Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Michigan
IU Outlasts Michigan in Nailbiter, 3-2
9/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 24, 2005
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana volleyball squad erased a four-match losing streak to Michigan with a 3-2 (27-30, 30-22, 18-30, 30-27, 15-12) triumph over the Wolverines to improve to 7-6 (1-1 Big Ten) on the season. In an eerily similar contest to the Michigan State loss last night, the young Hoosier squad demonstrated that it continues to learn early-season lessons as Indiana refused to lose. Overall, a stellar service game along with a dominant presence at the net captured the victory for IU.
"We were more consistent," Indiana head coach Katie Weismiller said. "We fought the entire time. Everyone stepped up, and we played as a team. We had different players stepping up, which helped. This being a Big Ten win was huge for us. We think we can compete with any team in the conference. We have the personnel and the skill. Now, we have the confidence."
As a team, Indiana accounted for 10 aces. Additionally, the Hoosiers amassed 30 block assists, which tied for eighth in IU's record books.
Individually, senior middle blocker Mandy Eberle tied her own five-game University Gym record with nine total blocks, while her eight block assists tied for third in the U-Gym's history.
"Our defensive specialists did a phenomenal job," Eberle said. "Our blocks were strong. They did a great job talking the entire time."
For the match, freshman middle blocker Erica Short tied for a match-high 22 kills, while senior outside hitter Rachel Gerling and sophomore outside hitter Lauren Ditteon posted 15 kills each. Additionally, Ditteon and Gerling each nabbed double-doubles with 19 digs a piece, while junior libero Sara Diehl recorded 11 digs of her own. Meanwhile, freshman setter Laura Holm ran the offense with 58 assists.
After taking a 27-26 lead in the first frame, the Hoosiers could not withstand a withering attack by the Wolverines as Michigan sprinted to a 30-27 win to take a 1-0 lead.
The Hoosiers countered in the second stanza, and threatened the break the school record for the lowest opponent point total (14) when they vaulted out to a 24-11 lead. Michigan, however, responded to bring the game to 28-21, before Indiana closed out the game 30-22, to square the match at 1-1.
The roller coaster ride continued for the U-Gym crowd as Michigan flew out of intermission with a 30-18 win to take a 2-1 lead in a game that featured eight ties and four lead changes.
The fourth frame proved to be the most competitive as both benches received yellow cards as the squad traded leads two times and tie on six other occasions. Fortunately, the Hoosiers came out on top, 30-27, to knot the contest at 2-2.
The Hoosiers came out of the final break with a collective fire in their eyes to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Michigan, however, rebounded with a run of its own to take a 9-7 advantage. After the two squads traded shots, IU ran out to a 13-10 lead, and withstood a late Michigan rally to capture the win, 15-12. The final frame proved to be intense, as Michigan's bench received its second yellow card of the match.
The win not only moved them to 1-1 in the conference, it was the first conquest of the Wolverines since a similar 3-2 win at home on Nov. 9, 2002.
The Hoosiers return to action for their non-conference finale on Sept. 27 as they host Evansville at 7 p.m., in the University Gym.
Players Mentioned
