Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Kentucky
#18 Kentucky Gets By Hoosiers, 3-1
9/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 4, 2009
Final Stats
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana University volleyball team (3-2) was tripped up by #18 Kentucky (5-0) Friday evening in the Hoosiers' second of four matches this weekend in the IU adidas Classic, held in University Gym. The Wildcats came out on top, three sets to one (25-23, 19-25, 25-19, 25-18).
Kelsey Hall had already notched a double-double by the time the third set started and ended the contest with 17 kills and 15 digs. Ashley Benson also posted impressive numbers on the night, hitting .560 with 16 kills on 25 swings and just two errors. Fellow Bloomington High North product Whitney Thomas connected at a .500 clip, putting away 10 of her 16 attacks with two errors. Freshman Whitney Granado notched a career-high 30 assists in leading the Hoosier offense to a .292 hitting efficiency.
Wittmer's errorless attacking streak to start the season extended into the second set against UK. The Loogootee, Ind., native racked up 56 attack attempts before committing her first attack error. She is hitting a cool .500 on the season (33-2-62).
The Hoosiers showed a lot of grit Friday evening, bouncing back from a disappointing loss earlier in the day and competing toe-to-toe with a national top-20 squad. The opening set was a prime example as IU battled back from several large deficits, including the largest at seven points. Indiana battled all the way back and tied the score as late as 20-20 before eventually coming up just short in a 23-25 defeat.
Indiana then jumped out to an early lead in the second stanza and led the entire way. Hall led the Hooiser charge, contributing seven kills and seven digs in the 25-19 second-set winner. The Hoosiers hit .343 in the frame with Mary Chaudoin and Granado combining for 16 assists from the setter position.
Benson continued to swing away in the third set and hit .545 with six kills. Indiana attacked at a .312 clip, but it was not enough as the Wildcats stroked .552 and took a 2-1 set advantage following a 25-19 UK victory. Indiana's border-state rival was then able to seal the deal, taking the fourth and final set 25-18.
The Cream and Crimson continue play in the IU adidas Classic on Saturday, playing a pair of matches at noon and 7 p.m. First on the docket is Murray State in the afternoon before IU faces UIC in the final contest of the weekend.
