No. 25 Women’s Volleyball Hosts Michigan State And Michigan – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/19/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 19, 2000
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State opens Big Ten Conference play against Michigan State at 7 p.m. Friday. The Buckeyes continue the two-match home stand at 2 p.m. Sunday against Michigan. That match will be carried live by the Ohio News Network. Arica Robbins will call the play-by-play with former OSU All-America setter Audrey (DiPronio) Flaugh handling the color.
B97 FRIDAY FAMILY NIGHT FOR MSU
The match Friday against Michigan State is the first of several WBNS Radio B97 Friday Family Nights scheduled this season. For $20 a family of four receives four admission tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and a box of popcorn.
OSU RANKS 25TH AND 16TH
Ohio State is ranked 25th USA TODAY/AVCA Top 25 Poll this week after being unranked the last two weeks. OSU was 25th in the preseason poll. The Buckeyes moved to 16th in the Volleyball Magazine Poll this week after holding the 18th spot last week.
SIX BIG TEN TEAMS IN AVCA RANKINGS
The USA TODAY/AVCA Top 25 Poll has six Big Ten squads ranked in the Top 25. They include #3 Penn State, #9 Minnesota, #14 Wisconsin, #17 Michigan State, #21 Michigan and #25 Ohio State.
LOOKING AT THE BUCKEYES
Offensively Dana Stearns (Sr., Bexley, Ohio/Bexley) has a team-high 119 kills (3.84 per game) with Shelly Draeger (So., Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) second with 118 kills (3.69). Stearns is the squad’s top percentage hitter at .443 with Sue Calligaris (So., Palermo, Italy/Liceo Linguistico) second at .403. Katie Virtue (So., St. Charles, Ill./St. Francis) quarterbacks the team and is averaging 13.76 assists per game (454). Anne Botica (Jr., Windsor, Ont./St. Joseph) is the team leader in ace serves with 22 (.76) with Virtue second with 14 (.42). Defensively Stearns leads the team with 78 digs (2.52) with Botica second with 71 (2.45) and Calligaris third with 70 (2.12) At the net Stearns leads the team with 39 (3-37) blocks (1.26) and Calligaris has 29 (2-27) (.88). As a team Ohio State is hitting .290 and averages 17.79 kills per game. The Buckeyes are averaging 2.48 blocks, 14.36 digs and 2.12 aces per game. OSU opponents are hitting .143 and average 12.45 kills per game. Opponents average 1.82 blocks, 11.70 digs and 1.36 aces per game.
ANOTHER TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP
With a 3-0 wins over Connecticut, Liberty and Western Michigan, Ohio State won the Ameritech Invitational. That is OSU’s third tournament championship in three weeks. Previously the Buckeyes won the Temple Volleyball Classic and the Buckeye Invitational.
MVP HONORS FOR VIRTUE, AGAIN
At the Ameritech Invitational, Katie Virtue was named the Most Valuable Player. This marked the second time in three weeks Virtue has been so honored. She took top honors in the opening week of the season at the Temple Volleyball Classic. Virtue also was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Buckeye Invitational.
BOTICA AND STEARNS HONORED
At the Ameritech Invitational, Buckeyes Anne Botica and Dana Stearns were named to the All-Tournament Team. For both players, it was the second-consecutive week to be honored. Botica was named to the All-Tournament Team and Stearns was named the Most Valuable Player of the Buckeye Invitational.
STEARNS WITH BIG NUMBERS
For the four matches last week, Dana Stearns put up some big numbers for the Buckeyes. She collected 50 kills (5.00 per game), hit .557, had 35 digs (3.50) and 14 blocks (1-13) (1.40). Stearns had a season-high 20 kills against Connecticut. Against Western Michigan, she hit a season-high .700 on 14 kills in 20 attempts. Her streak of six matches with double-figure kills ended against Liberty (four kills while playing in only one game). Stearns ranks 10th in career kills with 1,079. Last week she passed Sherri Helman (1993-96) who has 1,049. Stearns ranks fourth in career assist blocks with 311. She passed Leisa Wissler (1988-91) who has 298.
VIRTUE PROVIDES LEADERSHIP
Her team is 10-0 and has won three tournament championships. She has been named MVP in two of the three tournaments and made the All-Tournament Team in the third. Katie Virtue has provided the leadership to put the Buckeyes where they are today. She averaged 15.17 assists in the last four matches and set a career high with five ace serves against Connecticut. She has had one or more winners in the last six matches. Virtue also equaled her season-high of 10 digs against Connecticut. She also collected one solo and seven assist blocks last week.
BOTICA HAS BIG MATCH
With a season-high 20 kills against Connecticut, Anne Botica continued to be a force for the Buckeyes. She earned All-Tournament honors at the Ameritech Invitational last weekend after being named to the All-Tournament team at the Buckeye Invitational the previous week. Against Connecticut Botica tied her season-high for digs with 13. For the four matches last week she averaged 3.08 kills and 3.17 digs per game. She had six ace serves raising her team-high season total to 22.
STILING PROVIDES BLOCKING
A season-high six assist blocks from Suzie Stiling (So., Glenview, Ill./Glenbrook South) against Western Michigan improved on her previous high of four against Toledo and Liberty. Her streak of six double-figure kill matches ended against Liberty where she tallied only six kills. Stiling did come back the next day against the Broncos with 11. In four matches last week, she had a total of 41 kills (3.42 pg) and 13 blocks (1.08).
CALLIGARIS DIGS UP NORTH
With 10 digs against Connecticut and Liberty, Sue Calligaris has had three matches this season with double-figure digs. She collected 10 digs earlier this season at Marshall. For the week, Calligaris had 27 kills (2.25 pg) and hit .429 in the four matches, second only to Dana Stearns who hit .557.
DRAEGER WITH KILLS, DIGS AND ACES
With 44 kills (3.67) in the four matches last week, Shelly Draeger (So., Milwaukee,Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) continues to provide offense on the outside. She had double-figure kills against Cincinnati (13), Connecticut (11) and Liberty (12). Draeger had 29 digs (2.42) on the week with double-figure digs against Cincinnati (10) and Connecticut (12). She also had a season-high three aces against Connecticut and came back against Western Michigan with two more.
TREADWAY COMING ALONG
With a .778 hitting percentage (7-0-9) against Liberty in two games, Erin Treadway (Fr., Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne) drew the start against Western Michigan. She only had three kills in that match but produced two aces, five digs and three total blocks (1-2). She has started four times this season.
CISCO STAYS DEFENSIVE
With 24 kills on the week, Nikki Cisco (Jr., Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) continues to be a strong defensive specialist for Ohio State. Her eight digs against Connecticut tied her season-high against Temple. She improved that mark against Liberty with 10 digs.
TELEVISION COVERAGE
Ten Ohio State matches are schedule to be telecast this season. The Buckeyes are scheduled for six matches on the Ohio News Network. The matches are part of a 30-plus event package between Ohio State and ONN. The following matches comprise the volleyball package (broadcast times subject to change): at Marshall, Sept. 5 (replay Sept. 6, 11:30 p.m.), Toledo Sept. 9 (live), OSU’s match Sept. 10 (live), Cincinnati Sept. 12 (Sept. 12, 11:30 p.m.), Michigan Sept. 24 (live), Illinois Oct. 7 (Oct. 8, 1 p.m.), and Wisconsin Nov. 5 (Nov. 5, 11 p.m.). Ohio State has one of three Big Ten matches to be aired by ESPN2. OSU will host Indiana Oct. 21 with broadcast Oct. 22 at 3:30 p.m. The Buckeyes will appear in two of the eight Big Ten matches to be carried by Fox Sports Chicago. OSU’s match at Iowa Oct. 14 will be broadcast at 4 p.m. Oct. 15 and the Buckeye contest at Penn State Nov. 18 will be broadcast at 4 p.m. Nov. 19.
LOOKING AT MICHIGAN STATE
The Spartans enter the Big Ten season with a 7-2 mark prior to a Wednesday match with Michigan. MSU has won its last four matches including three at the San Diego Invitational. Sarah Gustin was named the MVP of the tournament and Jessica Sanborn was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Ohio State leads the series 30-17. In Columbus, the Buckeyes have won 16 of 19 matches. Last season the Spartans won 3-1 (8-15, 15-6, 15-10, 15-5) in East Lansing and the Buckeyes won in Columbus 3-2 (17-15, 13-15, 15-7, 4-15, 15-11.
LOOKING AT MICHIGAN
The Wolverines are 8-1 going into a Wednesday match against Michigan State. Michigan has won its last six matches. Last week UM won the Bank of Fayetteville Invitational. Alija Pittenger and Sarah Behnke were named to the All Tournament Team.
Ohio State leads the series 37-6. In Columbus, the Buckeyes have won all 19 meetings. OSU lost to Michigan in the Big Ten opener last year in Ann Arbor 3-2 (15-7, 13-15, 15-10, 13-15, 20-18) and defeated the Wolverines, in Columbus, 3-0 (15-6, 15-6, 15-8).
HEAD COACH JIM STONE
Jim Stone is in his 19th year at Ohio State. He has a 408-181 (.693) 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 11 years has only finished below third twice. 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 11 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 22-year career record is 458-223 (.673).
THE DEAN OF THE BIG TEN COACHES
Head coach Jim Stone begins his 19th-year in the Big Ten at Ohio State. Closest to Stone is Mike Hebert of Minnesota who is entering his 18th season. He spent 14 years at Illinois and the last four at Minnesota.
NEXT UP FOR THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State continues Big Ten play with matches at Wisconsin (Sept. 29) and Northwestern (Sept. 30).
BIG TEN STANDINGS
(as of Sept. 18) Conf. All
1 Minnesota 0-0 11-0 Ohio State 0-0 10-0 3 Penn State 0-0 11-1 4 Wisconsin 0-0 10-1 5 Indiana 0-0 9-1 6 Michigan 0-0 8-1 7 Illinois 0-0 9-2 8 Michigan State 0-0 7-2 9 Purdue 0-0 8-4 10 Iowa 0-0 3-3 11 Northwestern 0-0 3-7
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
September 18 Iowa at Drake 20 Michigan at Michigan State 22 Illinois at Iowa Indiana at Northwestern Michigan State at Ohio State Purdue at Minnesota Penn State at Wisconsin 23 Illinois at Minnesota Indiana at Wisconsin Purdue at Iowa Penn State at Northwestern 24 Michigan at Ohio State
BIG TEN STATISTICS – Team
Hitting Pct.
1 MINN .330 3 MSU .295 4 OSU .290 7 MICH .270
Kills
1 OSU 17.79 2 MICH 17.66 4 MSU 17.35
Assists 1 MICH 16.45 2 OSU 15.88 5 MSU 15.13
Service Aces 1 OSU 2.12 3 MICH 1.90 8 MSU 1.48
Digs 1 MICH 19.34 6 MSU 14.61 7 OSU 14.36
Blocks 1 MSU 2.90 7 MICH 2.64 8 OSU 2.48
BIG TEN STATISTICS – Individual
Hitting Percentage 1 Jessica Sanborn, MSU .452 6 Dana Stearns, OSU .415 7 Sue Calligaris, OSU .403 9 Nicole Poquette, MICH .386
Kills 1 Nicole Branagh, MINN 4.93 6 Alija Pittenger, MICH 4.17 10 Sarah Gustin, MSU 3.92
Assists 1 Katie Virtue, OSU 13.76 2 Shannon Melka, MICH 13.72 4 Christie Landry, MSU 13.43
Service Aces 1 Jessica Hayden, PSU .95 2 Anne Botica, OSU .76 4 Alija Pittenger, MICH .66 5 Katrina Lehman, MICH .55 6 Agnela Morley, MSU .54 9 Katie Virtue, OSU .42
Blocks 1 Stephanie Hagen, MINN 1.74 2 Katrina Lehman, MICH 1.34 5 Dana Stearns, OSU 1.25 7 Jessica Sanborn, MSU 1.24
Digs 1 Alija Pittenger, MICH 4.66 2 Nicole Kacor, MICH 4.45 6 Shannon Melka, MICH 3.34
OHIO STATE IN THE POLLS
Record AVCA VB Mag.
Preseason 0-0 25 19 Sept. 4 3-0 NR (27) 19 Sept. 11 6-0 NR (26) 18 Sept. 18 10-0 25 16
Volleyball Magazine Top 20 Poll
Sept. 18, 2000/Poll #4
2000 Last
Rk School Record Week 1 Southern California 7-0 1 2 Hawai’i 8-0 2 3 Penn State 11-1 3 4 Nebraska 9-0 4 5 Long Beach State 8-1 5 6 Pepperdine 9-0 6 7 Colorado State 11-1 8 8 Minnesota 11-0 9 9 Brigham Young 7-3 7 10 Stanford 7-2 10 11 UCLA 7-3 11 12 Arizona 8-1 17 13 Pacific 7-2 12 14 Wisconsin 10-1 14 15 Florida 6-3 13 16 Ohio State 19-0 18 17 UC Santa Barbara 6-3 15 18 Utah 8-1 16 19 Santa Clara 9-1 NR 20 Loyola Marymount 8-1 20 Others: Baylor, Kansas State, Michigan State, Michigan, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Washington State, Utah State, Texas A&M
USA TODAY/AVCA Coaches Poll
Sept. 11, 2000 – Poll #3 Rk School Total 2000 Last (First-Place Votes) Points Record Week 1 Nebraska (48) 1,486 9-0 1 2 Hawai’i (11) 1,441 8-0 2 3 Penn State 1,335 11-1 3 4 Colorado State 1,288 11-1 4 5 Southern California (1) 1,232 7-0 6 6 Long Beach State (1) 1,197 8-1 5 7 UCLA 1,118 7-3 7 8 Pepperdine 1,117 9-0 8 9 Minnesota 1,087 11-0 9 10 Arizona 942 8-1 13 11 Stanford 830 7-2 11 12 Florida 796 6-3 12 13 UC Santa Barbara 714 6-3 14 14 Wisconsin 691 10-1 15 15 Brigham Young (2) 686 7-3 10 16 Pacific 598 7-2 16 17 Michigan State 543 7-2 17 18 Utah 454 8-1 18 19 Santa Clara 449 9-1 21 20 Kansas State 316 8-2 22 21 Michigan 247 8-2 23 22 Loyola Marymount 230 8-1 20 23 Texas A&M 175 5-3 19 24 Notre Dame 140 7-3 25 25 Ohio State 119 10-0 NR Others receiving 30 or more points: Baylor 103, Washington State 48.
