#18 Women’s Volleyball Faces Pittsburgh Wednesday – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/14/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 14, 1999
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State, ranked 18th in the USA TODAY/AVCA Coaches Poll and 15th by Volleyball Magazine, travels to Pittsburgh (4-3) for a Wednesday (7:30 p.m.) match completing five- consecutive road matches for the Buckeyes. It marks the homecoming of senior Jen Flynn (Baldwin H.S.), a Pittsburgh native. The Buckeyes then face Boise State (2-5) in its home opener Friday (7 p.m.) and complete the two-match home stand with Temple (3-2) Sunday (3 p.m.).
BOISE STATE MATCH FEATURES FAMILY FOUR PACK
Friday’s match against Boise State is Family Four Pack night. Two adults and two children or one adult and three children can purchase a Family Four Pack which includes four admission tickets, four hot dogs, four cokes and a box of popcorn for $16.
TEMPLE MATCH HAS FREE ADMISSION
Sunday’s match with Temple will have free admission as it is campus move-in day. Promotions for the match include free schedule posters, free pizza (while supplies last) and the giving away of Wisconsin football tickets.
TEMPLE MATCH TO BE BROADCAST ON DELAYED CABLE
The Sunday afternoon Temple match will be a delayed cablecast by Insight Communications. Randy Rhinehart and former OSU All-American setter Audrey Dipronio team up for the broadcast that will be replayed next week at a time to be determined.
LOOKING AT THE BUCKEYES
After four matches Ohio State is hitting .251 as a team and averaging 17.93 kills per game. The Buckeyes have a 1.73 blocks, 13.20 digs and 1.80 aces per game average. The opponents are hitting .206 and averaging 15.20 kills per game. They have a 1.80 blocks, 11.47 digs and 0.93 aces per game average.
Rosie Snow is the OSU team leader in kills (63, 4.20) and digs (31, 2.07). Dana Stearns is the team leader in blocks (15, 1.00), has a team high .313 hitting percentage and is second in kills (48, 3.20). Katie Virtue, who has started the last two matches at setter, is averaging 13.00 assists per game on 156 assists. Virtue also has a team-high six ace serves while Snow and Jen Flynn have five each. FLYNN STARTING AT OUTSIDE HITTER
Two-year starting setter Jen Flynn showed up at a different position on the line up card last weekend. Flynn started both matches at outside hitter as freshman setter Katie Virtue started at the setter position. An outside hitter as a freshman, Flynn hit .218 and averaged 2.24 kills that season. She was named all-Big Ten honorable mention as a sophomore and coming into the 1999 season was a preseason all-Big Ten pick at setter.
ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS TO FLYNN
For her play at the Furama Volleyball Classic, Jen Flynn was named to the All-Tournament Team. She had 16 kills against Loyola Marymount and 15 kills and 10 digs against Houston.
VIRTUE NOW STARTING AT SETTER
A new quarterback is running the Ohio State team now. Freshman Katie Virtue made her starting debut in the 3-2 loss to Loyola Marymount. She came back the next day to lead the Buckeyes to a 3-1 win over Houston. She had 67 and 54 assists, respectively, in the two matches and collected 11 digs in each match and added four ace serves against Houston.
DRAEGER SETS CAREER HIGHS
Against Loyola Marymount, Shelly Draeger set three career highs. She had 16 kills, 11 digs and two ace serves against the Lions. She added 11 kills the next day against Houston. Draeger, a freshman, has started all four matches this season on the right side for the Buckeyes.
STILING HANDLES THE MIDDLE
As a freshman middle blocker, Suzie Stiling put together back-to-back 13 kill matches, her career-high, last week against Akron and Loyola Marymount. Stiling, who played club ball with freshman setter Katie Virtue, is one of three freshman starting for the Buckeyes.
SNOW EXTENDS STREAK TO 25 MATCHES
With a season-high 25 kills against Loyola Marymount and 10 against Houston, Rosie Snow extended her streak of double-figure kill matches to 25. Her 63 kills in the first four matches leads the Buckeyes and her 4.20 kills per game mark ranks sixth in Big Ten Conference statistics. Snow now has 903 career kills and has passed Vicki Wright (896, 1983-86) and Carrie Leonard (902, 1991-94) to move into 12th place on the OSU career list. She needs 76 kills to pass No. 11 Lisa Vitali (978, 1986-89).
STEARNS LEADS IN HOUSTON WIN
Dana Stearns stepped to the front against Houston to produce season highs of 18 kills and 10 digs in the OSU win. She also hit a season-high .467 in the match. Stearns had a solo and five assist blocks on the weekend and now has 222 career assist blocks and 241 total blocks. She has tied No. 8 Kristi Neuman (222, 1983-86) in OSU career assist blocks. She needs nine assist blocks to pass No. 7 Sara Daniel (230, 1991-94). Stearns passed No. 10 Holly O’Leary (237, 1987-90) for 10th place in total blocks. She needs 10 total blocks to pass No. 9 Daniel (250, 1991-94).
OSU RANKED 18TH IN POLL
In the USA TODAY/AVCA coaches poll, the Buckeyes are ranked 18th this week. OSU fell four spots from 14th in last week’s poll. OSU has been ranked in the final USA TODAY/AVCA Poll for the last 10 years. The Buckeyes are ranked 15th in this week’s Volleyball Magazine poll.
OSU FALLS TO LOYOLA MARYMOUNT 3-2
Ohio State dropped a 15-9, 11-15, 12-15, 16-14, 8-15 decision to Loyola Marymount in the Furama Volleyball Classic. Rosie Snow had a team-high 25 kills with Jen Flynn and Shelly Draeger adding 16 kills each and Suzie Stiling picking up 13. OSU could not overcome an LMU record performance of 52 kills by Sarah McFarland for the Lions. McFarland was selected the AVCA National Player of the Week for her play. Allison Gustorf and Lydia Day added 10 and 13 kills, respectively. The match saw the return of Flynn to the outside hitter position and Katie Virtue started her first match at the setter position. She responded with 67 assists, 11 digs and five kills.
Loyola outhit the Buckeyes, .294 to .241. The Lions had a 55-52 edge in digs while OSU had a nine to five margin in blocks and an eight to five edge in ace serves.
OSU DEFEATS HOUSTON 3-1
Ohio State bounced back from the Loyola loss with a 15-7, 6-15, 15-6, 15-12 win over Houston. Dana Stearns scored a match-high 18 kills, hitting .467 for the match. Jen Flynn had 15 kills and 10 digs while Shelly Draeger added 11 and Rosie Snow 10. Cougar Jennifer Wittenburg had a team-high 15 with Stephanie Heiskell adding 12 and Jillian King and Michelle Frazier 10. OSU setter Katie Virtue had 54 assists and added 11 digs and four ace serves. OSU held Houston to .054 hitting in game one and .071 in game three wins, but hit only .071 in the game two loss. Despite hitting .167 in game four the Buckeyes took the game 15-12 and the match.
Statistically, the match seemed to belong to Houston. The Cougars outhit OSU .218 to .188. Houston had the advantage in blocks, 10 to four and in digs, 50 to 46. The Buckeyes did out serve Houston scoring nine aces to two for the Cougars.
BUCKEYES DOWN AKRON 3-0
Ohio State moved to 2-0 with a 15-12, 15-8, 15-10 victory over Akron Tuesday. Buckeye Rosie Snow scored a match-high 15 kills, her 23rd-consecutive double figure kill match, while Dana Stearns added 14 kills and Suzie Stiling 13. Snow also had a match-high 14 digs with Sue Calligaris adding 12. Stearns had a match-high eight blocks on a solo and seven assists. Setter Jen Flynn played in game one and had 23 assists before Katie Virtue finished the last two games with 33 assists. Flynn then saw action on the outside in game three and collected four kills. OSU overcame a 12-12 game one tie to take the first game. In game three Akron held a 9-7 margin before OSU closed out the match.
For the match, OSU hit .229 to .120 for Akron. Each squad had four ace serves, while the Buckeyes edged Akron in blocks, nine to eight and OSU had a 63-50 margin in digs.
NEW LOOK FLOOR AT ST. JOHN ARENA
After 42 years of having a basketball floor painted on the floor of St. John Arena, a new look greets the 1999 season of volleyball. Earlier this year, the floor of St. John Arena was sanded down to removed the basketball court markings. In its place is a painted volleyball court for use by the women’s and men’s teams.
BUCKEYES MAKE THE GRADE
Ohio State had four student-athletes honored by the Big Ten for their academic standing. Angelee Abbring, Jen Flynn, Laura Stalling and Dana Stearns were honored as Academic All-Big Ten selections. In addition, six players were honored as Ohio State Scholar-Athlete Award Winners. Included with the four players listed above were freshmen Erin Baker and Carey Cavanaugh.
NATIONAL TEAM CONNECTION
Former Buckeye Laura Davis (1991-94) continues in volleyball as a member of the United States National team. She plays the libero position, a back-row only player. Davis, a two-time All-American, was the 1994 National Player of the Year. Jenny Jackson (1992-95), a member of the national team for the past several years left the team earlier this year to pursue a career in engineering. Jackson was a 1994 All-American and a three-time All-Big Ten selection.
IN THE PROFESSIONAL RANKS
Two former OSU players, Tricia Stragliotto (1993-95) and Vanessa Wouters (1996-97) are currently playing professionally in Europe. Stragliotto, a 1995 All-American and a three-time All-Big Ten pick is playing in Italy while Wouters, a 1995 All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year is playing in Germany.
HOLLY O’LEARY ENTERS HALL OF FAME
Former Buckeye Holly O’Leary (1987-90) of Cincinnati, Ohio was inducted into the Ohio State Sports Hall of Fame on Sept. 10. A two-time all-American, O’Leary was the 1989 Big Ten Player of the Year and helped OSU win the 1989 Big Ten Championship. She will join former players Mary Ormsby (1977-80), Lisa Bettio (1982-85) and Karen Alsbrooks (1976-79) in the Hall of Fame.
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.
HEAD COACH JIM STONE
Jim Stone is in his 18th year at Ohio State. He has a 384-170 (.693) record with the Buckeyes and is 219-89 (.711) 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 20-year career record is 434-212 (.672).
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 year at Illinois and the last three at Minnesota
TELEVISION COVERAGE
The Buckeyes are scheduled for eight televised matches this season. OSU’s Nov. 5 match at Illinois will be carried by ESPN2. Broadcast of the match will be Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Ohio State also will take part in the Fox Sports Chicago Big Ten package. OSU’s match against Michigan Nov. 14 will be broadcast at 5 p.m. Eastern that day.
Ohio State also will have six matches carried by local cable. Insight Communications will broadcast by tape delay the Temple (Sept. 19), Illinois (Oct. 3), Iowa (Oct. 23), Penn State (Oct. 27), Michigan State (Nov. 12), Wisconsin (Nov. 27). Replay times have not been announced.
NEXT UP FOR THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State returns to the road to open the Big Ten season. The Buckeyes will play at Michigan (Fri., Sept. 24, 7 p.m.) and Michigan State (Sat., Sept. 25, 7 p.m.).
THE UPCOMING OPPONENTS
A LOOK AT PITTSBURGH
The Panthers have a 4-3 record on the season. Pitt defeated Niagara (3-0), Radford (3-0) and Akron (3-1) last weekend. Melissa Alpers is the team’s top hitter with 78 kills (3.25 per game). Alpers also has a team-high 10 aces and 87 digs (3.63). Jenna Birkel is second in kills with 74 (3.22) and leads the squad in hitting percentage at .333 and in blocks with 15 (.65). Setter Carrie Norris has played in 18 games and averages 10 assists per game on 180 sets. Lisa Riggle is averaging 14.43 assists on 101 sets in seven games.
The Panthers are hitting .188 as a team and average 14.13 kills per game. They have 1.73 blocks, 14.38 digs and 1.42 aces per game. Pitt opponents are hitting .176 and average 12.96 kills per game. Opponents have a 2.25 blocks, 14.79 digs and 2.17 aces per game average.
THE PITTSBURGH SERIES
Ohio State leads the series 12-7 against the Panthers. The Buckeyes have won the last two meetings and three of four in the ’90s. OSU has won eight of 11 matches played in Columbus and two of five played on neutral courts. In Pittsburgh, OSU has won two of three matches. The squads last played in 1998, a 15-7, 15-7, 15-8 win in Columbus.
Pittsburgh-Ohio State matches in the 90s
1990 W 3-0 15-9, 15-8, 15-10 -NCAA First Round at Ohio State 1990 L 1-3 12-15, 13-15, 15-9, 13-15 -NCAA First Round at Ohio State 1991 W 3-1 15-9, 17-15, 9-15, 15-7 -at Ohio State 1998 W 3-0 15-7, 15-7, 15-8
A LOOK AT BOISE STATE
The Broncos are 2-5 overall. Boise State split matches last weekend losing to Montana (1-3) and defeating Northwestern (3-1). They will play at Ball State on Thursday prior to coming to Columbus. Leading the Bronco attack is Becky Meek with 92 kills (3.68 per game). She also has a team high 25 blocks (1.00) and is one of three players with seven aces. Setter Denise Mullin has 201 assists for a 10.58 average. Jeni Elson and Tara Brinkerholf are one-two in digs with 72 (2.92) and 72 (2.88) digs respectively. Robin Woodall and Brinkerholf have a co-team high of seven aces along with Meek.
The Broncos are hitting .099 for the season averaging 13.00 kills per game. Bosie State is averaging 1.60 blocks, 14.60 digs and 1.44 aces per game. Bronco opponents are hitting .167 with a 13.68 kills per game average. The opponents average 2.52 blocks, 14.80 digs and 1.88 aces per game.
THE BOISE STATE SERIES
Ohio State has won both meetings with the Broncos. Both matches were played at the Brigham Young Tournament. The Buckeyes won 3-0 (15-7, 15-2, 15-13) in 1985 and 3-0 (15-1, 15-12, 15-5) in 1987.
A LOOK AT TEMPLE
The Owls are 3-2 overall and host Delaware on Wednesday. Temple has won its last two matches, defeating Loyola of Chicago (3-1) and Pace (3-1). Alma Kovaci is the team leader in kills with 88 (5.18 per game), is hitting a team high .282 and has a team best eight ace serves.. Setter Teresa Schumacher is averaging 10.20 assists per game while Solana Lee has a 8.25 average. Defensively Enkeleida Shkoza has a team-high 12 blocks while Kovaci leads the team in digs with 58 (3.41).
As a team, Temple is hitting .249 and is averaging 16.63 kills per game. The Owls average 1.53 blocks, 13.84 digs and 2.16 aces per game. Temple opponents are hitting .229 with a 13.05 kills per game average. They are averaging 2.37 blocks, 13.11 digs and 1.37 aces per game.
THE TEMPLE SERIES
This is the first meeting.
A LOOK AT THE BUCKEYES
#10 ANGELEE ABBRING (’99, .500, 0.67 kpg, .33 bpg)
’99 Played against Houston, had two kills and an assist block ’98 Academic All-Big Ten, OSU Scholar-Athlete, 18 matches with double-figure kills, four matches with 20 or more kills, career-high 23 kills twice (Minnesota, Purdue), mid-season back injury slowed her.
#4 ERIN BAKER (’98, -.073, .59 kpg, .45 bpg)
’99 Has not played ’98 Career-highs of five kills, four aces and five digs (Minnesota), career-high six assist blocks (Purdue).
#8 ANNE BOTICA (’99, .190, 1.29 kpg,)
’99 Played in all four matches, season high 5 kills at Akron ’98 Career-highs of 14 kills and digs vs. Texas Tech, double-figure digs in three of last five matches, ending the season with a streak of three-consecutive double-figure kill matches.
#12 SUE CALLIGARIS (’99 .175, 1.55 kpg, 1.55 dpg, .36 bpg)
’99 Played in all four matches, starting twice, career high 9 kills and 12 digs at Akron.
#13 NIKKI CISCO (’99, 1.38 dpg)
’99 Played in three matches, recorded four digs twice. ’98 A third-generation OSU student-athlete, career-high 18 digs (Florida).
#15 SHELLY DRAEGER (’99, .213, 2.71 kpg, 1.64 dpg, .14 bpg)
’99 Started all four matches, career high 16 kills and 11 digs against Loyola Marymount ’98 (HS) Wisconsin Player of the Year, first team all-state (’97-’98), first team all-conference (’97-’98)
#11 JEN FLYNN (’99, .310, 2.71 kpg, 2.43 dpg, .36 bpg)
’99 Named to All-Tournament team at LMU Furama Volleyball Classic, started both matches at outside hitter, season high 16 kills against Loyola Marymount, was starting setter for first two matches, preseason All-Big Ten selection at setter. ’98 Academic All-Big Ten, OSU Scholar-Athlete, starting setter but played at outside hitter in several matches, played with the USA World University Games squad during the past summer, career record standings: 4th assists (3,018), 5th assists per game (8.57), 11th assist blocks (193), 13th total blocks (218).
#6 SABRINA MEYERS (first season)
’99 Has not played, an Honors Program student-athlete, ’98 Has played all positions, all-state selection, squad was three-time district champion and won regional as a sophomore, club was Maple City.
#1 SHELLYE SILLS (’98, .202, 1.10 kpg, 1.26 bpg)
’99 Has not played ’98 OSU career leader in blocks per game at 1.26, ranked fifth in Big Ten with 1.28 blocks per game, career-high 10 blocks (1-9) equalled against Northwestern.
#2 ROSIE SNOW (’99, .260, 4.20 kpg, .33 bpg, 2.07 dpg)
’99 Has double-figure kills in last 25 matches, season-high 25 kills against Loyola Marymount, had season-high 14 digs at Akron, Hit .632 at Dayton. ’98 All-Big Ten selection, Big Ten Player of the Week for wins over Florida and UCLA, ranked 13th nationally with a 5.09 kills per game average, third in the Big Ten in kills (5.31) and digs (2.94), double-figure kills in 27 matches, including last 21, career-high 36 kills (Purdue), career record standings 14th kills (840), 12th kills per game (2.71).
#5 BRIANNE SPIERS (’99, .83 dpg)
’99 Slated to play this season in the back row only, season-high four digs at Loyola Marymount. ’98 Played in 14 matches including first six then missed 14 with a stress fracture of her cervix, career-high 15 kills against Florida in Hawaii, hitting a career-high .650 in that match, was limited to back row play after missed matches until the last three, fifth year senior after missing ’97 because of two operations.
#14 LAURA STALLING (’98, .287, 1.03 kpg, 1.24 bpg)
’99 Has not played, a high-ankle sprain in practice has caused her to miss the first four matches. ’98 Academic All-Big Ten, OSU Scholar-Athlete, career-high of seven kills (Indiana), career-high of seven assist blocks (Michigan).
#7 DANA STEARNS (’99, .313, 3.20 kpg, 1.67 dpg, 1.00 bpg)
’99 Started all four matches, hitting percentage of .313 is best on the squad, team leader in blocks with 15, had season highs of 18 kills and 10 digs against Houston, hit .467 in that match. ’98 Academic All-Big Ten, OSU Scholar-Athlete, Big Ten Player of the Week against Indiana and Northwestern, team leader in aces (40) and blocks (100), career-high 24 kills (Purdue, Texas Tech), double-figure kills in 19 matches.
#9 SUZIE STILING (’99, .278, 2.73 kpg, 1.07 dpg, .67 bpg)
’99 Starting middle blocker has come off the bench in the last two matches, career high of 13 kills at Akron and Loyola Marymount, career high six digs at Akron and five (3-2) blocks at Loyola. ’98 (HS) honorable mention all-state, conference and team MVP, all-conference (’97-98), club was Sports Performance.
#3 KATIE VIRTUE (’99, .280, 13.00 astpg, 2.25 dpg)
’99 Started at setter against Loyola Marymount for the first time, had career- high 67 assists, career high of 11 digs in the Loyola and Houston matches, had four aces against Houston. ’98 (HS) state champions, ’97 conference player of the year, Chicago Tribune first team all-state, club was Sports Performance, member of ’98 USA Junior National Team that won gold medal at NORCECA Championships in Mexico.
