Indiana University Athletics
Volleyball Dominates IUPUI, 3-0
9/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Box Score
Bloomington, Ind.--After opening the season on the road its first three games, the Indiana volleyball team returned home for the first time this season and swept IUPUI in three games, 30-23, 30-15, 30-25. IU was led by junior Katie Pollom (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) with her 12 kills and .688 hitting percentage. "The passing was really good, and Victoria (setter Victoria Zimmerman) placed the ball really well," said Pollom. "I felt like we ran a faster offense than we did last weekend, especially with me. I felt like I was connecting a lot more, and again that all stems from the passing, and the intensity was just there." In the opening game, the Hoosiers used two big runs to open an advantage and put away the Jaguars. Leading 11-10, IU ran off five-consecutive points on the strength of two Pollom aces and two kills by junior Christina Archibald (Belleville, Ill./West). IUPUI trimmed the Hoosier lead to 22-19, but senior Melissa Brewer (Bloomington, Ind./North) pounded three kills as Indiana reeled off six of the next seven points taking a commanding 28-20 lead they would not relinquish. Archibald and Brewer finished the game with six kills apiece with Pollom adding five kills. Game two saw a Hoosier offensive explosion. The team hit an incredible .588 in the game, pounding the Jaguars 30-15. The teams split the first ten points before IU went a 9-0 run to build a 14-5 cushion. Indiana maintained a comfortable lead the rest of way, finishing the game on a five-point run. The .588 hitting percentage was the team's best performance in a game this season. Archibald and Brewer added five more kills, and senior Monique Pritz (Columbus, Ohio/East) got into the act with four kills and two block assists. The final game saw the teams exchange the first 16 points before IUPUI took an 11-9 lead, its largest lead of the match. Trailing 13-11, Brewer and Pritz took matters into their own hands, recording back-to-back block assists after two Jaguar errors, giving IU a 15-13 lead. Indiana built its lead to four at 24-20 after kills by Pollom and Archibald, and traded blows with IUPUI the rest of the way en route to the 30-25 victory and the three-game sweep. Head coach Katie Weismiller was satisfied with what she saw tonight and saw improvement from the team's opening weekend play. "I was very pleased," said Weismiller. "I felt we hadn't hit our stride yet, and in games one and two we really started to take care of the ball better and get into a rhythm. From the service line to come of the things we did offensively, I thought we took IUPUI out of what they like to do. They are a very good team. I felt like we were able to control the ball tonight and we were able to give our offense an opportunity. That was missing last weekend and it was great to see that back." In the match, Brewer finished with 15 kills after hitting .542 and Archibald collected her fourth-straight double figure kill game with 16 kills. Junior Beth Heimann (Decatur, Ind.) finished with 14 digs, leading IU on the defensive end. Overall, this was the Hoosiers most impressive performance of the year, and IUPUI head coach Steve Payne could see why. "I worked camp with a lot of these kids, so I know them pretty well," said Payne. "Katie Pollom always seems to have her career game against us. They serve tough, which also helps a lot." Indiana returns to action tomorrow on day two of the TIS/Taylor Invitational. The Hoosiers face Southeast Missouri State at noon and wrap up the tournament against Wisconsin Green Bay at 7:30 p.m. "We have two very strong teams tomorrow," said Weismiller. "They are both going to be scrappy teams, teams that have a lot of ball control. Green Bay has a pretty big block, so they are going to show us a few different things. Really all three of these teams have a lot of ball control, they have a lot of ball pursuit. We are going to have to work hard to terminate tomorrow."
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