No. 15 Volleyball Hosts No. 6 Penn State and Purdue – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/25/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 25, 2001
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 15th-ranked Ohio State (10-0 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) women’s volleyball squad will complete a four-match home stand with matches against sixth ranked Penn State (8-1, 2-0) and Purdue (1-7, 1-1). OSU hosts the Nittany Lions at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 26 and then faces the Boilermakers at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 28. The Purdue match will be shown by the Ohio News Network on tape delay at 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29. Arica Robbins and former Ohio State All-American Audrey DiPronio Flaugh will call the action.
GORDON NAMED BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
The Big Ten Conference announced Monday Stacey Gordon (Fr., Oshawa, Ontario) as the Big Ten Volleyball Player of the Week. Gordon, a 5-11 outside hitter, helped 15th-ranked Ohio State (10-0 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) to three victories last week. She had a match-high 14 kills (.360) and added 13 digs at Cincinnati. Gordon contributed 14 kills (.429) and four digs against Illinois and had a career-high 17 kills (.394), eight digs and two ace serves against Indiana. Gordon averaged 5.00 kills per game and 2.78 digs per game in the three matches. Her play has been a key factor in Ohio State’s 10-0 record this season
For the season, Gordon is averaging 3.87 kills per game and has a hitting percentage of .289. She is averaging 3.13 digs per game. In the Big Ten, Gordon is averaging 5.17 kills per game, ranking third in the Big Ten and is hitting .410, ranking 10th. A LOOK AT OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes are 10-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten. Anne Botica (Sr., Windsor, Ontario) is the team leader in kills per game at 4.39. Suzie Stiling (Jr., Glenview, Ill.) is second at 4.16. Stiling is the squad leader in hitting percentage at .477 with Erin Baker (Sr., Elmhurst, Ill.) second at .437. The top server on the team is Shelly Draeger (Jr., Milwaukee, Wis.) with a .74 per game average with 23 aces. Second is Botica at .65 with 20 aces. Katie Virtue (Jr., St. Charles, Ill.) runs the offense and averages 13.61 assists per game. Defensively, Stacy Gordon has a team-high 3.13 digs per game average with Botica second at 3.06. At the net, Baker is averaging 1.27 blocks per game with Stiling second at .84. The Buckeyes are hitting .322 as a team and average 17.19 kills per game. OSU is averaging 2.87 aces, 15.06 digs and 2.48 blocks per game.
A LOOK AT PENN STATE
The Nittany Lions of coach Russ Rose are 8-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten. Last week Penn State defeated Indiana 3-1 (30-28, 24-30, 30-19, 30-20) and Illinois 3-0 (30-22, 30-21, 30-21) at home. Katie Schumacher has a team-high 4.76 kills per game average with Cara Smith posting a 1.67 blocks per game average. Shannon Bortner has a team-high 3.25 digs per game average with Jess Hayden averaging .42 aces per game. Hayden runs the offense and averages 10.96 assists per game. Penn State is hitting .284 and averages 16.45 kills per game. Opponents are hitting .134 and average 12.73 kills per game.
THE OHIO STATE – PENN STATE SERIES
Penn State has a 21-9 advantage in the series that dates back to 1981. OSU has lost the last 10 matches to the Nittany Lions. This includes four consecutive losses in St. John Arena. OSU has won five of 13 matches played in Columbus. Prior to the 10 losses, the Buckeyes had posted six straight wins. OSU’s last win over Penn State was Oct. 16, 1996 a 3-2 (8-17, 10-11, 14-10, 17-10, 17-15) victory under an experimental TV format.
A LOOK AT PURDUE
The Boilermakers of coach Jeff Hulsmeyer are 1-7 overall, and 1-1 in the Big Ten. Last weekend Purdue defeated Iowa 3-0 (35-33, 30-25, 30-27) and lost to No. 17 Minnesota 0-3 (21-30, 24-30, 24-30) at home. Maegan Petersen has a team-high 2.84 kills per game average with Eryn Leach averages 1.41 blocks per game. Petersen averages a team-high 2.76 digs per game while Tiffany Yoskey averages .42 aces per game. Jen Bova controls the offense and averages 10.41 assists per game. Purdue is hitting .160 and averages 13.42 kills per game. Opponents are hitting .259 and average 18.15 kills per game.
THE OHIO STATE – PURDUE SERIES
Ohio State has a 31-25 margin in the series with the Boilermakers dating back to 1974. The Buckeyes currently have a three-match winning streak over Purdue and have won the last 11 matches played in St. John Arena. OSU is 15-6 in matches played in Columbus. The Buckeyes have won 12 of the last 13 matches with the loss coming in 1999, at Purdue, a 3-1 (15-8, 15-8, 9-15, 15-10) defeat.
STILING SHINES WITH 16 KILLS AGAINST ILLINOIS
With 16 kills against Illinois, Suzie Stiling equaled her season high set against Illinois-Chicago in the opening match of the season. Stiling hit .520 in that match. She had 13 kills in both the Cincinnati and Indiana matches. She had a combined two solos and six assists in the three matches. For the season, she has five solo and 21 assists for a .84 blocks per game average. In Ohio State career statistics, Stiling ranks 14th in solos with 35, 11th in assist blocks with 220 and 11th in total blocks with 255. She is one of only four OSU student-athletes to average a block or more in per game career average. She is currently fourth with a 1.01 mark.
BOTICA MOVES TO 19TH ON OSU CAREER KILLS LIST
With eight kills against Indiana, Anne Botica has moved to 19th on the OSU career kills list with 799. She passed Andrea Pankova (1995-97) who has 792. She needs two kills to pass Dawn McDougall (1988-91) who has 800 and ranks 18th. With 18 kills Botica will pass No. 17 Erika Schlitz (1988-91). Botica, who had 13 kills against Cincinnati and Illinois, ended a 21-match double-figure kills streak with the eight kills against Indiana.
DRAEGER HITS CAREER-HIGH PERCENTAGE VS. INDIANA
A .692 hitting percentage against Indiana represents a career-high for Shelly Draeger. Against the Hoosiers, Draeger had 10 kills with one error in 13 attempts. Her previous high was .556 (11-1-18) against Northwestern in 2000.
VIRTUE NOW THIRD IN OSU CAREER ASSISTS
With 138 assists last week (42 at Cincinnati, 49 vs. Illinois, 47 vs. Indiana), Katie Virtue (Jr., St. Charles, Ill.) now has 3,315 career assists and has moved from fifth to third on the OSU career assists list. She passed Jen Boleyn (1994-96) with 3,214 and Jen Flynn (1996-99) with 3,213. Virtue is OSU’s career assists per game leader with a 13.76 per game average.
BAKER SETS CAREER-HIGH HITTING PERCENTAGE
Erin Baker hit a career-high .800 (8-0-10) against Indiana last week. Her previous best was .636 (8-1-11) against Tennessee Tech earlier this season. She ranks second on the squad with a .437 overall percentage and is the team leader in blocking with a 1.27 per game average on six solos and 32 assists.
OSU OPPONENTS HELD TO .086 HITTING
Ohio State opponents have hit a combined .086 in the 10 matches this season (.185 in two Big Ten contests). Only Indiana (.267) has hit above .127 and six opponents have hit .089 or less.
OSU RECORDS SEASON-HIGH .461 HITTING PERCENTAGE
Ohio State had a season-high .461 team hitting percentage against Indiana last week. OSU’s previous best was .417 against Illinois-Chicago. The Buckeyes are hitting .322 overall and .419 in conference play.
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.
BUCKEYES RANKED 15TH AND 13TH IN NATIONAL POLLS
In the national polls released on Monday, Sept. 24, Ohio State was ranked 15th in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll. OSU is 13th in the Volleyball Magazine Poll. Nebraska is ranked No. 1 in the coaches poll with Long Beach State topping the Volleyball Magazine Poll. The Big Ten has four teams ranked in the Coaches Top 25. They include Penn State at sixth, Wisconsin seventh, Ohio State 15th and Minnesota 17th. Michigan State comes in at 31st. In the Volleyball Magazine Poll, Penn State is sixth, Wisconsin seventh, Ohio State 13th and Minnesota 17th. Michigan State is listed under others.
LAST WEEK FOR OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes remained undefeated (10-0) with a win at Cincinnati 3-0 (30-20, 30-20, 30-28) and home wins over Illinois 3-0 (30-16, 30-22, 30-22) and Indiana 3-0 (30-22, 30-20, 30-27). Stacey Gordon powered OSU to the win over Cincinnati with match-highs of 14 kills and 13 digs. Suzie Stiling scored a match-high 16 kills and hit .520 against Illinois. Gordon had a career-high 17 kills and OSU hit a season-high .461 in the win over Indiana.
BUCKEYE HEAD COACH JIM STONE
Jim Stone enters his 20th season at Ohio State. He has a 434-188 record with the Buckeyes and is 244-105 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 484-230.
TELEVISED MATCHES
Ohio State will appear in three of the 11 matches that are part of the Big Ten television package that will be broadcast by ESPN2 and Fox Sports Chicago. The Buckeyes also will have five Big Ten contests shown by the Ohio News Network on a tape delay OSU will host Michigan State (Fri., Nov. 16) in one of three Big Ten matches on ESPN2 in a delayed broadcast. The match will be shown at 2 p.m. ET, Sunday, Nov. 18. The Buckeyes will host two of the eight matches to be broadcast by Fox Sports Chicago. OSU matches included are Minnesota (Sunday, Oct. 14) and Wisconsin (Friday, Oct. 26). The Minnesota match will be shown at 7 p.m. CT, Monday, Oct. 15 with the Wisconsin match shown at 3 p.m. CT, Sunday, Oct. 28.
This marks the seventh-consecutive season that the conference has had at least three matches on ESPN2 and the fifth-straight year that the Big Ten has allied with the Fox Sports Chicago network. The Fox Sports Chicago Big Ten volleyball broadcasts are annually seen in 18 million Midwest and Eastern homes, while ESPN2 reaches 71 million-plus viewers around the nation.
The Ohio News Network will feature five Big Ten contests as part of its overall Ohio State sports package. ONN will show the Illinois match at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 22, the Indiana match at 1 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 23, the Purdue match at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, the Northwestern match at 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 28 and the Michigan match at 1 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 18.
2001 Big Ten Conference Volleyball Broadcasts on ESPN2 Date Match Time Broadcast Date/Time Oct. 19 Wisconsin at Minnesota 7 p.m. CT Sun., Oct. 21, 4 p.m. ET 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 7 p.m. ET Mon., Oct. 1, 7 p.m. CT Oct. 5 Penn State at Wisconsin 7 p.m. CT Sun., Oct. 7, 3 p.m. CT Oct. 14 Minnesota at Ohio State 2 p.m. ET Mon., Oct. 15, 7 p.m. CT Oct. 19 Illinois at Purdue 7 p.m. CT Sun., Oct. 21, 3 p.m. CT 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 7 p.m. ET Sat., Sep. 22, 7 p.m. ET Sep. 22 Indiana at Ohio State 7 p.m. ET Sun., Sep. 23, 1 p.m. ET Sep. 28 Purdue at Ohio State 7 p.m. ET Sat., Sep. 29, 1 p.m. ET 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. ET
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
The Buckeyes continue Big Ten Conference play with road matches at Northwestern (5-3, 3-0) and Wisconsin (8-2, 2-0). OSU plays the Wildcats in Chicago at 7 p.m. CDT, Friday, Oct. 6 and faces the ninth-ranked Badgers in Madison at 7 p.m. CDT, Saturday, Oct. 7
