Women’s Volleyball Faces Notre Dame In First Round of NCAA Championship – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/1/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Dec. 1, 1999
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State (16-11 overall, 10-10 Big Ten, tied for 5th in the Big Ten) will play in its 11th consecutive NCAA Championship this week when it faces Notre Dame (20-8) Saturday, Dec. 4 (5 p.m. Pacific) in Pauley Pavilion on the UCLA campus. The OSU-ND match is the first of two first round matches at UCLA. The Bruins (25-3) will face Eastern Washington (24-7) in the second match on Saturday (30 minutes after the Ohio State-Notre Dame match or 7:30 p.m., whichever is later). The Saturday winners return at 4 p.m. Sunday for a second round match and a berth in the central regional championship.
Ohio State ended the regular season with a split of home matches. The Buckeyes defeated Purdue 16-14, 15-13, 14-16, 15-13 and lost to Wisconsin 15-4, 2-15, 15-13, 14-16, 10-15.
NCAA HISTORY
Ohio State has appeared in 10-consecutive NCAA Championships. The Buckeyes have advanced to the regional level seven times and twice (1991 and 1994) has reached the national semifinals. Overall the Buckeyes have a 13-10 (.565) record in NCAA play. OSU’s trips to the national semifinals included regional championship wins over Nebraska and Long Beach State on their courts.
LOOKING AT THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State, offensively, is led by Rosie Snow who averages 3.56 kills (349) per game. Jen Flynn ranks second with a 3.29 average on 332 kills. Dana Stearns is the team’s top percentage hitter at .322 with Sue Calligaris second at .293. On the serve, Flynn has a team-high 27 aces with Katie Virtue and Shelly Draeger at 22 aces. Virtue is averaging 13.08 assists per game on 1,256 assists. Defensively, Snow has a team-high 264 digs (2.69) with Flynn second with a 2.42 average (244). Suzie Stiling (14-77, .94) has a team-high 91 blocks and Stearns is second (5-58, .76) with 63 total blocks. As a team, Ohio State is hitting .231 and averaging 16.61 kills per game. OSU averages 2.21 blocks, 13.80 digs and 1.40 aces per game. Buckeye opponents are hitting .212 and average 14.23 kills per game. Opponents average 2.53 blocks, 12.04 digs and .92 aces per game.
JEN FLYNN NAMED ALL-BIG TEN
Senior outside hitter Jen Flynn was named to the Big Ten All-Big Ten squad by a vote of the Big Ten coaches. A preseason All-Big Ten selection at setter, Flynn moved to the outside hitting position this season after two years at setter. She averages a team-high 3.41 kills per game in Big Ten play. Flynn has a 2.45 digs per game average and a .63 mark in blocks.
ROSIE SNOW AN HONORABLE MENTION ALL-BIG TEN
Senior outside hitter Rosie Snow was selected, by a vote of the Big Ten coaches, an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection. Snow averaged 3.36 kills per game in conference play. She had a team-high 207 digs (2.80 per game) in the Big Ten.
KATIE VIRTUE SELECTED AS BIG TEN FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Setter Katie Virtue has been named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by a vote of the Big Ten coaches. Virtue averaged 12.89 assists per game in conference play on 967 assists. She ranked sixth in the Big Ten, the highest ranking freshman setter.
SUZIE STILING SELECTED TO THE BIG TEN ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
Middle blocker Suzie Stiling, by a vote of the Big Ten coaches, was selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman team. Stiling averaged 2.41 kills per game in conference play. She had a team-high 1.00 blocks per game average in Big Ten play with 11 solos and 64 block assists.
A LOOK AT NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame is 20-8 overall and finished 11-0 in Big East Conference play. The Irish have lost two of its last three matches after winning nine straight. Notre Dame’s top offensive weapon is Christi Girton with 313 kills (3.77 per game). She also leads the team in digs with 195 (2.35). Denise Boylan runs the Irish attack and averages 11.75 assists per game. She also has a team-high 34 aces. At the net, Mary Leffers has a team-high 1.76 blocks per game average on 25 solo and 140 assists.
As a team, Notre Dame is hitting .280 and averages 15.10 kills per game. The Irish average 3.24 blocks, 13.45 digs and 1.52 aces per game. Irish opponents are hitting .197 and average 14.82 kills per game. They average 2.10 blocks, 12.22 digs and 1.54 aces per game.
The Series: Ohio State leads 4-3
85 W A 3-2 11-15, 15-9, 12-15, 15-13, 15-5 86 L H 1-3 15-6, 14-16, 9-15, 8-15 88 L A 0-3 5-15, 14-16, 7-15 89 W H 3-1 15-7, 15-8, 13-15, 15-7 90 W A 3-0 15-2, 15-1, 15-6 September Classic at SW Missouri St 91 L N 0-3 10-15, 13-15, 14-16 NCAA Second Round at Notre Dame 96 W A 3-2 8-15, 11-15, 15-11, 15-11, 15-8
A LOOK AT EASTERN WASHINGTON
The Eagles are 24-7 overall and had a 12-4 Big Sky Conference record. They have won its last two matches after dropping the three previous. They have a solid offensive attack with Lacey Coover and Angie Hall. Coover has 327 kills (2.92) and Hall 322 (2.98). Coover also is the team leader in aces with 37 and digs with 516 (5.61). Kim Maxwell averages 12.13 assists per game. Whitney Lewis is the team leader in blocks with a 1.17 per game average. She has 24 solos and 102 assists.
The Eagles, as a team, are hitting .234 and average 15.90 kills per game. The average 2.61 blocks, 18.78 digs and 1.58 aces per game. Opponents are hitting .157 and average 14.50 kills per game. They average 1.82 blocks, 18.44 digs and 1.50 aces per game.
The Series: Ohio State leads 1-0
Brigham Young Invitational 87 W N 3-2 15-6, 12-15, 5-15, 15-11, 15-10
A LOOK AT UCLA
Eighth ranked UCLA has a 25-3 overall record and was 17-1 in Pac-10 Conference play. The ended the regular season with a loss at Pepperdine. Offensively Kristee Porter has a team-high 499 kills (5.25) for the Bruins. Setter Erika Selsor has a 13.49 assist per game average. Ashley Howles is the team leader in ace serves with 26 and has a team-high 274 digs. Elisabeth Bachman has a 1.33 blocks per game average on 23 solos and 99 assists.
The Bruins are hitting .293 as a team and average 17.17 kills per game. They average 2.84 blocks, 15.13 digs and 1.53 aces per game. Opponents are hitting .144 and average 12.86 kills per game. They average 1.98 blocks, 13.17 digs and .97 aces per game.
The Series: UCLA leads 6-1
AIAW Championship at Texas 76 L N 0-2 3-15, 6-15 Louisiana State Invitational 83 L N 0-3 6-15, 12-15, 8-15 Wahine Invitational at Hawaii 90 L N 1-3 4-15, 11-15, 15-12, 13-15 NCAA National Semifinals at UCLA 91 L A 0-3 8-15, 8-15, 5-15 Michigan Volleyball Classic 95 L N 2-3 15-11, 11-15, 15-10, 9-15, 11-15 NCAA Central Regional Semifinalat Nebraska 95 L N 0-3 6-15, 6-15, 9-15 Wahine Volleyball Classic at Hawaii 98 W N 3-2 1-15, 15-3, 11-15, 15-8, 15-11
OSU 1-5 AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
The upset win at Wisconsin marked OSU’s first win this season over a nationally-ranked squad. The Badgers were ranked 24th and OSU was unranked. Ohio State is now 1-4 against ranked opponents, losing to No. 20 @Michigan (2-3), to No. 1 @Penn State (0-3), to No. 23 Minnesota (2-3), No. 1 Penn State (1-3) and No. 20 Minnesota (1-3)
OSU vs. Ranked Opponents 18t OSU at 20 @Michigan L 2-3 NR OSU at 1 @Penn State L 0-3 NR OSU at 24 @Wisconsin W 3-2 NR OSU vs 23 Minnesota L 2-3 NR OSU vs 1 @Penn State L 1-3 NR OSU vs 20 @Minnesota L 1-3
HEAD COACH JIM STONE
Jim Stone is in his 18th year at Ohio State. He has a 397-180 (.688) record with the Buckeyes and is 228-99 (.697) in Big Ten play. His squads have won Big Ten championships in 1989, 1991 and 1994 and in the last 10 years has only finished below third once. In the championship years, he was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year and in 1991 was the Volleyball Monthly Coach of the Year. For the last 10 years, OSU has participated in the NCAA Championships, advancing to the national semifinals in 1991 and 1994. Stone’s coaching career record includes three years at Wyoming (1979-1981). His 21-year career record is 447-222 (.668).
THE DEAN OF THE BIG TEN COACHES
Head coach Jim Stone begins his 18th-year in the Big Ten at Ohio State. Closest to Stone is Mike Hebert of Minnesota who is entering his 17th season. He spent 14 years at Illinois and the last three at Minnesota.
BIG TEN STANDINGS (Nov. 29) Conf. All 1 Penn State 20-0 30-1 2 Minnesota 15-5 25-8 3 Wisconsin 14-6 21-9 4 Illinois 12-8 16-10 5 Michigan State 10-10 20-12 Ohio State 10-10 16-11 7 Indiana 10-10 19-10 8 Purdue 7-13 15-14 9 Michigan 7-13 15-14 10 Iowa 3-17 4-23 11 Northwestern 2-18 4-28
Matches This Week 2 Illinois vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Gainesville, Fl. Indiana at Clemson 3 Robert Morris at Penn State Minnesota vs. Cal St Sacramento at Los Angles, Calif. Michigan State vs. Cal Poly at Malibu, Calif. Michigan vs. Fairfield at Stockton, Calif. Wisconsin vs. Arizona State at Provo, Utah 4 Ohio State vs. Notre Dame at Los Angeles, Calif.
BIG TEN INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL LEADERS (Conference Matches) as of Nov. 29 Hitting 1 Lauren Cacciamani, Penn State .413 2 Stephanie Hagen, Minnesota .359 3 Katie Schumacher, Penn State .342 4 Angela Morley, Michigan State .340 11 Dana Stearns, Ohio State .299
Kills 1 Nicole Branagh, Minnesota 5.57 2 Sarah Gustin, Michigan State 4.63 3 Lauren Cacciamani, Penn State 4.63 4 Aneska Arosarena, Purdue 4.62 5 Julie Williams, Iowa 4.54
Assists 1 Lindsey Berg, Minnesota 13.77 2 Vicki Basil, Michigan State 13.30 3 Taryn Catlin, Purdue 13.28 4 Melissa Beitz, Illinios 13.14 6 Katie Virtue, Ohio State 12.89
Blocks 1 Charnette Fair, Minnesota 1.77 2 Lauren Cacciamani, Penn State 1.75 3 Angela Morley, Michigan State 1.71 4 Sherisa Livingston, Wisconsin 1.53 5 Stephanie Hagen, Minnesota 1.41
Aces 1 Lindsey Berg, Minnesota .58 2 Erin Heimann, Indiana .42 3 Julie Williams, Iowa .39 4 Erin Hartley, Michigan State .38 5 Tammy Vonderheide, Michigan State .34
Digs 1 Nicole Kacor, Michigan 3.79 2 Erin Byrd, Wisconsin 3.52 3 Jennifer Zagorski, Northwestern 3.25 4 Nicole Branagh, Minnesota 3.24 5 Amanda Rome, Penn State 3.20
BIG TEN TEAM STATISTICAL LEADERS
Team Hitting 1 Penn State .336 2 Minnesota .253 6 Ohio State .215
Team Kills 1 Indiana 16.61 2 Minnesota 16.37 6 Ohio State 16.23
Team Assists 1 Minnesota 15.24 2 Indiana 15.14 6 Ohio State 14.78
Team Blocks 1 Minnesota 3.71 2 Penn State 3.69 7 Ohio State 2.29
Team Aces 1 Indiana 1.73 2 Minnesota 1.54 6 Ohio State 1.29
Team Digs 1 Wisconsin 15.68 2 Indiana 15.55 8 Ohio State 13.94
USA TODAY/AVCA Coaches Poll
Nov. 29, 1999 – Poll #13 Rank School Record (First-Place Votes) 1 Penn State (52) 30-1 2 Stanford (8) 26-2 3 Hawai’i 27-1 4 Florida 30-2 5 Pacific 28-2 6 Long Beach State 27-3 7 UC Santa Barbara 26-5 8 UCLA 25-3 9 Pepperdine 24-3 10 Nebraska 25-5 11 Colorado State 28-2 12 Brigham Young 26-4 13 Texas A&M 25-5 14 Southern California 20-8 15 Texas 21-7 16 Clemson 31-2 17 Northern Iowa 28-0 18 Arizona 19-10 19 Kansas State 20-8 20 Baylor 25-8 21 Colorado 18-11 22 Minnesota 25-8 23 North Carolina 27-5 24 Arkansas 29-6 25 San Diego 22-5
Volleyball Magazine Top 20 Poll
Nov. 29, 1999, Week 14 Rank School Record 1 Penn State 30-1 2 Stanford 26-2 3 Florida 30-2 4 Hawai’i 27-1 5 Pacific 28-2 6 Long Beach State 27-3 7 UC Santa Barbara 26-5 8 UCLA 25-3 9 Nebraska 21-5 10 Pepperdine 21-3 11 Colorado State 28-2 12 Texas A&M 25-5 13 Brigham Young 26-4 14 Texas 21-7 15 Northern Iowa 28-0 16 Southern California 20-8 17 Clemson 31-2 18 Baylor 25-8 19 Arizona 19-10 20 Akransas 29-6
