Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Houston
Volleyball Wins Again, Sweeping Houston to Win Tournament Title
8/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 29, 2009
Final Stats
HOUSTON, Texas - The Indiana University volleyball team has opened the season with a 3-0 record and a tournament title after defeating the University of Houston Saturday night in convincing fashion, topping the Cougars 25-19, 25-21, 25-17.
"We were a lot more aggressive with the serving and blocking," said Head Coach Sherry Dunbar. "I'm just really proud of them; that's a good win for us. Houston is going to have a very good season."
The Hoosiers' trifecta of victories in Texas earned them a Flo Hyman Invitational Co-Championship as Baylor also went 3-0 on the weekend. Indiana and the BU Bears did not face each other in the five-team event.
If an all-tournament team had been voted on, Ashley Benson would have likely been a unanimous choice as the tournament MVP with stellar performances in all three matches. She added 12 more kills Saturday against Houston while hitting at a .500 clip. Jordan Haverly was not far behind, compiling 11 kills on the evening. Taylor Wittmer also boosted the offensive attack with six kills on nine swings with no errors.
"She (Benson) has matured so much, and has taken a leadership role," said Coach Dunbar. "Ash understands the game so much better. We always knew she had the athletic ability, but now she is putting it all together."
Indiana's defense was the story of the night though. Ater recording zero blocks in the first set, the Hoosiers bullied the Houston front court and tallied 13 team blocks in the final two frames. Benson, Mary Chaudoin and Wittmer each put up six block assists.
Serving as an omen of what was to come all night long, the match began with three consecutive kills by Ashley Benson and Jordan Haverly. That tandem would combine for 11 first-set kills and 23 put-aways in the match. The Hoosier offense ran very smoothly in the opening set as 17 of 18 kills were assisted by the setting tandem of Chaudoin and Whitney Granado.
Benson's third termination of the set forced Houston's Head Coach Bill Walton to burn a timeout with the Hoosiers leading 15-8. Speaking of Benson, the Bloomington, Ind., native connected for a kill on all five of her attack attempts for a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage. Coach Dunbar mentioned in her pre-game interview that her Hoosiers planned to serve aggressive, and they did just that. Three of Indiana's first 12 points came via service aces. Haverly's sixth kill of the contest sealed the deal and gave IU a 25-19 first-set win.
The second set was a little closer with five tied scores and a couple lead changes, but ended with the same result ... in favor of the Hoosiers, 25-21. Benson continued to be a thorn in the side of Coach Walton's side as she made him call another timeout at the 19-15 mark following another thundering kill, one of six Benson kills in the second stanza. Indiana's defense was also crucial in the frame. The team recorded five blocks with Benson sending back four Cougar attack attempts. Haverly and Chaudoin also contributed to the defensive wall at the net, each posting two block assists. Taylor Wittmer hit a blistering .714 in the first two sets, smashing five kills on seven errorless attacks.
An outburst by Wittmer early in the third set that included five blocks and a kill during a 13-point stretch ignited the Hoosiers to a 14-4 edge. The Indiana lead never shrank below six points from there as the Cream and Crimson cruised to a 25-17 clincher.
IU Volleyball returns to action next weekend by hosting the IU adidas Classic. Indiana's opposition will include UT Martin, Kentucky, Murray State and Illinois Chicago. Tune into IUHoosiers.com for live audio of all volleyball matches.
