Indiana University Athletics
No. 17 PSU Downs Hoosiers
11/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
November 7, 2003
Box ScoreBloomington, Ind. - In its second match of the season against No. 17 Penn State, the Indiana volleyball team fell to the Nittany Lions 30-16, 30-15, 30-28. The Hoosiers are now 9-15 overall and 2-11 in the Big Ten and PSU sits at 21-4 overall and 10-3 in league play.
Senior Nikki Hill (Muncie, Ind./Central), junior Beth Heimann (Decatur, Ind./Bellmont) and freshman Sara Diehl (Bloomington, Ind./South) led the way defensively with 10 digs apiece. Freshman Tasha Arsenych (Plano, Texas/East) distributed 20 assists and freshman Katy Jo Mroski (Hubbard, Ohio/Hubbard) pounded five kills, hitting .333.
"Tasha came in off the bench and had a strong match," said Weismiller. "She is learning how to communicate and become a leader on the court. That is really the key for her because she has the technical skills. Sarah comes in working hard every day before practice with the attitude that she wants to. Lindsay (Cochrane) is the same way. She had an off night, but she has had an incredible season for us. Katy Jo Mroski stepped up tonight as well."
"I really look to the older players to help me a lot," said Diehl. "I want to help them and do my best to stay consistent. Passing, digging and just being where I need to be to get the job done and help our team win."
Additionally, seniors Melissa Brewer (Bloomington, Ind./North) and Monique Pritz (Columbus, Ind./East) and juniors Christina Archibald (Belleville, Ill./West) and Katie Pollom (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) each ended the evening with three block assists.
After struggling through the opening two games, IU fought back in the third game. The teams played to 5-5 and 10-10 ties before the Hoosiers opened up a three-point lead at 16-13.
Penn State rallied to even the score at 18-18, but Indiana regained the advantage after a kill by Brewer and Mroski and a Brewer service ace. The Lions reeled off the next three points to tie the score at 21-21. Again, the Hoosiers stormed back, using two PSU errors to grab a two-point lead.
With the Nittany Lions holding a 24-23 lead, IU continued the back-and-forth affair with three unanswered points behind a Pollom kill and block assist. Penn State rallied to knot the score at 26-26 when Archibald delivered a kill giving Indiana a 27-26 lead. It turned out to be the final lead the Hoosiers would hold as the Lions ran off four of the game's final points for the 30-28 victory and their 21st win of the season.
Hill turned in an incredible defensive effort in the game, recording a game-high 10 digs. Heimann added six digs and Mroski ended the game with five kills.
"I know they want it," said Weismiller of the team's effort in game three. "You look at the seniors and you know they want to win. Some of the other players stepped up, and they all were trying to go for the same goal. There is no doubt this team in talented. It is just we need some confidence, and maybe we got a little bit of it, we lost, but we came and started competing. We need to look at that and hopefully take it into tomorrow night."
Before its impressive performance in the final game, IU dropped the second game, 30-15. The game started off competitively, with the Hoosiers trailing 11-10. However, PSU ran off 16 of the next 19 points en route to the victory.
In the opener, the Nittany Lions dominated from the start, grabbing an early 10-4 lead and never trailing in the game, winning 30-16.
Archibald paced Indiana with five kills on eight attempts to go along with four digs.
The Hoosiers look to rebound when they return to the court against Ohio State, Sat. at 7:00 p.m. at University Gym.
"We had great practices all week," said Weismiller. "The intensity was high and we played hard. When the whistle blows, that is when we are struggling. Hopefully we can take some of this third game. We played a much better third game, the intensity was higher and the communication was a little bit better. Hopefully we can take that into tomorrow night. We need a break, we have been on the road with some tough competition and then come home and see Penn State. Ohio State is going to be good, but hopefully we can turn things around."
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