Hoosiers Outlast NIU In Five-Game Thriller

8/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Four volleyball players received their first start as Hoosiers in the season opener at Northern Illinois, along with their first victory as Indiana captured a 3-2 win (30-25, 28-30, 22-30, 30-20, 15-10) over the Huskies to begin the NIU Invitational. Freshman Ashley Benson, Mara Hilgenberg, Taylor Wittmer and Sophomore transfer Kelsey Hall were joined in the starting lineup by Senior Lauren Ditteon and Junior Erica Short while Senior Juli Pierce filled the libero role. Short racked up 22 kills and Hilgenberg compiled 56 assists in the contest.

Indiana has now won 15 consecutive season openers, dating back to 1992. In 33 seasons, the Hoosiers have compiled a 26-7 record in the opening match.

Short led IU offensively with eight kills and a .385 hitting efficiency in first game. Hilgenberg wasted little time showing Hoosier fans why she was chosen as the team's primary setter, racking up 18 assists in game one. After Northern Illinois knotted the score at 16-16, the Hoosiers took five of the next six points to take a 21-17 advantage that they would not relinquish. Short's seventh and eight kills of the opening act accounted for IU's final two points in the 30-25 win.

Game two was a back-and-forth battle in which the score was tied as late as 27-27. Unfortunately, seven Hoosier service errors proved to be too much to overcome in the 28-30 defeat. A kill by IU's Benson kept Indian alive at 28-29, but then NIU's Laura Baetzel ended the game with a kill for point number thirty.

Indiana jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the third game before the Huskies went on a four-point run for a 6-4 advantage. The Hoosiers put together a few stretches before eventually falling 22-30.

Trailing 6-11 early in game four, the Hoosiers began to mount their comeback by snatching five consecutive points. The Crimson and Cream later raced past NIU when Hilgenberg's service ace gave them a 19-18 edge. When Indiana extended the lead to 22-18, the Huskies were forced to take a timeout. The break in action did little to derail the red-hot Hoosiers, however, as they won nine of the next 11 points for the 30-20 victory. A kill by Senior Captain Gabrielle Allison sealed the deal and sent the match to a fifth and final game. Indiana's comeback was fueled by the resurgence of Short, who regained her game-one form and put away seven balls, including an electrifying solo block that tied the game at 17-17.

Pierce stepped into the service area after a Ditteon-kill handed the Hoosiers a 2-1 lead in game five. Pierce proceeded to record back-to-back service aces in the Hoosiers' seven-point run while she was serving. Northern Illinois took a timeout at 13-5 following yet another service ace by the Hoosiers, this time by Hilgenberg. Once again the pause in action did little to deter Indiana's momentum as the Hoosiers rolled to a 15-10 triumph in the match-clincher.

The Hoosiers are back in action at the Northern Illinois Invitational again on Saturday with a 5 p.m. match-up against Western Illinois. Indiana will cap off the weekend trip with a 10 a.m. showdown versus Western Kentucky on Sunday.