Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Athletics November in Review
12/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
Dec. 4, 2006
IUHOOSIERS.com takes a look back at the success of Indiana's athletic programs during the month of November.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Indiana opened the Kelvin Sampson Era with a 91-66 victory over Lafayette in the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off on Nov. 13 at Conseco Fieldhouse. Despite setbacks to eventual NIT champion Butler and No. 10 Duke, the Hoosiers posted wins over Indiana State (73-66) and Chicago State (90-69) to close November with a 3-2 mark.
Four Indiana players entered December averaging double figures - junior forwards Lance Stemler (12.6) and D.J. White (12.3) are joined by senior guards Roderick Wilmont (11.4) and Earl Calloway (10.0). Freshmen Armon Bassett and Joey Shaw have also made an impact - Bassett scored a career-high 16 points at Duke, while Shaw is hitting .526 from the floor and is a key contributor both as a starter and a reserve.
Hoosier fans have the opportunity to purchase tickets to four Hoosier games during the month of December. In addition to the Dec. 22 IUPUI game at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, tickets remain for three Assembly Hall contests - Dec. 17 Southern Illinois, Dec. 20 Western Michigan and Dec. 30 Ball State. All four games tip off at 8 p.m.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Indiana opened the Felisha Legette-Jack Era with a 75-53 win over Wake Forest and followed with a 54-51 upset of No. 15 Kentucky to take home the Women's Sports Foundation Classic on Nov. 10 and 12 at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky. Freshman Jamie Braun was named Tournament MVP and sophomore Kim Roberson earned all-tourney team honors for their respective performances in the tournament.
The Hoosiers followed that up with back-to-back wins in Assembly Hall, beginning with an 85-51 triumph over Valparaiso on Nov. 15. IU then rolled past Dayton, 98-71, on Nov. 19, to head into the Thanksgiving holiday break, with 4-0 mark. Indiana spent the holiday weekend at the Miami Thanksgiving Classic where the squad went 1-1 with a 73-52 win over Wright State on Nov. 24 before falling in the championship game of the tournament to the host Hurricanes, 79-70. Junior Nikki Smith and sophomore Whitney Thomas each earned all-tournament honors for their respective performances on the weekend.
Indiana closed out the month of November with a 7-1 record as it defeated Evansville, 83-80, on Nov. 30 in Assembly Hall. Senior Sarah McKay led the Hoosiers in her first start of the season with 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the floor.
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
The month of November for the Indiana men's cross country team was highlighted by the outstanding performance of redshirt freshman Jordan Kyle. He placed third at the Great Lake Regional Championship on Nov. 11, earned his first-ever bid to the NCAA Championships while also earning all-regional honors. Kyle then continued to excel at nationals as he earned his first All-America honor with a 33rd-place finish in a time of 31:39.3 on the LaVern Gibson Golf Course in Terre Haute, Ind.
Kyle extended the Hoosiers' streak of competing at the national meet to an eighth consecutive year, the longest in school history. He also became IU's 15th All-American in men's cross country history. He is the first IU freshman to earn All-America honors since Bob Kennedy in 1988 and only the third freshman to be an All-American (Jim Spivey and Kennedy in 1978 and 1988, respectively) in program history. Kyle was the third freshman among the field and the first American-born freshman to finish the 10K race.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
Fifth-year seniors Jessica Gall and Lindsay Hattendorf led the Hoosier pack during the month of November. The pair finished as IU's top two runners at the Great Lakes Regional Championship as each qualified for a spot at the 2006 NCAA Championships.
Gall and Hattendorf became the first two women in IU cross country history to earn spots at nationals in each of their fours years of competition. Gall, a two-time All-American, placed fifth overall with a time of 21:03.26 in the 6K at the regional meet, while Hattendorf followed in 10th with a time of 21:12.16 as each earned all-regional honors for their performances.
The Hoosier duo concluded their cross country careers at the NCAA Championships, with Gall placing 84th overall with a time of 21:58.0 in the 6K and Hattendorf finishing 104th overall with a time of 22:10.6.
FIELD HOCKEY
The Indiana field hockey team closed its seventh season as a varsity program at IU in November with a 3-1 loss to Michigan State in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament on Nov. 3 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Sophomore forward Katie Kiper scored the Hoosiers' lone goal in the loss.
Junior midfielder Amanda Oyler was named to the conference's all-tournament team, while senior forward Lydia Schrott, senior back Morgan Miller and junior goalkeeper Haley Exner were tabbed first-team All-Big Ten for the second consecutive year at the tournament's banquet on Nov. 2.
The honors kept rolling in for the Hoosiers, as Exner, Miller and Schrott were honored by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) as first-team All-West Region selections. The honor was Exner's second, Miller's third and Schrott's fourth of their illustrious Indiana careers.
On Nov. 20, Miller became only the third Hoosier in program history to be named an All-American. The Gap, Pa., product was selected as a third-team All-American by the NFHCA after leading the Hoosier defense to the fewest goals allowed in program history (24).
Miller joins former Indiana standout and current U.S. National Team member Kayla Bashore and Schrott, who was a 2005 second-team honoree, in the Hoosier record books as the program's only All-Americans.
Miller and the Hoosiers closed the 2006 season ranked No. 16 with a 14-5 overall record and a 4-2 mark in the Big Ten.
FOOTBALL The Indiana football team closed its 2006 campaign with an overall record of 5-7 and a 3-5 mark in Big Ten play. IU gained its most victories and league wins in a season since 2001.
In the final game of the season against rival Purdue, the Hoosiers registered five takeaways, including four interceptions, but the Boilermakers took home the win in the 82nd edition of the Old Oaken Bucket game on Nov. 18 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.
The honors kept rolling in for the Hoosiers in November, as senior safety Will Meyers and sophomore kicker Austin Starr earned first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V honors as voted on by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Meyers went on to claim his second consecutive selection to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team on Nov. 30. Meyers is just the second Hoosier in history to earn two Academic All-America selections, joining John Hammerstein (1994-95) on that elite list. Last season, Meyers became just the fifth IU player to earn Academic All-America accolades.
Indiana junior cornerback Tracy Porter and sophomore wide receiver James Hardy earned All-Big Ten honors, the league announced on Nov. 21. The duo collected second team-accolades from the conference media and honorable mention from the conference head coaches. Meyers was selected as Indiana's representative for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award (each institution had one honoree).
Sophomore running back/kick returner Marcus Thigpen was named to the Second-Annual All-Film Team by ESPN.com's Todd McShay. McShay selected Thigpen as the kick returner for his national team after Thigpen averaged 30.1 yards per kickoff return and ran three kicks back for touchdowns.
Thigpen also was selected to the 2006 rivals.com All-America first team, the Web site announced on Nov. 29.
ROWING
Indiana's rowing team competed at the Head of the Hooch on the Tennessee River on Nov. 4, and closed the fall season with its annual Intrasquad Class Race Classic at Lake Lemon on Nov. 11.
At the Head of the Hooch, IU's first novice eight of Michelle Marchese (cox), Laura Jones (stroke), Sarah Tinsley, Cassady Bethel-Thompson, Katie Liston, Colleen Calhoun, Emily Kasavana, Faye Sparks and Brittney Paulk (bow) earned the silver medal in the women's freshman novice eight race, finishing the three-mile head race in 16:41.2. The Hoosiers finished just 0.8 seconds behind Texas' second novice eight. The Hoosiers' second novice eight also turned in a solid effort, taking seventh in the race in 17:38.0. The first varsity eight finished 11th overall in its race, while the second varsity eight was not far behind in 13th. Indiana capped its day with three entries in the women's championship four, taking eighth, 10th and 16th.
At the Intrasquad Class Race Classic, Indiana's sophomore boat emerged victorious on a day that saw the IU program christen a new shell. The Hoosiers started the day by dedicating a new Resolute eight in honor of Missy Schwen Ryan, a two-time Olympic medalist from Bloomington. When the team got down to racing, the sophomores claimed heat two, with Madison Spruell (cox), Ashley Johnson (stroke), Kelsey Kapral, Stephanie Hamilton, Jamie Spoto, Laura Fuhrmann, Jessica Keller, Stephanie Horvath and Justine Maxey (bow) finishing three seats up on the junior/senior crew to earn a spot in the final heat. The sophomores inched out to a lead in the final and never relinquished it, taking their first class championship with a five-second win over the freshman crew.
MEN'S SOCCER
The men's soccer team began the month of November by winning the Big Ten Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 5. The Hoosiers had won the Big Ten regular-season championship the week before, giving them the No. 1 seed in the tournament and a first-round bye. Indiana began its run to the title with a 1-0 victory over rival Penn State on Friday, Nov. 3, snapping a three-game losing streak to the Nittany Lions.
In the championship game, Indiana defeated host Ohio State, 1-0, to take its 11th Big Ten title. Sophomore Brian Ackley scored the game-winning goal for Indiana. He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Championship, while sophomore goalkeeper Chay Cain, who made 11 saves throughout the course of the tournament, earned the defensive nod.
Senior Josh Tudela was named Big Ten Player of the Year, while freshman Darren Yeagle earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. Head coach Mike Freitag was awarded his first career Big Ten Coach of the Year honor. Others who earned significant awards include Cain, who was named an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American.
The Hoosiers earned their 20th consecutive and 31st overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament, receiving a first-round bye with the seventh seed. Indiana faced Northern Illinois in its first game of the tournament on Nov. 15, defeating the Huskies 1-0. Ackley converted passes from sophomore John Mellencamp and Kevin Robson to score the game-winning goal.
Indiana moved on to face Santa Clara in the third round of the tournament. Despite playing to a 0-0 tie through four periods, the Hoosiers' season came to an end with a 5-4 loss in a penalty kick shootout. Indiana ended its season with a 15-4-3 record.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
The Indiana women's soccer team played just one game in the month of November, falling to Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, 2-1, in University Park, Pa. Freshman defender Jessica Boots was selected to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts in the contest.
Still, November was a month filled with honors for the Hoosiers in their best regular-season Big Ten finish since 1998. Three Hoosiers were named All-Big Ten, two of which were also named to the All-Freshman Team. Senior defender Lauren Lamping, freshman defender Kelly Lawrence and freshman midfielder Christie Kotynski were all selected to the conference's second team, which represented the most selections for ths Hoosiers since 1998. Lawrence and Kotynski were All-Freshman selections, with Lawrence being a unanimous choice.
The awards did not stop there for Lawrence, who also was named to the Top Drawer Soccer All-Rookie Team, where she was joined by freshman midfielder/defender Taylor Fallon. Additionally, Lawrence gained recognition from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, being named third-team All-Great Lakes Region.
MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
The Hoosiers participated in a pair of meets in November, dropping both ends of a double dual on Nov. 3-4 and hosting the IU Open Invitational on Nov. 17-19. Against No. 3 Texas and No. 4 California on Nov. 3-4, Indiana (2-3, 0-1 Big Ten) dropped a 210-149 decision to the host Longhorns, and fell 202-157 to Cal. The Hoosiers picked up three wins during the two-day meet, with Taylor Roberts taking the three-meter, Pat Penoyar winning the 200-yard breaststroke and Ben Hesen winning the 100-yard backstroke.
In the IU Open Invitational on Nov. 17-19, the 13th-ranked Hoosiers won seven championship finals. Junior Todd Patrick accounted for three of those victories, as he claimed the 200-yard individual medley, the 100-yard butterfly and the 100-yard freestyle. Patrick's 200 IM time of 1:49.01 was good enough for his first NCAA "B" cut of the season. Roberts picked up a pair of wins from the springboards, taking the one-meter and the three-meter, while classmate David Legler dominated the platform. Hesen picked up IU's other win, remaining undefeated in the 100-yard backstroke on the season. Roberts was named the Big Ten Diver of the Week on Nov. 21 after sweeping the springboards in the meet.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
Indiana topped No. 11 Texas on the road on Nov. 4, then hosted the IU Open Invitational on Nov. 17-19. Against the Longhorns, the Hoosiers (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) won eight of 13 events to top their second ranked opponent of the season. Indiana turned in seven NCAA provisional times on the day, with Leila Vaziri earning "B" cuts in the 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle, Allison Kay doing so in the 400-yard individual medley, Presley Bard taking the honor in the 200-yard backstroke, and Sarah Stockwell and Amilee Smith both doing so in the 200-yard breaststroke. In addition, Vaziri, Stockwell, Bard and Annica Lofstedt combined to turn in a "B" cut in the 200-yard medley relay. Christina Loukas continued her dominance on the springboards, taking the one-meter with a score of 314.63, and easily outdistancing the field in the three-meter with a score of 361.42, the third-best mark in school history. Vaziri was named the Big Ten Swimmer of the Week on Nov. 7 after her performance.
In the IU Open Invitational from Nov. 17-19, the Hoosiers emerged victorious in the championship finals of eight events. Vaziri won the 50-yard freestyle, Loukas won the one-meter, Kay took the 400 IM, Stockwell took the 100-yard breaststroke, Bard won the 100-yard backstroke, Lindsay Weigle won the three-meter and Ashley Jones captured the 200 back. In addition, Bard, Stockwell, Vaziri and Clarissa Wentworth combined to win the 400-yard medley relay. Stockwell erased her own school record in the 100 breast, turning in a time of 1:03.02. Loukas, who also took second on the platform and fourth on the three-meter, was named the Big Ten Diver of the Week for the third time this season on Nov. 21 after her performance at the IU Open.
MEN'S TENNIS
Indiana saw two players reach the semifinals of the Big Ten Singles Championship on Nov. 11-13. Senior David Bubenicek won his first five matches of the tournament, which included a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 win over 2005 winner Nolan Polley of Wisconsin in the semifinals, to reach the final round. He fell in the finals to 25th-ranked Matko Maravic of Michigan, 6-3, 6-2. Junior Dara McLoughlin also reached the semifinals, earning several hard-fought wins through his first four rounds before falling to Maravic in the semifinals. The Hoosiers open their spring season on Monday, Jan. 15, against Morehead State and IPFW.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
The women's tennis team ended its fall season at the Western Michigan Super Challenge, held Nov. 3-5. Freshman Lindsey Stuckey was the big winner for Indiana, winning her flight with a 7-6 (2), 5-7, 1-0 (4) victory over Alexis Conill of Northwestern. Sophomore Sigrid Fischer also reached the finals of her flight before falling in the final round. Several Hoosiers finished strong with wins in consolation. Indiana begins the dual match season on Jan. 14, 2007, against Western Michigan and Miami (Ohio).
VOLLEYBALL
The Hoosiers wrapped up the 2006 season by going 0-8 in the month of November. The Hoosiers' lone game victory came at Illinois on Nov. 17, where they fell, 3-1. Four of IU's losses during that span came against ranked opponents. Leading the team offensively was sophomore Erica Short, who tallied 91 kills in the eight matches, an average of 3.64 kills per game. Short also recorded double-digit kills in seven of the eight contests.
Indiana's match against Michigan State on Nov.11 was broadcast on Comcast SportsNet Chicago on tape delay. Viewers who received the channel were treated to a contest between the two teams on the new floor in University Gym. Michigan State captured the match, 3-0, and the Hoosiers were led by Short with 12 kills.
Against No. 10 Minnesota to close out the season, the Hoosiers out-blocked the Gophers, 11-8. IU was led by junior Annie Moddrell, who had two solo blocks and five block assists in the contest.
Senior Sara Diehl earned first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V honors on Nov. 9. It was her second consecutive honor, as the defensive specialist was awarded third-team honors during the 2005 season.
WRESTLING
The Indiana wrestling team began its 2006-07 campaign with a strong November, going 5-0 in dual meets and having successful outings at the Michigan State and Missouri opens.
The Hoosiers opened their slate at Michigan State for the unscored MSU Open, where 11 different IU wrestlers placed in the top eight. IU was led by junior Marc Bennett, who knocked off the top three seeds at 184 pounds to win the Open title. Redshirt freshman Trevor Perry had a strong 2006 debut as well, winning his first four matches at 174 before falling in the title match to Penn's Matt Herrington. Four others - Brandon Becker (157), Matt Coughlin (149), Max Dean (165) and Angel Escobedo (125) - posted third-place finishes in their weight classes in East Lansing.
On Nov. 19, the Hoosiers headed for Columbia, Mo., where the majority of the top wrestlers sat out to recuperate for the Hoosier Duals. Nonetheless, IU had 12 wrestlers finish in the top six in either the Open or Freshman/Sophomore division. True freshman Nick Walpole cemented his place in the starting lineup by taking the 141-pound title in the Freshman/Sophomore division. Andrae Hernandez finished second at 133 in the Open, while three unattached Hoosiers - Dave Herman, Josh Buuck and Kurt Kinser - all took the titles in their respective classes. Nathan Everhart added a fourth-place finish at 197 pounds in the Open, while four unattached IU wrestlers finished in the top three in the Freshman/Sophomore bracket.
Indiana closed out November by hosting five teams for the Hoosier Duals on Nov. 25. IU was dominant at the Duals, going 5-0 and not allowing any team to move into double digits. The closest meet was a 31-9 toppling of Ohio in the dual finale. Escobedo led four Hoosiers who went 5-0 at the event, as the redshirt freshman pinned four of his five opponents on the day. Escobedo earned Big Ten Co-Wrestler of the Week honors on Nov. 29 for his effort. Becker, Bennett and Coughlin all were 5-0 on the day, while Dean was a perfect 4-0.
