Indiana University Athletics
2005 Hoosier Volleyball Showcased at Opening Scrimmage
8/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 20, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The 2005 Hoosier volleyball squad showcased its talent at fall scrimmage on Aug. 20 at the University Gym in Bloomington, Ind. Overall, the extraordinarily deep front line shined during the controlled competition, while the team also demonstrated an aggressive serve throughout the match. Additionally, the incredible amount of off-season work between the setters and the hitters looks to be paying off for Indiana.
Freshman outside hitter Erica Short definitely impressed the crowd with her heavy attack during the match. On a consistent basis, Short made the other side pay when allowing her to get a hand on the ball as she pounded set after set into the opponent's side of the court.
"We've been practicing with our setters and passers," Short said. "We couldn't do it without the setters or passers. We've been working on a lot of combination stuff with everybody hitting the ball."
Meanwhile, the corps of hitters (sophomore Gabrielle Allison, freshman Carrie Deal, sophomore Lauren Ditteon, senior Rachel Gerling, junior Anne Grabow and freshman Emily Zulauf) converted a healthy amount of attacks into kills during the scrimmage with an increasingly aggressive attack.
"I am so excited to play with them this year," freshman setter Laura Holm said. "I have so much confidence in everybody here. It is really fun to play with people that are this intense. They are all good players. Everybody is great."
Indiana head coach Katie Weismiller agrees.
"I am very excited about the front line," Weismiller said. "We are much more balanced now than we have been in the past. Our line can really terminate. We have some big guns. We have some people that can put the ball away. (Lauren) Ditteon is doing great after her injury. She is doing fabulous. Erica is obviously going to be a go-to player for us. Not only is she great offensively, she can be a huge block."
Additionally, IU demonstrated one of its traditional powers - the serve game. The Hoosier serve recorded more than 10 aces, while senior middle blocker Mandy Eberle notched four.
"Serving, passing and defense is really the key for us," Weismiller said. "We just have to keep doing well from the service line. We also are being aggressive. When we were serving the aces today, they were aggressive balls."
In addition, Weismiller enjoyed the luxury of having a corps of quality defensive specialist/liberos vying for the starting spot on Aug. 27, as junior Sara Diehl, freshman Jessica Langert, freshman Kari Morgenstein, freshman Christine Nolen and freshman Hana Ros all worked to keep the floor clean from IU's impressive front line.
"The best part about right now is that we have a lot of people in contention for the defensive specialist position," Weismiller said. "We have all of them battling right now and stepping up."
Overall, the future is now for the 2005 Hoosiers as the influx of 10 newcomers has injected Indiana with a newfound excitement.
"I think it is really great," Eberle said. "Our enthusiasm has picked up so much. We are really communicating out there and it is a lot of fun to be out there on the floor. I think everybody all around is doing a good job this year working hard."
