Indiana University Athletics
No. 16 MSU Stops IU
10/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Bloomington, Ind. - Life in the Big Ten is not easy and that was proven correct this weekend. After facing a talented Michigan team Friday night, the Indiana volleyball team came right back against 16th-ranked Michigan State Saturday night. Despite taking the opening game, the Hoosiers fell to the Spartans in four games 26-30, 30-25, 30-26, 30-25.
IU drops to 9-8 overall and 2-4 in Big Ten play, while MSU improves to 11-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play.
"This loss is really tough," said Indiana head coach Katie Weismiller. "We have a lot of talent, we are just not getting it done right now. We are going to come back on Monday and continue to work hard. I thought Michigan State did a nice job. We are so close, but we are just not finishing. We have too much talent, and we need to get some wins here."
Pacing the Hoosiers was junior Katie Pollom, who finished the evening with 15 kills, two block solos and six block assists. Freshman Katy Jo Mroski ended a second-straight successful night with a career-high eight kills and a .417 hitting percentage.
"I just tried to come into the game and do my best," said Mroski. "When I am on the bench, I watch what goes on, where they hit, where I need to block and where everyone else is blocking. I just try to add something to the team when I go in. I try to get everyone fired up by getting a block or kill that could bring up momentum."
In addition, senior Monique Pritz added 12 kills on 16 attempts with no errors. Junior Christina Archibald pounded a match-high 17 kills, giving her at least 10 kills in 28 straight matches.
Indiana looked poised to snap its three-game losing streak in the opener. The Hoosiers played its best game in two weeks, knocking off the Spartans, 30-26. In the game, IU outhit MSU .302 to .147.
Maintaining a three-point lead most of the game, the Hoosiers built a seven-point advantage at 26-19 en route to closing the game out. Pollom led both teams with seven kills, hitting .417 to go along with three block assists.
The Spartans responded in the second game, winning 30-25 to even the match. After taking a 5-4 lead, Michigan State never trailed the rest of the way.
IU fell behind early in game three, finally catching the Spartans at 17-17. However, MSU was too strong, scoring seven of the next 11 points and holding onto that four-point lead for the 30-26 victory.
Despite the defeat, Archibald finished with six kills in the game and Mroski continued to take advantage of her increased playing time by pounding four kills in the game.
Michigan State took a 7-3 lead early in the fourth game, but the Hoosiers stormed back. Needing a victory to extend the match, senior Melissa Brewer drilled two kills in addition to three kills by Archibald to give IU a 14-12 lead.
The two teams traded the next six points before the Spartans rallied, using a 7-2 run to take a 22-19 advantage they would not relinquish. Indiana cut the lead to 26-24, but could not get any closer, dropping the fourth game, 30-25.
"I would say the biggest thing we need to do right now is to get a consistent performance from everyone," said Weismiller. "We are doing a little bit better job of limiting our unforced errors, but we have to be an aggressive team. Out-of-system we need to limit out unforced errors, and in-system we need to be aggressive and take some swings."
Indiana looks to get back on track Wednesday, October 15 in West Lafayette, Ind., against intrastate rival Purdue. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
