Indiana University Athletics
Monon Spike on the Line Wednesday Night
11/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 3, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana University volleyball team (14-12, 3-9) looks to fend off the invading Boilermakers of Purdue (11-12, 3-9) Wednesday night in a home match at University Gym with the Monon Spike on the line. The Big Ten Network is broadcasting the contest, starting at 7 p.m.
In addition to the battle for the Monon Spike Wednesday evening, the Hooisers will also play a road match at No. 12 Minnesota (17-7, 8-4) on Friday (8 p.m. EST). Indiana split their meetings versus these schools during the first half of the Big Ten slate, defeating Purdue while dropping a decision to Minnesota.
Brent Stover and Elizabeth Moreau will be on the call Wednesday night for the Big Ten Network. Can't get to a television? No problem, as IUHoosiers.com will be providing a free audio broadcast for both matches. Jeremy Gray or Dave Leno will provide the play-by-play duties for IUHoosiers.com.
THE MONON SPIKE
The Monon Spike was created in 1981 and has grown to be as important as football's Old Oaken Bucket in symbolizing the rivalry between Indiana and Purdue.
A pair of Purdue players set out to create something that would not only represent the competition on the court but also showcase the rich tradition of the state of Indiana. They chose the Spike from the Monon Railroad, which originated in Indiana in the late 19th century. It was taken from a portion of track near Indianapolis, marking the halfway point between Bloomington and West Lafayette.
Also, as is traditionally done with its sister trophy, the Old Oaken Bucket, an "I" or "P" link is added to the chain annually to signify the victor of that season's showdown.
PUR-DON'T, A BOILER SPOILER
In a match that will go down as one of the most exciting in the history of the Indiana-Purdue rivalry, the Hoosier Volleyball team fought and clawed their way to a 15-13 fifth-set winner in West Lafayette.
It was everything one would expect in a rivalry match, going to a fifth set for the third consecutive time. Speaking of the rivalry, the Hoosiers take a half point lead in the 2009-10 Smithville Crimson and Gold Cup standings by coming out on top in the first meeting between the two schools this season.
ARE WE THERE YET?
The night after battling back from a 2-0 deficit to No. 6 Illinois before coming up just short in the fifth-set comeback, Indiana suffered another heartbreaker versus Northwestern. It took a total of 46 points (24-22) to decide the final set. It was the longest fifth set Indiana has played since the inception of rally scoring in 2001.
BIG TEN DOMINANCE
The Big Ten once again leads the nation with three teams ranked in the top seven of the latest AVCA coaches poll. In addition, the Big Ten is the only conference in the country with four teams in the top 10 of the NCAA RPI.
BENSON BREAKING RECORDS
Junior Ashley Benson may go down as the greatest Indiana University volleyball player EVER. She has already begun her inevitable onslaught of the IU record books. Benson's career hitting efficiency of .312 is 22 percentage points higher than any other Hoosier. She also owns the top single-season blocks record, a feat she accomplished in just her second season at IU; and is on pace to break once again this year. Her current hitting percentage of .3645would shatter the previous season mark in that category.
Additionally, Benson became just the fifth player in IU history to record 1,000 career kills and 400 digs. Did I mention she is only a junior? Benson is on pace to own the career records for hitting percentage, kills and total blocks by the time she hangs up her Cream and Crimson jersey.
INSTANT IMPACT
Indiana's Jordan Haverly was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week by the conference office on Monday. It marks the second such weekly accolade for Haverly through the first six weeks of her career. The Cherry Valley, Ill., native won the same distinction for the week of Sept. 14.
Haverly shined brightly on the national stage, putting down 19 kills while hitting .395 in IU's 3-2 win at Purdue which was broadcast on the Big Ten Network. With 10 digs against the Boilermakers as well, Haverly recorded her fifth double-double of the season.
ADDITIONAL RECORD SEEKERS
Several other Hoosiers are also closing in on scripting their names into the IU record books. Caitlin Cox has dug 378 balls on the year entering this weekend. The all-time season mark was set by her former teammate Juli Pierce (481). Mary Chaudoin has already cracked the top-10 in career assists with 1,355, slotting her ninth all-time. Taylor Wittmer may be joining her soon, needing only 22 more blocks to place herself in the top-10 of that all-time career category.
