Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Claim Finale Over Oregon State
9/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
September 4, 2004
BOX SCORE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - After dropping its first match of the season earlier Saturday afternoon, the Indiana volleyball team bounced back with a 30-24, 30-26, 36-34 victory over Oregon State in the finale of the IU Credit Union Invitational. The win moves the Hoosiers to 3-1 on the season, while the Beavers fall to 1-2.
"We came out and did a nice job getting confidence back after this afternoon's match," said head coach Katie Weismiller. "Tonight I thought we did a great job defensively and that was our goal going into this weekend. We really challenged the ball on the defensive end tonight."
IU finished the Invitational with a 2-1 record, but Saint Louis was crowned the champion after defeating Indiana this afternoon. Additionally, senior Katie Pollom and freshman Lauren Ditteon were named to the all-tournament team.
In the opening game against the Beavers, the Hoosiers jumped out to a 10-7 lead and eventual built the advantage to 14-9. Oregon State stormed back with an 11-6 rally to even the game at 20-20.
IU responded by scoring the next four points with the help of a pair of kills from senior Christina Archibald and a service ace by Pollom. The Beavers never recovered and Indiana closed out the game with a 30-24 victory.
"Offensively, I thought our middles did a great job," said Weismiller. "We did a good job of distributing the ball to both sides."
The Hoosiers spurted out to an early lead in game two and never trailed the rest of the way. Following a 9-5 run to open the game, IU increased its margin to 20-13. Oregon State closed the gap to 20-18, but Indiana netted four of the next six points and cruised the rest of the way, winning game two, 30-26.
Looking to end the match in three games proved to be a difficult task for the Hoosiers, as the game featured 23 ties and 10 lead changes before IU picked up an inspired 36-34 win.
The Beavers looked to have the game in hand, holding a 26-20 advantage, but Indiana would not quit. IU reeled off seven of the next eight points to even things at 27-27. Freshman Tasha Arsenych gave the Hoosiers two match points with back-to-back kills, however, Oregon State responded to square the match both times.
The teams continued to exchange points until freshman Christine Nilles pounded her seventh kill of the game to put IU ahead 35-34. Pollom finally closed out the game and the match with her 17th kill of the contest, giving IU the victory.
In addition to her seven kills, Nilles recorded three digs in game three, while Pollom drilled a match-high eight kills in the finale.
Pollom ended the evening with a match-high 17 kills for a .438 hitting percentage. Archibald and Nilles reached double-digit kills with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Nilles also added nine digs.
Arsenych tallied a career-high seven kills with 48 assists, while sophomore Lindsay Cochrane finished with a match-high 13 digs. Freshman Juli Pierce started her first collegiate match and concluded the night with six digs.
Up next, the Hoosiers travel to Arlington, Texas, for the Texas-Arlington Tournament. IU will take on Arkansas-Little Rock on Friday, Sept. 10, at 1 p.m. On Saturday, Indiana will face Houston at 1 p.m. and Texas-Arlington at 7 p.m.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Nikki Wong, Murray State
Allison Lawrence, Oregon State
Lauren Boissevain, Saint Louis
Lauren Ditteon, Indiana
Katie Pollom, Indiana
MVP - Aida Antanaviciute, Saint Louis
