Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Down Manhattan, 3-0
8/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Coral Gables, Fla.--After struggling in a five-game victory last night, the Indiana volleyball team came out strong and confident on its way to a three-game sweep of Manhattan. The Hoosiers downed the Lady Jaspers 30-27, 30-25, 30-26 improving to 2-0 on the young season.
"Overall, I thought our ball control and our passing was much better today than it was last night," said head coach Katie Weismiller. "Our serving was much better and we are starting to work together as a unit. Our outside hitters were outstanding and they were terminating every thing."
Leading the way for IU was sophomore Ashley White (St. Charles, Ill./East HS), who finished with 11 kills in her first major action of the season. In addition, junior Christina Archibald (Belleville, Ill./West HS) finished with a match-high in kills for the second-straight day, pounding out 17.
"Ashley is definitely an offensive threat for us. She did a great job terminating balls and making the most out of every opportunity. I'm very pleased with her performance today."
Trailing 9-8 in the opening game, the Hoosiers reeled off four unanswered points taking a 12-9 lead. Archibald started the rally with consecutive kills followed by a Victoria Zimmerman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington HS) kill and a service ace by senior Nikki Hill (Muncie, Ind./Central HS). Manhattan managed to tie the game at 17-17, and the teams exchanged points until senior Melissa Brewer (Bloomington, Ind./North HS) put IU up for good with her third kill of the game giving Indiana a 21-20 lead. Senior Monique Pritz (Columbus, Ind./East HS) added two kills and White delivered two kills down the stretch as the Hoosiers closed out the game with a 30-27 victory. Archibald led the way with a game-high seven kills with Pritz, Brewer and White adding four kills apiece.
Six different Hoosiers recorded kills accounting for seven of the team's first nine points as IU built an early 9-4 lead and cruised to a 30-25 victory in game two. The closest the Lady Jaspers came to the lead was 12-9, but a combination of Manhattan errors and Indiana's outstanding hitting was enough to lift the Hoosiers to a 2-0 lead in the match. Archibald continued her torrid play and showed her versatility with four kills, a block solo and a service ace. Additionally, White pounded three kills while sophomore Mandy Eberle (Sussex, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) saw her first action of the year adding a kill and a block assist.
Looking to close out the match, Indiana took a 9-6 lead on the strength of two Archibald kills and some great defensive play in the third game. The Lady Jaspers responded with a 5-1 run taking an 11-10 lead, their first lead since 9-8 in the opening game. After the two teams split the next eight points, senior Katie Pollom (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral HS) drilled two-consecutive kills helping the Hoosiers recapture the lead at 16-15. Pollom had a hand in five-consecutive Hoosier points (four kills and one block assist) helping Indiana build a 22-18 lead. As IU looked to close out the match, it looked no further than Archibald. The junior nailed four-straight kills moving the Hoosier lead to 26-21, and the team never looked back, closing out the game and Manhattan 30-26. Once again, Archibald finished with a game-high seven kills. In addition to her offensive prowess (five kills), Pollom supplied defensive firepower with two block assists in the game.
Pollom finished with nine kills while Brewer added eight. The Hoosiers hit .328 in the contest.
Indiana returns to the court in the final game of the tournament against Miami at 7:00 p.m. tonight. The tournament hosts defeated Manhattan, 3-0 in their only match of the event.
"Miami's a very, very strong team and it's going to be a tough challenge," said Weismiller. "We're looking forward to matching up with them on the court. It should be a good battle."
