "classic" for the Buckeyes than the visiting Hoosiers. Despite overcoming a 29-25 deficit to win game two, 31-29, Indiana was unable to capitalize on a 13-10 lead in the fifth and deciding game as Ohio State fought off three match points to win 18-16 on a kill by sophomore standout Stacey Gordon.
For any fans that stumbled into historic St. John Arena on this chilly Wednesday evening to be exposed to collegiate volleyball for the first time, it would be difficult to walk away from tonight's match without being hooked. In a match that featured the 29th- and 31st-ranked teams in the country, Indiana and Ohio State delivered a product that went well beyond its already impressive advanced billing. The match had it all--dramatic comebacks, timely defense by both teams, and controversial officiating.
The match didn't begin in a fashion that was not at all indicative of the contest it would later become as Ohio State (14-9 overall, 8-7 Big Ten) pounded the Hoosiers (18-9 overall, 8-7 Big Ten) in the opening game. The remainder of the five-set match was nothing short of spectacular. After Indiana rebounded to win game two, 30-28, the Hoosiers trailed 29-25 in game three, only to score six consecutive points to win the game, 31-29. During a stretch that began late in game three and extended throughout the beginning of game four, Indiana scored 10 consecutive points with sophomore middle blocker Katie Pollom (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral). After Ohio State won game four to send the match to the fifth and deciding stanza, the Buckeyes overcame two Indiana match points to win, 18-16. Ohio State ultimately defeated Indiana, 3-2 (30-17, 30-28, 31-29, 30-27, 16-18).
"You've got to give Ohio State credit," said head coach Katie Weismiller. "They had a very good offensive night. We struggled a little bit offensively but we found a way to push through those spots thoughout the match. A couple of calls didn't go our way but we still had ourselves in position to win the match and we couldn't close it out. That hasn't happened to us much this year. We've been able to finish matches throughout the year and that will continue to be a strength for us."
Junior Melissa Brewer (Bloomington, Ind./North) led Indiana with 21 kills and a .425 hitting percentage and sophomore setter Victoria Zimmerman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) notched 56 assists. Gordon led the Buckeyes with 27 kills.
In game one, Ohio State established itself from the opening serve and went on to take a 12-6 lead on a kill by freshman Stephanie Higgins, which prompted Weismiller to call time out. The stoppage in play was beneficial for the Hoosiers as Indiana scored the next four points of the game to cut OSU's lead to 12-10. Following the time out, Indiana scored its first two points on back-to-back blocks by Pollom. Trailing 14-12 following a kill by sophomore Christina Archibald (Belleville, Ill./West), Ohio State scored seven of the next eight points to take a 19-13 lead. The Buckeyes extended their lead to 24-16 on a kill by Gordon. Weismiller called Indiana's second time out of the game with Ohio State leading 25-16 but Gordon served the final three points of the game for the Buckeyes, including a service ace on the final point that provided the Buckeyes with a 30-17 victory. Ohio State closed out game one on an 18-7 run.
After being thoroughly dismantled in game one, the tone of the second game changed drastically as Indiana took a 5-1 lead on a kill by Brewer and maintained an 8-3 advantage following a kill by Nikki Hill (Muncie, Ind./Central). After taking a 13-7 lead, Indiana failed to put the Buckeyes away and surrendered five consecutive points before Weismiller called time out with the Hoosiers leading 13-12. With the game tied 14-14, Indiana scored six of the next eight points, taking a 20-16 lead on a kill by Brewer. After Ohio State closed to within 22-20, Indiana regained a four-point lead, 24-20, on a kill by Pollom that prompted Ohio State head coach Jim Stone to call a time out of his own. The Buckeyes wouldn't succumb to the IU pressure and drew to within 28-26. Following an Indiana time out, Ohio State cut the IU lead to one point before a Brewer kill gave the Hoosiers a 29-27 lead. Ohio State answered again, narrowing the IU lead to 29-28, but Brewer continued her productive play by closing out the game on another kill that evened the match.
Neither team took greater than a two-point lead in game three until a hitting error by Monique Pritz (Columbus, Ind./East) gave the Buckeyes a 16-13 lead. Indiana narrowed the Buckeye lead to 16-15 but Ohio State scored four of the next five points to take a 20-16 advantage. Following an Indiana time out, Ohio State increased its lead to 22-17 on a net violation by the Hoosiers. Indiana hung in the match and trailed only 24-22 before a Brewer service error gave the Buckeyes a three-point lead. Trailing 27-24, Indiana looked to have narrowed Ohio State's lead to 27-25 on an apparent kill that was called out. Indiana scored the next point to move to within 28-25 but Ohio State forced the Hoosiers against the ropes, taking a 29-25 lead. Incredibly, Indiana scored six of the next seven points to win the game, 31-29. Indiana pulled to within 29-28 on a kill by Archibald and tied the game, 29-29, on a Brewer kill. A block assist by Brewer and Zimmerman gave the Hoosiers a 30-29 lead and IU closed out the game on an attacking error by Gordon. Pollom served throughout Indiana's run that closed out game three.
With game four tied 1-1, Pollom was again at the service line as Indiana took a 5-1 lead on a kill by Archibald. With Indiana leading 8-3, Ohio State scored five of six points to pull to within 9-8. Ohio State captured its first lead of game four, 11-10, but a Pollom spike evened the game, 11-11. Ohio State, however, went on a three-point run and secured a 14-11 advantage. Ohio State pushed its lead to 19-15 before another Brewer kill pulled the Hoosiers to within three points, 19-16. Indiana cut the OSU lead to 19-18 but the Buckeyes again went on a three-point run to force an IU timeout with the Hoosiers trailing 22-18. Like game three, Indiana again lost an apparent point when another call was overturned. This time an apparent 24-22 deficit turned into a 25-21 Ohio State lead. Despite the overturned call, Indiana was still able to cut OSU's advantage to 26-24 on a kill by Archibald but the Buckeyes rattled off two straight points to lead 28-24. Indiana scored three of the next four points, pulling to within 29-27, although the game would have been tied without the earlier point being overturned. Ohio State closed out the game, 30-27, on a kill by senior middle blocker Suzie Stiling.
Trailing 2-1 in the fifth and deciding game, Indiana scored three consecutive points to take a 4-2 lead but Ohio State answered with two points to tie the game, 4-4. Indiana took a 7-6 lead on a kill by Hill following a tremendous rally that featured amazing digs by both teams. Neither team took greater than a one-point lead until the Hoosiers secured an 11-9 advantage on a block assist by Brewer and Zimmerman. Indiana took a 13-10 lead on a kill by Brewer but Ohio State again answered, this time with two straight points to pull to within 13-12. Following an Indiana time out, Ohio State tied the game at 13-13. The game was then tied at 14-14, 15-15, and 16-16, before the Buckeyes gained a 17-16 advantage on a Hoosier hitting error. Ohio State ended the match on a kill by Gordon. Indiana had three match points during the fifth stanza yet failed to capitalize.
Indiana returns to action on Saturday as it hosts No. 13 Penn State at the University Gymnasium.
