Indiana University Athletics
IU Falls at Penn State, 3-0
9/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
September 27, 2002
University Park, Pa. - Penn State has lost five volleyball matches at home...dramatic pause...since November 25, 1995. Unfortunately, for Indiana, tonight was not one of those defeats.Despite Indiana's 3-1 victory over #11 Ohio State this past Wednesday, the Hoosiers knew that they would have to raise their level of play several notches to compete with the ninth-ranked Nittany Lions. Although Indiana trailed only 22-20 in game one, took a 17-14 lead in game two, and secured a 30-29 lead in game three, Penn State rode the momentum of a partisan home crowd of 2,003 and Indiana failed to hold on late in each of the three games as the Nittany Lions won the match, 3-0 (30-22, 30-21, 34-32).
"Basically, we came out flat," said head coach Katie Weismiller. "Penn State put pressure on us and we really didn't respond until midway through the third game."
In that third game, the Hoosiers (11-3 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) trailed 13-7 and looked as if they might be blown out of the gym but, to the team's credit, eventually tied the game at 24-24 and took a lead 25-24 on a kill by junior outside hitter Nikki Hill (Muncie, Ind./Central). Back-to-back kills by true freshman Ashley White (St. Charles, Ill./East) gave the Hoosiers a 27-26 advantage but the Hoosiers eventually dropped the game, 33-31, after taking a 30-29 lead.
For the match, sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald (Belleville, Ill./West) and junior Melissa Brewer (Bloomington, Ind./North) led the Hoosiers with 14 and 11 kills, respectively. Penn State was paced by senior Mishka Levy, who recorded 14 kills and a .300 hitting percentage. For the match, Penn State outhit the Hoosiers, .275-.108.
"We have to fire on all six cylinders to be successful, which we've done," said Weismiller. "Tonight, however, was not one of those nights. We will just get back into the gym and continue to improve."
In game one, it looked as if Penn State might make short work of the Hoosiers as Indiana looked out of synch both offensively and defensively very early in the match as the Nittany Lions grabbed a 3-0 lead. Indiana quickly gained its composure and took a 4-3 lead on a kill by Archibald. Penn State recaptured the lead and led 14-11 and 17-13 before another Archibald kill drew the Hoosiers within three points, 17-14. The Hoosiers pulled to within 22-20 later in the game but Penn State scored eight of the next ten points between the two teams to win, 30-22. The Hoosiers made the Nittany Lions work for every point as 20 of Penn State's 30 points were recorded on kills. Penn State also outhit the Hoosiers, .366-.152.
The Hoosiers recovered from Penn State's first-game run and jumped to a 6-3 lead in game two. With the game tied at 14-14, Hill recorded a back-row kill that was immediately followed by an Archibald attack and kill. A service ace by sophomore setter Victoria Zimmerman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) gave the Hoosiers a 17-14 lead but Penn State scored 16 of the next 20 points between the two teams to win the game, 30-21. Junior Robyn Goukas, the daughter of Matt Goukas, a former NBA player and coach, led the Nittany Lions throughout much of game two.
Indiana will return to action on Friday evening, October 4, as it travels to Ann Arbor, Mich., to take on the Michigan Wolverines.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Women's Volleyball
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