Indiana University Athletics
IU Sweeps Saint Louis
9/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Bloomington, Ind. - In its most complete match of the season, the Indiana volleyball team swept Saint Louis 30-21, 30-27, 30-21 in the team's opening match of the IU Credit Union Invitational. The Hoosiers hit .350 in the match while holding the Billikens to a .144 hitting percentage.
"I think we played so much better from the beginning of the match," said head coach Katie Weismiller. "We played as a team in a lot of different areas. Our passing picked up. Our passing and our transition were much better and that allowed our middles to get the ball more. Once our middles were in system, it opened up the outside. Overall, I think we played as a team and that is the biggest difference."
After a difficult road trip against nationally-ranked Notre Dame and South Carolina, the Hoosiers appeared energized by the home crowd.
"It is rough being on the road," said Weismiller. "We saw some great competition, and I think that it has certainly prepared us. We learned a lot last weekend. We couldn't be happier being back at home and playing in front of our fans. Our fans were wonderful. We really wanted to set the season straight, and I really think we did that tonight."
Senior Melissa Brewer (Bloomington, Ind./North) and junior Christina Archibald (Belleville, Ill./West) led IU with 15 kills apiece. In addition, Brewer led the team hitting .619 in the match. Katie Pollom (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) added 14 kills hitting .522 in the match.
"I think the main thing was team chemistry," said Brewer. "It is something we worked on in practice and something we struggled with last weekend. It is very nice to have it back."
Indiana opened the match with its highest opening-game hitting percentage of the season, .436, downing SLU 30-21. Leading 14-12, the Hoosiers went on a 5-0 run, capturing an insurmountable 19-12 lead, and played tremendous defense down the stretch en route to the victory. Pollom led the way with six kills while hitting .556. Archibald and Brewer nailed five kills each in the game.
SLU rebounded in the second game, grabbing a 14-9 lead before the Hoosiers responded. Brewer reeled off three kills and a block assist as Indiana evened the game at 20-20. After trading the next ten points, IU scored five of the game's final seven points escaping with a 30-27 victory and a 2-0 lead in the match. Brewer finished the game with six kills and a game-high three block assists.
"I have to credit the team," said Brewer. "Our defense was amazing. It is hard when you are out of system, but we were in system the whole game. The digs were right at the net, and it just makes it real easy on me to put the ball away."
Looking to finish the match off in three games the Hoosiers jumped on the Billikens early in game three and never looked back. Indiana took an 11-6 lead and cruised the rest of the game. Although SLU cut the Hoosier advantage to two points at 18-16, IU maintained its advantage and used a 7-1 run to close out the game and the match.
The Hoosiers finished the match with nine blocks including seven block assists from Brewer and five block assists from senior Monique Pritz (Columbus, Ind./East). In her most extensive action of the season, freshman Lindsay Cochrane (Geneva, Ill./Geneva) tallied a career-high 11 digs.
"Our block was so much better," said head coach Katie Weismiller. It was the first thing we talked about as coaches and it was so nice. It was a nine to three ratio, which is wonderful, but we controlled so many more balls. We kept the ball on their side so much more tonight, and it allowed our defense to set up. Our blocking was probably the most improved area."
Tomorrow, the Hoosiers complete the two-day event at 12:00 p.m. against Austin Peay and in the tournament finale against Western Kentucky at 7:30 p.m. at University Gym.
