Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Wisconsin
Wittmer, Hoosiers Blast Wisconsin
11/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 21, 2008
Final Stats
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Behind a career-high 18 kills by sophomore Taylor Wittmer, the Indiana University volleyball team defeated Wisconsin for the second time this season, 3-1 (25-23, 25-19, 17-25, 25-18).
"We keep bouncing back," said Head Coach Sherry Dunbar. "Tonight was reminiscent of the Minnesota match for me; we were intense and focused, but relaxed.
"We were siding-out really well. Our passing for three sets was really on. When our passing is good, we are hard to defend because of all the weapons we have."
Wittmer compiled her 18 kills on thirty attempts with just four errors for a .467 clip. Erica Short was right behind her in the kills category, racking up 15 put-aways while hitting .286 for the night. Lexie Woodson paced the Hoosiers with five blocks on the defensive side of the net.
Indiana was fast out of the gates in the first set, leading by as many as eight points at the 18-10 mark. The Badgers would then battle back though, trimming the deficit to a lone point at 24-23. Following an IU timeout at that juncture, Mary Chaudoin assisted Short for the set-clinching kill at 25-23. It marked Short's sixth kill of the opening set. Wittmer hit .667 in the set, connecting on four of six swings. Ashley Benson controlled the play at the net, recording three blocks.
"When Taylor (Wittmer) is playing like that you just have to feed her the ball because she gets more and more confident and more and more aggressive," said Dunbar. "She set the tone starting out, we set her a few times early on and she went up and crushed them."
The Hoosier offense picked it up even more in set number two, posting a .385 (14-4-26) team hitting efficiency. Short and Wittmer combined for nine kills while Kelsey Hall chipped in three terminations.. Hayley Koetter guided the high-powered attack for most of the set, totaling nine assists. Indiana got out to a large lead early once again, but did not allow a Badger comeback this time around in a 25-19 win.
Indiana's offensive chemistry could not endure the 12-minute break taken in between sets number one and two as they came out of the locker room and hit minus-.030 in a 25-17 loss in the third set.
The Cream and Crimson regained their mo-jo immediately in the fourth set, however, stroking at a .419 pace. Everyone contributed to the team's 16 kills with five different Hoosiers finishing off two or more kills. Wittmer led the way with five kills while Benson came alive offensively in the final set, putting away three of four attack attempts. Benson's right arm was responsible for two of IU's final three points in the 25-18 victory.
Saturday night's match versus Northwestern is Senior Night inside University Gym as senior captains Juli Pierce and Erica Short play their final contest at home. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m.
"We have two great seniors that we want to send out in style," said Dunbar. "We will come focused and play hard tomorrow night."
Players Mentioned
