Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Face Purdue on Senior Night
11/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
November 26, 2003
Bloomington, Ind. - Winners of three of its last five contests, the Indiana volleyball team (12-17, 5-13 Big Ten) concludes its home season with a match against intrastate rival Purdue (13-16, 6-12 Big Ten). The Hoosiers will say farewell to four seniors. Melissa Brewer, Nikki Hill, Monique Pritz and Beth Heimann will play their final match at University Gym. Match time is set for 7:00 p.m.
After the Boilermakers, IU closes out its regular season against the Badgers of Wisconsin (19-10, 11-7 Big Ten) on Fri., Nov. 28 in Madison, Wis., at 7:00 p.m. The Hoosiers dropped a heartbreaking five-game match to the Badgers at University Gym 29-31, 31-29, 30-19, 27-30, 15-12 on Oct. 18.
HOOSIER REPORT
This past weekend, Indiana (12-17, 5-13 Big Ten) split a pair of home matches. IU dropped a four-game match against then-No. 20 Illinois 30-20, 28-30, 30-23, 30-27 before rebounding with a victory over Northwestern 33-31, 35-33, 30-25.
Senior Melissa Brewer turned in an outstanding performance over the weekend, recording 26 kills, four block solos, seven block assists and a .363 hitting percentage in the two matches. Junior Victoria Zimmerman picked up her team-leading eighth double-double (42 assists and 12 digs) of the season against then-No. 20 Illinois, and junior Katie Pollom finished with a match-high 16 kills, hitting .467 in the victory over the Wildcats.
Against Purdue, on Wed., Nov. 26, the Hoosiers will say farewell to four seniors. Brewer, Nikki Hill, Monique Pritz and Beth Heimann will play their final match at University Gym and look to defeat their intrastate rival, Purdue.
HOOSIER OPPONENTS
Purdue: The Boilermakers come to Bloomington with a 13-16 overall record and 6-12 mark in Big Ten play. Last weekend, Purdue went 1-1, knocking off Northwestern in five games and falling to then-No. 20 Illinois in four games in West Lafayette, Ind.
Purdue is led by Kim McConaha. The junior leads the Boilermakers with 399 kills, averaging 3.73 per game. McConaha's 226 digs, 15 block solos, 112 block assists and 127 total blocks are also tops on the squad.
Wisconsin: IU concludes its season with a match in Madison, Wis., against the Badgers. Wisconsin is headed for postseason play, entering the weekend with a 19-10 record. The Badgers are tied for fourth place in the conference with Michigan State at 11-7. U-W split its weekend road matches, sweeping Ohio State and falling to then-No. 15 Penn State in three games.
Senior libero Jill Maier had an outstanding weekend for Wisconsin, recording 17 and 22 digs, respectively, in a victory over Ohio State and loss to then-No. 16 PSU. Maier ranks third in the Big Ten with 388 digs and fourth averaging 3.56 digs per game.
Head Coach Katie Weismiller
The winningest volleyball coach in Indiana University history, Katie Weismiller has completely changed the fortunes of the IU volleyball program during her 10 years in Bloomington. Now in her 11th season, Weismiller has led the Hoosiers to three NCAA Tournaments in the last five years, including an NCAA berth last fall. Last year's appearance marked the fourth time in the program's history, (all under Weismiller), an Indiana team advanced to the postseason. After taking over a program that was 6-23 prior to her arrival, Weismiller led the Hoosiers to a .500 record in her second season in Bloomington. In her third season, the Hoosiers finished with a 20-14 overall mark, 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 on both occasions. Prior to Indiana, Weismiller was the head coach at Saint Louis University (1989-90), and an assistant at the University of Florida (1991-92).
Assistant Coach Cydryce Carter
Carter is in her second season as an assistant coach at Indiana after spending two seasons as an assistant at Southwest Texas State. Carter coordinates Indiana's recruiting efforts in addition to her on-court responsibilities, which include working with the Hoosiers' middle blockers. Carter's impact was felt immediately in 2002 as she helped lead the Hoosiers to the NCAA Tournament. As a standout player at Indiana, Carter finished her career among Indiana's top 10 in digs, service aces, block assists and total blocks. She twice earned Academic All-America honors.
Assistant Coach Ryan Theis
Theis is in his second season at Indiana. In his first season, the Hoosiers won 12 more matches than they did in 2001. In addition to his on-court duties, Theis is responsible for a number of administrative functions including team travel, equipment and recruiting. Prior to his arrival at Indiana, Theis spent two seasons as the top assistant for the women's volleyball program at Eastern Illinois University. In 2001, he helped lead the Panthers to a 21-9 overall mark, an Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship and an NCAA Tournament berth.
Seniors Bid Farewell
Against Purdue, the Hoosiers will say farewell to four seniors. Melissa Brewer, Nikki Hill, Monique Pritz and Beth Heimann will play their final home match and look to defeat their intrastate rival. The seniors are 5-2 in their careers against the Boilermakers and are a perfect 3-0 at University Gym.
Against The Boilermakers
The Hoosiers dropped a four-game match 30-28, 30-26, 21-30, 30-28 on Oct. 15 at Purdue. In her career, Indiana head coach Katie Weismiller is 15-6 against the Boilermakers. The Hoosiers have won eight of the last 10 meetings between the teams. IU has won five consecutive matches at University Gym and is 9-1 under Weismiller against Purdue in Bloomington, Ind.
Battle For The Monon Spike
In 1981, the Indiana vs. Purdue rivalry increased in intensity as both teams began playing for The Monon Spike, a prestigious traveling trophy. Indiana has swept the season series from Purdue in each of the last two seasons and won the match in West Lafayette last year that was designated the Monon Spike match. During Weismiller's tenure, Indiana has won six of 10 Monon Spike matches.
Closing In
After becoming the IU all-time block assists leader earlier this season, Melissa Brewer is closing in on two more milestones. The senior middle blocker needs 14 blocks to become the school's all-time total blocks leader. In addition, Brewer needs 13 kills to break Indiana's all-time kills record. Brewer currently sits second on both career lists.
Against The Badgers
IU lost a heartbreaking five-game match against then-No. 23 Wisconsin 29-31, 31-29, 30-19, 27-30, 15-12 on Oct. 18. Melissa Brewer led the Hoosiers with 18 kills, hitting .457 with five block assists. Indiana lost to the Badgers in three games last season when the two teams met in Madison, Wis.
Brewer Recognized
Senior middle blocker Melissa Brewer was named to the Verizon Academic All-District V Second Team on Nov. 13. Brewer, a member of the first team the past two seasons, was one of 12 players selected to the first and second teams this season. The Bloomington, Ind., is majoring in biology.
Block Party
In Indiana's victory over Iowa on Nov. 14, the Hoosiers recorded a season-high 34 block assists. Senior Melissa Brewer set a team single-match high with 10 block assists and Katie Pollom (three block solos and seven block assists) equaled Brewer with a team single-match high 10 total blocks. The previous match, against Ohio State, the Hoosiers recorded 32 block assists and Pollom finished with nine block assists.
A Fresh Spark
Freshmen Lindsay Cochrane and Tasha Arsenych have provided the Hoosiers with a spark the past three weekends. Cochrane started both matches against then-No. 20 Illinois and Northwestern. The Geneva, Ill., native corralled 13 digs against the Illini and Wildcats. Cochrane has appeared in the 31 of the last 34 Hoosier games and has started seven of the team's last nine matches. Overall this season, Cochrane has reached the double-digit digs plateau six times, with a career-high 14 at Michigan and has 159 digs and 11 service aces.
After notching her first collegiate start at Illinois on Oct. 25, Arsenych was back in the starting rotation against Ohio State on Nov. 8. The Plano, Texas, native delivered a tremendous all-around performance with 47 assists, eight digs and six block assists.
Brewer Breaks Block Record
Against Purdue on Oct. 15, senior middle blocker Melissa Brewer etched her name into the Hoosier record books, recording seven block assists, becoming the Indiana all-time leader with 407 in her career. She broke current IU assistant coach Cydryce Carter's record of 405. The senior also added a match-high 17 kills, hitting .389 in the match.
.300 Is The Mark
The Hoosiers are 7-1 when they hit .300 in a match and 3-14 when they do not reach the .300 mark. IU's highest single-match hitting percentage of .358 came in the Hoosiers sweep of IUPUI in the opening match of the TIS/Taylor Invitational, and its highest single-game hitting percentage of .562 came against South Carolina at the Notre Dame Shamrock Invitational.
Dominant Defense
In 27 matches this season, the Hoosiers have only allowed six opponents to hit .300 or higher in a match. Overall, Indiana has held nine opponents under the .200 plateau, going 8-1 in those matches. The Hoosiers held IUPUI to a season-best .054 hitting percentage in their three-game victory.
New Streak Begins
After failing to record double-digit kills at Michigan State for the first time in 32 matches, Christina Archibald rebounded with a 12-kill performance at Michigan the following match. The junior reached the 10-kill plateau in both matches this past weekend and has reached the mark in 28 of the team's 29 matches. Dating back to last season, Archibald has pounded 10 or more kills in 45 of the last 46 matches she has played in.
Double-Double
Christina Archibald captured her sixth double-double of the season after nailing 18 kills and corralling 11 digs in the Hoosiers' four-game victory at Iowa on Nov. 14. Last season, the Belleville, Ill., native recorded 12 double-doubles and now has 25 in her career.
Setter Victoria Zimmerman leads the team with eight double-doubles after distributing 42 assists and 12 digs against then-No. 20 Illinois this past weekend. It was the junior's second straight double-double. In 2002, she garnered 10 double-doubles and now has 17 in her career, second on the team to Archibald's 25.
Big Ten Leaders
Thus far this season, three Hoosiers are among the Big Ten leaders in several statistical categories. Christina Archibald is sixth in the conference with 440 kills and 4.11 kills per game average. Melissa Brewer is fifth with 130 total blocks, eighth averaging 1.21 blocks per game and ninth with a .305 hitting percentage. Beth Heimann ranks eighth in the Big Ten with 339 digs and averaging 3.36 digs per game.
In conference matches, Brewer is sixth with her .300 hitting percentage, is second with 1.40 blocks per game and is fourth with 87 total blocks. Heimann ranks eighth averaging 3.26 digs per game in league matches.
Brewer Academic All-America Candidate
Melissa Brewer, a first-team All-Big Ten selection last season, is a leading candidate for Academic All-America honors. The Bloomington, Ind., native was named to the Verizon Academic All-District V Volleyball First Team for the second consecutive season in 2002. Additionally, Brewer was one of eight Hoosiers to earn a spot on the Academic All-Big Ten team. On the court, the senior middle blocker became the sixth Hoosier in the program's history and the first since Anne Eastman and Lynn Crawley (1994) to earn Mideast All-Region honors in 2002.
Two-Sport Star
In addition to her volleyball duties, Christina Archibald is a member of the IU track and field team. During the spring of 2002, Archibald finished in a fourth-place tie in the high jump at the Big Ten Championship with a leap of 5'7 3/4''. The jump tied her for the best finish in the event by a freshman. The Belleville, Ill., native took last track season off to rehabilitate a foot injury.
Pollom Pounding Away
Middle blocker Katie Pollom is rolling along in this 2003 campaign. The Indianapolis, Ind., native leads the team with 21 block solos while ranking second with 22 service aces, 83 block assists and 104 total blocks. She also sits third on the squad with 308 kills, a .268 hitting percentage and 2.91 kills per game. The junior was named honorable mention All-Big Ten last season after setting an IU single-season record for total blocks (153), and tying current IU assistant coach Cydryce Carter for first on the single-season block assists list (139). Pollom finished third on the team in kills with 446, which ranks seventh all-time on the Hoosiers' single-season list.
Zimmerman Runs the Show
Running the show for Indiana is setter Victoria Zimmerman. During the Hoosiers' match against then-No. 20 Illinois, the junior recorded her eighth double-double of the season. In addition to delivering 42 assists, Zimmerman nearly recorded a triple-double with 12 digs and five kills. Overall this season, the junior has dished out 12.27 assists per game to go along with 224 digs (second on the team), 95 kills and 36 block assists. Last season, displaying great leadership and excitement on the court, Zimmerman set the single-season school record with 1,765 assists. She ranked ninth nationally with 13.58 assists per game and is an All-Big Ten candidate this season.
Heimann Gets Defensive
Junior Beth Heimann has picked up where departed senior Hillary Toivonen left off. She has been a catalyst on the defense registering a team-high 339 digs, averaging 3.36 digs per game appearing in 101 of the team's 107 games as the Hoosier libero.
Heimann turned in her best performance of the season setting a career high with 22 digs at Purdue. This past weekend, the Decatur, Ind., native compiled 10 digs against then-No. 20 Illinois and nine digs in the team's victory over Northwestern. After taking a one-year hiatus from the squad, Heimann returned to the team just weeks prior to the start of the 2002 season. She appeared in all 33 matches and recorded 253 digs, fifth-best on the team.
Pritz Sees Increase In Action
Senior Monique Pritz shined during the offseason and has continued her impressive play into the regular season. Pritz has seen action in 105 of the team's 107 games, pounding 176 kills, hitting .272 (second on the team) and adding 66 block assists, good for fourth on the team. Against Ohio State on Nov. 8, the Columbus, Ind., native pounded nine kills, hitting .333 to go along with six block assists and four digs. Pritz also holds the Hoosiers' highest hitting percentage of the season at .889, drilling eight kills on nine attempts with no errors in a victory against then-No. 18 Minnesota.
White A Pleasant Surprise
One of the brightest positives from Indiana's performance this season has been the play of sophomore Ashley White. Appearing in only 18 games last season, the St. Charles, Ill., native has appeared in 82 games this season. White has contributed 141 kills, good for fifth on the team, participating in 28 of the team's 29 matches this season. At Michigan State and Michigan, White started her first two collegiate matches providing 11 kills and participating in five of the team's six games. With her increased playing time, White has terminated 132 more kills than last season, the most significant improvement on the team.
Hill Fights Through Knee Injury
After undergoing surgery just prior to spring break (2003), senior Nikki Hill has looked refreshed and provided IU with a spark this season. Hill has appeared in 87 of the team's 107 games and started 17 of the team's 29 matches. She ranks fourth on the team behind Heimann, Zimmerman and Archibald with 155 digs and sits fourth on the team with 14 service aces. The Muncie, Ind., native tallied 10 digs in the third game against then-No. 17 Penn State on Nov. 7.
Fantastic Freshmen
Freshmen Sara Diehl and Katy Jo Mroski have recently seen increased playing time in the Hoosier rotation. Diehl has appeared in 74 of the team's games, starting six of IU's 27 matches. Brought in for her defensive play and service game, the Bloomington, Ind., native has recorded 11 service aces and has compiled 83 digs this season, including a career-high 10 digs against then-No. 17 PSU.
Mroski's playing time has risen sharply in Big Ten play. The Hubbard, Ohio, native turned in her best performance of the season with eight kills and a .417 hitting percentage against then-No. 16 MSU on Oct. 11. Against the Nittany Lions on Nov. 7, Mroski drilled five kills, hitting .333 in game three.
Impressive Start
Indiana began its Big Ten season with victories over then-No. 18 Minnesota, 3-0, and Iowa, 3-0. The last time the Hoosiers started the season winning their first two matches was the 1997 season when IU downed Purdue and Ohio State.
IU Credit Union Invitational Champs
The Hoosiers captured their first tournament title of the 2003 season at their own IU Credit Union Invitational. After downing Saint Louis (3-0) and Austin Peay (3-1) in its first two matches, IU came back from a 0-2 deficit to defeat Western Kentucky in the championship match. Behind an offensive onslaught and an energetic crowd, Indiana rallied for the 32-34, 23-30, 30-21, 30-25, 15-11 victory.
Christina Archibald led the way for Indiana compiling a season-high 25 kills, 11 digs, eight block assists, two service aces and hitting .364 against the Lady Hilltoppers. Melissa Brewer nailed 18 kills, hitting .325, and Katie Pollom finished with 18 kills and collected two block solos and seven block assists.
Archibald Brings Home MVP
After her performance at the IU Credit Union Invitational, Christina Archibald earned tournament MVP honors. The Belleville, Ill., native finished the weekend with 56 kills, 26 digs, 12 block assists and four service aces. Indiana appeared in four tournaments this season, and Archibald was named to the all-tournament team in all four events.
All-Tournament Appearances
In addition to Archibald, Melissa Brewer and Katie Pollom earned spots on the all-tournament team at the IU Credit Union Invitational. Brewer terminated 48 kills along with 19 block assists in the tournament. The Bloomington, Ind., native was named to three all-tournament teams this season.
Pollom earned her first all-tournament nomination of the season finishing second on the team with 50 kills. She also turned in a dominant performance on the defensive end with four block solos and 10 block assists.
Oh So Close
Two different tournaments, same result. The Hoosiers fell in the championship match for the second-straight tournament at the TIS/Taylor Invitational on Sept. 6. After defeating IUPUI in three games and Southeast Missouri State in four games, Indiana fell to Wisconsin-Green Bay in five games in the finale. It marked the second time in the two-year history of the tournament IU finished second at the event.
Weismiller Remains Perfect
In its 29th season, Indiana has compiled a 22-7 record in season-opening matches. The Hoosiers improved to a perfect 11-0 in season openers under head coach Katie Weismiller after defeating Kent State in five games. Indiana's last loss in a season-opening match was a three-game sweep at Kentucky on Sept. 4, 1992.
Preseason Big Ten Poll
Coming off its third NCAA Tournament appearance in five seasons, the Hoosiers were selected fifth in the 2003 Big Ten Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. In addition, league coaches tabbed junior outside hitter Christina Archibald to the preseason All-Big Ten team.
USA Today Poll
Overall, three Big Ten teams are currently ranked in the top 25 and two Big Ten teams sit just outside the top 25 receiving votes. Indiana has faced four teams ranked in the top 25 this season and two teams receiving votes in the poll.
Hoosiers Dancing
In 2002, Indiana advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in school history. Weismiller has led the Hoosiers to the NCAA Tournament three times in the last five years. Last season, eight Big Ten teams earned a berth into the tournament. IU matched up against the University of Texas in the first round dropping a heartbreaking five-set match 22-30, 38-36, 17-30, 30-24, 10-15. The Hoosiers are 2-4 all-time in the NCAA Tournament in their four appearances.
