Tenth-ranked Volleyball Hosts Fifth-ranked Wisconsin and Northwestern – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 23, 2001
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 10th-ranked Ohio State (17-1 overall, 9-1 Big Ten, 2nd place) women’s volleyball team hosts fifth-ranked and Big Ten Conference leader Wisconsin (16-2, 10-0, 1st place) at 7 p.m. Friday in St. John Arena. The Buckeyes complete the two-match homestand by facing Northwestern (8-9, 4-6, 7th, tie) at 7 p.m. Saturday. Both matches will be broadcast on a delayed basis. The match with the Badgers will be broadcast by FoxSports-Chicago on tape delay. It is scheduled to be carried by FoxSports-Chicago at 3 p.m. CT, Sunday, Oct. 28. Dave Loane will call the action with Penn State All-American setter Terry Boumans (Zemaitis) providing color. FoxSports-Ohio will carry the match at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 30. The Northwestern match will be shown by the Ohio News Network on tape delay at 2 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 28. Arica Robbins and former Ohio State All-American Audrey DiPronio Flaugh will call the action.
A LOOK AT OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes are 17-1 overall and 9-1 in the Big Ten. Anne Botica (Sr., Windsor, Ontario) is the team leader in kills per game at 4.38. Stacy Gordon (Fr., Oshawa, Ontario) is second at 4.06 and Suzie Stiling (Jr., Glenview, Ill.) is third at 3.77. Erin Baker (Sr., Elmhurst, Ill.) is the squad leader in hitting percentage at .437 with Stiling second at .400. The top server on the team is Shelly Draeger (Jr., Milwaukee, Wis.) with a .65 per game average with 40 aces. Second is Botica at .58 with 32 aces. Katie Virtue (Jr., St. Charles, Ill.) runs the offense and averages 13.32 assists per game. Defensively, Gordon has a team-high 3.05 digs per game average with Botica second at 2.769 At the net, Baker is averaging 1.02 blocks per game with Stiling second at .82. The Buckeyes are hitting .311 as a team and average 16.82 kills per game. OSU is averaging 2.74 aces, 13.48 digs and 2.19 blocks per game. A LOOK AT WISCONSIN
The Badgers of coach Pete Waite are 16-2 overall and 10-0 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin has won 10 consecutive matches since a 3-2 loss to Northern Iowa. Last week they won 3-0 road matches at Minnesota (30-12, 30-26, 31-29) and at Iowa (30-15, 30-21, 30-25). Sherisa Livingston is the team leader in kills per game at 5.03 and is the top blocks with a 1.13 per game average. Livingston is hitting a team-high .401. Amy Hultgren is second in blocking at 1.10. Lizzy Fitzgerald directs the offense and averages 14.02 assists per game. Lisa Zukowski is the top server on the squad with a .40 aces per game average. Erin Byrd is the team leader in digs per game at 2.90. Wisconsin is hitting .295 and averages 17.67 kills per game. The Badgers average 1.73 aces, 15.27 digs and 2.83 blocks per game.
THE OHIO STATE – WISCONSIN SERIES
Ohio State is 27-16 in the series against Wisconsin. The sixth-ranked Badgers won the first meeting of the season, in Madison, 3-0 (30-25, 30-28, 30-16). In Columbus, the Buckeyes have won 13 matches and lost six. The Badgers have won the last four contests played in Columbus, including a 3-1 (15-7, 13-15, 14-16, 11-15) decision last season.
A LOOK AT NORTHWESTERN
The Wildcats of coach Keylor Chan are 8-9 overall and 4-6 in the Big Ten, tied for seventh place. Prior to Northwestern’s match at Penn State, the Wildcats lost both road matches last weekend falling 1-3 to Iowa (22-30, 21-30, 30-27, 23-30) and 0-3 at Minnesota (15-30, 13-30, 21-30). Erika Lange has team-highs of 3.05 kills and 1.59 blocks per game. Sarah Ballog is the team’s top percentage hitter at .315 and is second in blocking at 1.27. Drew Robertson runs the offense and averages 9.48 assists per game. She also has a team-high 2.38 digs per game average with Molly Kamp second at 2.36. Cassie McKnight has a team-high average of .45 aces per game with Kelli Meyer second at .36. Northwestern has a team hitting percentage of .200 and averages 13.11 kills per game. The Wildcats average 1.66 aces, 12.53 digs and 3.06 blocks per game.
THE OHIO STATE – NORTHWESTERN SERIES
Ohio State has a 37-9 mark against the Wildcats. Earlier this season, the Buckeyes won at Evanston 3-1 (27-30, 30-21, 30-15, 30-19). In matches played in Columbus, Ohio State has won 17 of the 19 matches. This includes 16 straight victories in Columbus.
ACE SERVES PROVIDING OSU WITH OFFENSE
Ohio State has produced 170 ace serves in 18 matches this season. The Buckeyes had 187 aces in all of last season (33 matches). OSU ranks first in aces per game (2.74) for all matches and in conference matches (2.62). The Buckeyes were ranked sixth in the country last week in aces with a 2.83 per game average.
OHIO STATE, 2-1 AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
Ohio State is 2-1 against ranked teams this season. The Buckeyes lost to No. 6 Wisconsin, 3-0, and have defeated No. 6 Penn State, 3-2, and No. 20 Minnesota, (3-2).
THE CANADIAN CONNECTION
Take a freshman and senior from Canada and you have a lot of firepower for the Buckeyes. Freshman Stacey Gordon (252 kills, 4.06 per game) and senior Anne Botica (241 kills, 4.38 per game) have combined for forty-seven percent of the kills this season for Ohio State. They have combined for 493 of OSU’s 1,043 kills (.473). The duo also has 337 (Gordon 189, 3.05, Botica 148, 2.69) of OSU’s 836 digs (.403)
HOME WINNING STREAK AT 13 MATCHES
Ohio State has won its last 13 home matches dating back to last season. OSU is 9-0 at home this season and won its last four matches in the 2000 season.
SEASON OPENING WINNING STREAKS
Ohio State opened the 2001 season with 13 consecutive wins. The Buckeyes have had two other winning streaks that opened a season. OSU went 11-0 to start the season in 1996 and was 16-0 last season.
BUCKEYES RANKED 10TH IN BOTH NATIONAL POLLS
In the national polls released on Monday, Oct. 22, Ohio State was ranked 10th in both the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 Poll and the Volleyball Magazine Poll. Long Beach State is ranked No. 1 in both polls with Nebraska second. The Big Ten has four teams ranked in the coaches Top 25. They include Wisconsin at fifth, Ohio State 10th, Penn State 13th and Minnesota, tied for 21st. Michigan is listed as others. In the Volleyball Magazine Poll, Wisconsin is sixth, Ohio State tenth and Penn State 12th. Minnesota, Michigan and Michigan State are listed as others.
LAST WEEK FOR OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes won road matches at Michigan and Michigan State. OSU defeated Michigan, 3-0 (30-27, 30-26, 30-23), with 19 kills from Stacey Gordon, 16 from Anne Botica and 13 by Suzie Stiling. Both Gordon and Botica had 11 digs. The Buckeyes hit .342 as a team to .170 for the Wolverines. At Michigan State, OSU won, 3-1 (30-24, 24-30, 30-18, 30-26), with Ann Botica collecting a team-high 17 kills. Stacey Gordon contributed 16 with Suzie Stiling adding 13 and Shelly Draeger 12. Gordon recorded a team-high 11 digs as Ohio State outhit the Spartans .309 to .220.
BUCKEYE HEAD COACH JIM STONE
Jim Stone is in his 20th season at Ohio State. He has a 441-189 record with the Buckeyes and is 251-106 in Big Ten play. His squads have won Big Ten Championships in 1989, 1991 and 1994 and in the last 12 years have only finished below third twice. In the championship years, he was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year and was the 1991 Volleyball Monthly National Coach of the Year. Under Stone, Ohio State has participated in the NCAA Championship the last 12 years, 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 491-231.
REGULAR SEASON, NON-CONFERENCE WINNING STREAK
Ohio State, over the last three years, has won 21 consecutive regular season, non-conference matches. The streak includes OSU’s 7-0 mark this season, a 10-0 mark in 2000 and four wins in 1999.
NEWCOMERS JOIN THE BUCKEYES
Two additions were made to the squad this summer. Freshmen Trine Melsether (Aalesund, Norway/Fagerlia) and Tamika Drake (Euclid, Ohio/Euclid) joined the squad for preseason practice. Melsether, a 6-1 outside hitter, played for the Aukra Club last season, winning the Junior Championship. Previously she played for Bindheim Club. Drake, a 5-7 defensive specialist, played four years at Euclid High School as a middle hitter. She also played for the Leva Volleyball Club in Riverside-Painesville.
TELEVISED MATCHES
2001 Big Ten Conference Volleyball Broadcasts on ESPN2 Date Match Time Broadcast Date/Time Oct. 19 Wisconsin at Minnesota WIS 3, MINN 0 Oct. 27 Wisconsin at Penn State 7 p.m. ET Sun., Oct. 28, 4 p.m. ET Nov. 16 Michigan State at Ohio State 7 p.m. ET Sun., Nov. 18, 2 p.m. ET
2001 Big Ten Conference Volleyball Broadcasts on FoxSports Chicago Date Match Time Broadcast Date/Time Sep. 29 Northwestern at Indiana NOR 3, IND 1 Oct. 5 Penn State at Wisconsin WIS 3, PSU 0 Oct. 14 Minnesota at Ohio State OSU 3, MIN 2 Oct. 19 Illinois at Purdue ILL 3, PUR 0 Oct. 26 Wisconsin at Ohio State 7 p.m. ET Sun., Oct. 28, 3 p.m. CT Nov. 3 Michigan at Iowa 7 p.m. CT Sun., Nov. 4, 3 p.m. CT Nov. 17 Michigan State at Penn State 7 p.m. ET Sun., Nov. 18, 3 p.m. CT Nov. 23/24 TBA-Wildcard TBA Sun., Nov. 25, 3 p.m. CT
2001 Ohio News Network Volleyball Broadcasts Date Match Time Broadcast Date/Time Sep. 21 Illinois at Ohio State OSU 3, ILL 0 Sep. 22 Indiana at Ohio State OSU 3, IND 0 Sep. 28 Purdue at Ohio State OSU 3, PUR 0 Oct. 27 Northwestern at Ohio State 7 p.m. ET Sun., Oct. 28, 2 p.m. ET Nov. 17 Michigan at Ohio State 7 p.m. ET Sun., Nov. 18, 1 p.m.
PLAYER NOTES
#8 Anne Botica (senior, outside hitter): Had 16 kills (.270), 11 digs, 2 assists, a solo block and three assist blocks at Michigan and 17 kills (.180), six digs, one ace serve and a solo block at Michigan State. Missed the matches at Northwestern and Wisconsin at the beginning of October because of a knee injury. Ranks 15th in OSU career kills with 904, moving past Vicki Wright (1983-85) with 895 and Carrie Leonard (1991-94) with 902. Tied for 15th (3-way) in OSU career aces with 102 (with Shelly Draeger (1999-) and Jen Flynn (1996-99). Double-figure kills in 15 of the 16 matches she has played, including the last six. Has seven matches with double-figure digs.
# 4 Erin Baker (senior, middle blocker): (plays front row only) Had six kills (.667), three assist blocks, one dig and one assist at Michigan and nine kills (.533) three digs, one solo and two assist blocks at Michigan State. Career high of 11 kills against Penn State and at Northwestern. Had 10 kills against Minnesota. Team leader in hitting at .437 for all matches and .455 in the Big Ten. Team leader in blocking with a 1.02 per game average.
#11 Nikki Cisco (senior, defensive specialist): (back row sub for Erin Baker) Had two digs and two ace serves at Michigan and four digs and two ace serves at Michigan State. Double-figure digs four times this season with a high of 13 against Ohio University. Averages 2.02 digs per game, ranking third on the team.
#3 Katie Virtue (junior, setter): Had 45 assists, nine digs, two kills and two assist blocks against Michigan and 55 assists, four digs, four assist blocks and one kill against Michigan State. Ranks third in OSU career assists with 3,719 and is first in career assists per game with a 13.67 average.
#9 Suzie Stiling (junior, middle blocker): Had 13 kills (.364), three digs, two ace serves, one solo and three assist blocks at Michigan and hit 13 kills (.290), two digs, one ace serve, one solo block and two assists at Michigan State. Double-figure kills in last four matches and 16 of 18 this season. Ranks 11th in OSU career solo blocks (41). Needs two to pass Vanessa Wouters (1996-97) with 42. Ranks ninth in OSU career assist blocks (239). Needs four to pass Jen Flynn (1996-99) with 242. Ranks ninth in OSU career total blocks (280, 41-239). Passed Jen Flynn (1996-99) with 274 (32-242) and Gabriele Jobst (1991-94) with 17-260). Needs 13 blocks to pass No. 8 Margie Meyers (1984-87) with 292 (77-215). Ranks 18th in OSU career kills with 875. Ranks sixth in career hitting percentage at .287.
#15 Shelly Draeger (junior, outside hitter): Had three kills (.222), a career-high six assists, three digs and an assist block at Michigan and 12 kills (.588), eight digs, one assist, one ace serve and one assist block at Michigan State. Her 12 kills at Michigan State equaled her season high for the third time. Has five matches with double-figure kills. Has three matches with double-figure digs. Has 102 career ace serves, ranking 15th in a tie with Anne Botica (1998-) and Jen Flynn (1996-99).
#10 Stacey Gordon (freshman, outside hitter): Had a match-high 19 kills (.382) with 11 digs, one ace serve and one assist block at Michigan and 16 kills (.345) with 11 digs, two ace serves, one solo and one assist block at Michigan State. Has 16 matches with double-figure kills and 11 with double-figure digs (last five). Only played in the back row against Iowa (10 digs) after a shoulder injury during the match at Wisconsin. She came back two days later with 19 kills in the 3-2 win against Minnesota. Named the Big Ten Player of the Week in consecutive weeks with wins over Cincinnati, Illinois and Indiana the first week and wins over No. 6 Penn State and Purdue in the second week. Is the first freshman in league history to win back-to-back player of the week awards.
#14 Trine Melsether (freshman, outside hitter): Played in five matches. Replaced Anne Botica (knee injury) at Northwestern (four kills (.000), career-high four ace serves, two digs, a solo and an assist block) and at Wisconsin (career-high seven kills (.286), three digs, and two assist blocks). Replaced Stacey Gordon (shoulder) against Iowa (six kills (.091), two digs and one ace serve).
#1 Ashley Adamczyk (freshman defensive specialist): Played in 16 matches. Usually subs in the back row for Suzie Stiling. Career-high five digs against South Florida.
#6 Heather Whalen (sophomore, setter): Played in four matches. Season-highs of five assists and two digs against Evansville.
#13 Tamika Drake (freshman, defensive specialist): Played in four matches. Had one dig against Purdue.
VOLLEYBALL RULE CHANGES
Several new playing rules will be in effect for the 2001 season. Match scoring will move from sideout to a rally-scoring format where each play results in a point. The first four games will be scored to 30 points. The fifth game will be played to 15 points. All games must still be won by two points.
The collegiate game will mimic the international game with the let serve. A served ball will remain in play if it hits the net and continues its path to the opposition’s court.
The international pursuit, an experimental rule for 2001-2002, can be implemented in a match by agreement of both coaches. The rule allows for a player to retrieve a ball (on the second contact) that has crossed the plane of the net to the opponent’s free space, provided that player does not touch the opponent’s court and sends the ball back to their court, over or outside the antennas, for an opportunity for the third contact.
NEXT UP FOR THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State returns to the road with a Wednesday night match at No. 13 Penn State (14-4, 7-3, 3rd). The Buckeyes then play at Purdue (2-15, 1-9, 11th) Saturday.
