Indiana University Athletics
Weekly Release #4: IU Credit Union Classic
9/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
September 17, 2002
Bloomington, Ind. -Last Week
Terrapin Invitational (College Park, Md.)
Sept. 13 at Maryland, L 3-0 (28-30, 27-30, 26-30)
Sept. 14 vs. Loy. Mrymt., W 3-2 (30-28, 28-30, 30-28, 16-30, 15-10)
Sept. 14 vs. Boston Coll., W 3-2 (28-30, 30-28, 28-30, 30-18, 15-13)
Upcoming
IU Credit Union Classic (Bloomington, Ind.)
Sept. 20 vs. Central Michigan, 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 21 vs. Butler, 12:00 p.m.
Sept. 21 vs. Louisville, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana to Host IU Credit Union Classic This Weekend: One week after finishing in second place with a 2-1 record at the Terrapin Invitational, the Indiana University volleyball team returns to the University Gymnasium this Friday and Saturday as it hosts the IU Credit Union Classic, which features teams from Central Michigan, the University of Louisville, and Butler.
Indiana opens play on Friday at 7:00 p.m. vs. Central Michigan. The Chippewas will enter Friday's action with a 3-6 overall record, including wins over Austin Peay and Cincinnati at the Raider Challenge in Dayton, Ohio, last weekend. Central Michigan is led by senior middle hitter Kendra Devries. The Fremont, Mich., product has recorded a .352 hitting percentage in 2002 and is averaging 3.00 kills per game.
On Saturday, Indiana will face Butler at noon and will return to action later that day for a match vs. the University of Louisville at 7:30 p.m.
Horizon League representative Butler (6-7 overall) enters this weekend's tournament playing some its best volleyball of the year. This past weekend, the Bulldogs finished with a 2-1 record at the Golden Gate Classic, which was hosted by the University of San Francisco. Butler defeated both USF and IPFW, 3-0, avenging a loss earlier in the year to the Fort Wayne-based school. Butler's only loss at the tournament was a to 25th-ranked Washington State. Butler finished fifth in the Horizon League in 2001 and is led by senior middle blocker Keely Norris, a second-team All-Horizon League selection last fall, and sophomore outside hitter Kalie Carter, who was named to the All-Horizon Newcomer team in 2001.
The University of Louisville is ranked 30th in this week's USA Today/AVCA Coaches' Top 25 poll. The Cardinals boast a 7-2 record after winning the University of Arkansas Morning News Invitational last weekend. The Cardinals beat Oral Roberts, Arkansas, and a four-game upset of 17th-ranked Colorado State to win the tournament championship.
In 2001, the Cards finished second in Conference USA and made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Three returners earned all-conference honors last fall: senior outside hitter Sonja Percan, AVCA all-region, All-C-USA tournament, All-C-USA first team; senior middle blocker Stacey Mercer, All-C-USA; and junior outside hitter Anastasia Zaitseva, All-C-USA tournament.
The Terrapin Invitational in Review: Indiana competed at the Terrapin Invitational in College Park, Md., this past weekend and compiled a 2-1 record, losing to Maryland (30-28, 30-27, 30-26) in its tournament opener and rebounding to defeat Loyola Marymount, 3-2, and Boston College, 3-2, on Saturday. LMU was receiving votes in the USA Today/AVCA Top 25 prior to last weekend's action. Sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald (Belleville, Ill./West) and senior libero Hillary Toivonen (Muncie, Ind./Burris) were both named to the all-tournament squad. Versus Loyola Marymount, Archibald recorded a career-high 29 kills, with only seven errors on 58 total attempts (.379 hitting percentage). To go along with her impressive kill total, the standout sophomore also displayed her all-around abilities as she recorded 18 digs, also a career-high, and five blocks. In three matches (13 total games), she notched 66 kills. Toivonen recorded 41 digs in 13 games and her passing was exceptional.
A Weekend of Career Highs: Several players set new career highs at the Terrapin Invitational (9/13-9/14). Sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald (Belleville, Ill./West) set career highs in kills (29) and digs (18) vs. Loyola Marymount. Junior outside hitter Nikki Hill (Muncie, Ind./Central) set or equaled three career highs as she notched all-time bests in kills (22) and digs (19) vs. Boston College and tied her career high in attempts with 49 vs. Loyola Marymount. In addition, sophomore setter Victoria Zimmerman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) added career-best marks in assists (69) vs. Loyola Marymount and in digs (15) vs. Boston College.
Spreading the Wealth: Four Indiana volleyball players have earned all-tournament team honors in 2002. At the Northern Illinois Invitational (8/30-31), sophomores Christina Archibald and Katie Pollom earned all-tournament honors and junior middle blocker Melissa Brewer was recognized as the tournament's Most Valuable Player. At the TIS/Taylor Imprinted Sportswear Classic (Sept. 6-7), Pollom and Archibald were named to the all-tournament team. Last weekend at the Terrapin Invitational, Archibald was named to the all-tournament team for the third consecutive week. She was joined on the team by senior libero Hillary Toivonen.
Indiana vs. IU Classic Opponents: In its history, Indiana has played a total of 25 matches against teams who will be participating at this weekend's IU Credit Union Classic. In its history, IU has recorded a 6-2 record against Butler, a 5-8 mark vs. Louisville, and a 2-2 record vs. CMU. Indiana is 6-1 all-time against these three opponents in matches played in Bloomington.
Butler
Date W/L H/A Score
10/5/82 W A 15-3, 15-3
9/2/86 W H 15-3, 15-8, 15-9
9/8/87 W A 15-3, 15-11, 15-10
9/8/93 L H 9-15, 14-16, 15-6, 11-15
9/27/94 W A 16-14, 15-10, 11-15, 15-8
9/26/95 W H 15-11, 15-12, 15-11
9/11/96 L A 15-12, 8-15, 15-13, 8-15, 9-15
9/15/98 W H 15-1, 15-10, 12-15, 15-3
Central Michigan (2-2)
Date W/L H/A Score
9/24/77 L N 15-6, 14-16, 15-6
9/2/83 L N 7-15, 14-16, 16-14, 10-15
8/31/84 W N 16-14, 11-15, 15-8, 15-7
8/31/91 W N 15-10, 15-8, 12-15, 15-10
Louisville
Date W/L H/A Score
9/15/77 W A 15-9, 11-5, 15-4
10/6/81 L A 15-5, 9-15, 9-15, 16-14, 15-6
11/12/81 W H 10-15, 15-2, 16-14, 15-9
10/20/82 L A 4-15, 6-15, 11-15
10/17/84 L N 15-7, 17-15, 8-15, 4-15, 13-15
9/6/85 W H 15-8, 15-9, 9-15, 5-15, 15-8
9/19/89 W A 15-11, 15-11, 15-8
9/14/90 W H 15-7, 11-15, 15-5, 15-13
9/6/91 L A 10-15, 12-15, 7-15
9/5/92 L A 15-10, 15-9, 6-15, 11-15, 9-15
9/3/93 L N 11-15, 4-15, 10-15
9/10/94 L A 9-15, 15-4, 7-15, 12-15
9/7/96 L A 11-15, 8-15, 14-16
IU Classic Connections: Several opposing players in this weekend's tournament have connections to the state of Indiana or current IU players. Central Michigan's roster features Liz Passen, a junior middle hitter from Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern High School, Katie Dum, a 6-1 freshman from Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard High School, and freshman defensive specialist Ali McCrite who is from New Albany, Ind./Providence High School.
Butler's roster features seven Indiana products, including junior setter Amanda Matthews, who was a high school teammate of IU's Katie Pollom, and sophomore Kali Carter, who prepped with IU's Monique Pritz at Columbus East high school.
Archibald and Pollom Move Into IU Record Book: Sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald's 29 kills vs. Loyola Marymount at the Terrapin Invitational in College Park on September 14 moved her into a fourth-place tie with Lynn Crawley (29 kills vs. Wisconsin 9/30/94) for kills in a match by an IU volleyball player (35, Ryann Connors vs. Purdue, 11/7/98). Sophomore captain Katie Pollom (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) recorded 11 total blocks vs. Boston College at the Terrapin Invitational at College Park, Md., on September 14. The total tied her with three other former IU standouts for total blcoks in a match, including current IU assistant Cydryce Carter.
Hoosiers Off to Excellent Start: Indiana's 7-2 record through its first nine matches is the seventh-best start in the history of Indiana volleyball. The others are as follows:
1997 Started 15-0 Finished 18-15
1999 Started 9-0 Finished 21-10*
1977 Started 9-0 Finished 28-14-2
2000 Started 10-1 Finished 18-12
1990 Started 10-2 Finished 17-11
1988 Started 8-2 Finished 17-13
2002 Started 7-2
*Earned NCAA Tournament Bid
Weismiller Closes in on Win Mark: With 146 victories at Indiana, head coach Katie Weismiller (Texas-Arlington, '88) is only 13 victories shy of becoming Indiana's all-time winningest volleyball coach in terms of victories (Ann Lawver, 158 wins from 1975-82). Now in her tenth season at Indiana, Weismiller has led the volleyball program to unprecedented heights. After taking over a program that was 6-23 prior to her arrival, Weismiller led the Hoosiers to a .500 record in only her second season in Bloomington. In her third season, the Hoosiers finished with a 20-14 overall mark, including a 12-8 record in the Big Ten Conference, and earned the school's first-ever NCAA tournament bid. Indiana made back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 1998 and 1999, advancing to the second round of the tournament on both occasions. Prior to Indiana, Weismiller was the head coach at Saint Louis University (1989-90), prior to serving as an assistant at the University of Florida (1991-92).
Two New Assistants Join IU Staff: Tenth-year head coach Katie Weismiller's staff underwent major changes this offseason as two new assistant coaches are strolling the IU sidelines for the first time. Cydryce Carter (Indiana '00) joins the Indiana staff after spending two seasons as an assistant at Southwest Texas State. As a standout player at Indiana under Weismiller, Carter finished her impressive career among Indiana's top 10 in digs, service aces, block assists, and total blocks. She twice earned Academic All-America honors.
Ryan Theis (Wisconsin-Milwaukee, '00) begins his first season at Indiana after spending the past two seasons as the top assistant and head recruiter for the women's volleyball program at Eastern Illinois University. He helped lead the Panthers to a 21-9 overall mark in 2001.
Brewer an Academic All-America Candidate: Junior Melissa Brewer (Bloomington, Ind./North), a first-team All-Big Ten Freshman Team selection in 2000, is a leading candidate for Academic All-America honors before her career reaches its conclusion. In 2001, the 6-foot-1 middle blocker recorded 340 kills and a .242 hitting percentage in 28 matches. She led the team with 110 blocks and finished second on the club with 212 digs. In the classroom, she earned Academic All-District V honors and was named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team. She also received the Balfour Award, which recognizes student-athletes who have brought honor and distinction to Indiana University. Brewer began the 2002 season where she left off, earning Most Valuable Player honors at the Northern Illinois Best Western Invitational. On the weekend, Brewer recorded a .415 hitting percentage, to go along with 46 kills in 10 games. With 35 block assists in nine matches this fall, Brewer has now moved into fifth place on IU's career block assist list with 244. Last weekend, she passed Amanda Welter, who recorded 235 block assists from 1997-00.
Four Starters Return: Although libero/outside hitter Hillary Toivonen (Muncie, Ind./Burris) is the Hoosiers' lone senior, Indiana does return four starters to its starting lineup from a year ago, including middle blocker Melissa Brewer (Bloomington, Ind./North) and outside hitter Christina Archibald (Belleville, Ill./Belleville West), both of whom earned Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors in each of the past two years, respectively. Other returning starters include junior outside hitter Nikki Hill (Muncie, Ind./Central) and junior outside hitter Monique Pritz (Columbus, Ind./East).
Hill Receives National Recognition: Nikki Hill, a 5-foot-11 junior outside hitter from Muncie, Ind. (Central) received national recognition this past spring when she was named as a recipient of the Arthur Ashe, Jr., Sports Scholar Award, which is sponsored by Black Issues in Higher Education. The award is presented to student-athletes of color who have maintained a grade point average of 3.2 or higher and have demonstrated a record of service to the campus or community. Hill has played very well throughout the season and through nine matches is averaging 3.09 kills, 1.91 digs, and 0.59 blocks.
Pollom Selected as Captain: Junior/sophomore Katie Pollom, a 6-foot-3 middle blocker from Indianapolis, Ind. (Cathedral High School) is serving as Indiana's team captain in 2002. What makes this rare is that Pollom saw the first action of her career last fall, appearing in 71 games over the course of 23 matches, and is only a sophomore in eligibility, despite having junior academic status. In 2001, Pollom finished second on the team with 68 total blocks and finished fifth on the team with 129 kills. In 2002, she was named to the all-tournament team at the NIU Best Western Invitational. In a 3-0 victory over IUPUI, Pollom recorded a hitting percentage of .875. Pollom was again recognized the next week as she was named to the all-tournament team at Indiana's TIS/Taylor Imprinted Sportswear Invitational. Through nine matches, she has recorded a .338 hitting percentage and is third on the team with 111 kills.
The Libero Position - Taylor Made for Toivonen: Collegiate volleyball has undergone a major rules change in 2002 with the institution of the libero. The libero is a designated back-row player, intended to be used as a ball-control specialist. The libero is allowed to replace any player in the back row without counting as a substitution. There is no limit to the number of libero replacements a team is allowed. The pronunciation is "LEE-bah-ro." The color of the libero's uniform must contrast from the color of her teammates' uniforms. The libero's shorts must be the same as her teammates'. The style and trip of the designated libero's uniform may differ from her teammates'. The referees will ultimately decide if the contrast is sufficient. Head coach Katie Weismiller strongly believes that the position will benefit senior Hillary Toivonen more than anyone else on the Hoosier roster.
"Playing the libero position will only highlight her best assets, which are passing and defense. She'll also provide great leadership."
As a junior in 2001, Toivonen played in all 28 matches and in 103 of 106 possible games in 2001. An excellent defender, she recorded a team-high 235 digs, joining Melissa Brewer (212) and Christina Archibald (203) as the only other Hoosiers to record 200-or-more. She was third on the team with 194 kills and also recorded five double-doubles.
This fall, Toivonen was named to the all-tournament team at the Terrapin Invitational (Sept. 13-14).
Toivonen Moving Up the Career Digs List: With 104 digs in 2002, senior libero Hillary Toivonen (Muncie, Ind./Burris) has moved into seventh place on Indiana's career digs list with 977. The career list is as follows:
1. Jen Magelssen (1995-98) 1,331
2. Cydryce Carter (1996-99) 1,128
3. Lynn Crawley (1991-94) 1,063
4. Julie Goedde (1986-89) 1,013
5. Kristina Sanderson (1996-99) 1,003
6. Nancy Mason (1988-91) 980
7. Hillary Toivonen (1999-present) 977
8. Joy Jordan (1987-90) 899
9. Stacie Murr (1992-95) 898
10. Michelle McElroy (1991-95) 882
11. Anne Eastman (1991-94) 792
12. Karen Dunham (1984-87) 786
The Two Freshmen: Indiana's roster will feature two freshmen in 2002 -- 6-foot-1 middle blocker Mandy Eberle (Sussex, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) and 6-foot-1 outside hitter Ashley White (St. Charles, Ill./East). Eberle helped lead her high school team to a No. 2 state ranking as a senior, while White led her team to a No. 7 national ranking and a state title.
Zimmerman to Handle Setting Duties: Sophomore Victoria Zimmerman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) is the lone setter on Indiana's roster in 2002 and, thus, will handle those duties throughout the season.
"Victoria comes in with an attitude that I love," said head coach Katie Weismiller. "She wants it so badly and she wants to work hard. We've had players in the past who are gamers, and she is truly one of those. Her setting locations are some of the best that we've ever had in the program."
In 2001, Zimmerman appeared in 23 games over the course of 12 matches. In this year's season opening tournament at Northern Illinois, Zimmerman recorded 135 assists (13.5 apg), four service aces, and recorded a .250 hitting percentage. She also played very well at the Indiana TIS/Taylor Imprinted Sportswear Classic (Sept. 6-7) as she recorded 138 assists in a total of 11 games (12.5 assists per game). At the Terrapin Invitational in College Park, Md. (Sept. 13-14), Zimmerman set a career high with 69 assists in a 3-2 win over Loyola Marymount.
Heimann Added to Roster: Indiana received an unexpected boost in late August when Beth Heimann (Decatur, Ind./Bellmont) returned to the program after a one-year hiatus. A defensive specialist, Heimann played for the Hoosiers as a true freshman but did not participate last year. The return of Heimann was a pleasant surprise for head coach Katie Weismiller, who believes the addition of an experienced defensive specialist should immediately improve her team.
"We are very excited to get her back on the court and back in our program," said Weismiller. "She is a great passer and a great defensive player. Now, she's been off a year. There are plenty of reps and conditioning that has to be done."
Heimann, whose sister Erin lettered in volleyball for the Hoosiers from 1996-99, appeared in 25 matches in 2001 and is excited to be back on the floor after a year's absence.
"I just missed playing volleyball," said Heimann, who is currently the roommate of sophomore Katie Pollom and junior Melissa Brewer, and lives next door to junior Monique Pritz and sophomore Christina Archibald. "I live with three of the girls so I am kind of in the middle of it. The opportunity came up so I decided to give it a chance again."
At the Terrapin Invitational (Sept. 13-14), Heimann recorded 26 digs and one service ace in three matches.
Archibald Named to 2001 Big Ten All-Freshman Team: For the third time in as many years, an IU freshman was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team. Following in the footsteps of Laurie Gardner (1999) and Melissa Brewer (2000), Belleville, Ill., product Christina Archibald was named to the 2001 Big Ten All-Freshman Team after turning in a stellar season that saw her set the freshman record for kills with 364. The members of the Big Ten All-Freshman Team are as follows:
2001 Big Ten All-Freshman Team
Christina Archibald - Indiana
Jennifer Gandolph - Michigan
Stacey Gordon - Ohio State (Freshman-of-the-Year)
Jill Odenthal - Wisconsin
Drew Robertson - Northwestern
Kim Schram - Michigan State
Nine Hoosiers Earn Academic All-Big Ten Honors: In 2001, nine Indiana volleyball players were eligible for Academic All-Conference honors, and all nine delivered by being recognized as such. Indiana's 2001 Academic All-Big Ten honorees are as follows (returning players in bold): Melissa Brewer (Sophomore/Biology), Laurie Gardner (Senior/Marketing), Nicole Hill (Sophomore/Marketing), Crecia Keithley (Senior/Psychology), Anna Makowski (Sophomore/Environmental Science), Katie Pollom (Sophomore/Biology), Monique Pritz (Sophomore/Exercise Science), Meghan Stout (Senior/Exercise Science), Hillary Toivonen (Junior/Health Administration).
Two-Sport Athlete: Sophomore Christina Archibald (Belleville, Ill./West) participated on the IU Track and Field team during the spring of 2002 and finished in a fourth-place tie at the Big Ten Championships with a leap of 5'7 3/4", tying her for the best finish in the event by a freshman. She boasts a career high jump of 5'10". A physically imposing outside hitter, Archibald immediately worked her way into the starting lineup as a true freshman in 2001 as she started all 28 matches on her way to earning Freshman All-Big Ten accolades. She played in 99 out of a possible 106 games and led the Hoosiers in kills (364), attacks (964), and service aces (29). Her total of 364 kills was the most every by an IU freshman. She finished third on the team in digs with 203. In the 2002 season opening tournament at Northern Illinois, recorded a career-high tying 23 kills vs. NIU. At the TIS/Taylor Imprinted Sportswear Classic in Bloomington, Archibald was named to the all-tournament team. She followed up that performance by being named to the All-Tournament Team at the Terrapin Invitational in College Park, Md. (Sept. 13-14). In a 3-2 win over Loyola Marymount, Archibald recorded career-highs in kills (29) and digs (18).
