No. 25 Volleyball At Iowa And No. 6 Minnesota – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 21, 2002
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 25th-ranked Ohio State (15-10 overall, 9-7 Big Ten) women’s volleyball team makes its final road trip of the regular season to Iowa (8-18, 2-14) and sixth-ranked Minnesota (28-3, 15-1) this weekend. The Buckeyes face the Hawkeyes Fri., Nov. 22 and the Gophers Sat., Nov. 23.
BUCKEYES MOVING UP CONFERENCE STANDINGS
After a 0-5 start in the Big Ten Conference standings, Ohio State has won nine of the last 11 matches and currently is in a two-way tie for fourth with Michigan in the league standings. One of the biggest differences for the Buckeyes was the return of several student-athletes from earlier injuries. Most notable was the return of setter Katie Virtue (Sr., St. Charles, Ill.) from a hand injury. Since the first five league matches the Buckeyes have improved statistically. OSU hit .198 in the first five matches and .244 in the last 11. OSU improved from 14.81 kills per game to 16.28 since the first five league contests. After this weekend, OSU closes out the regular season with home matches against Illinois and Purdue.
OHIO STATE RETURNS TO AVCA POLL IN THE 25TH SPOT
After upsetting No. 13 Penn State last week, the Buckeyes were voted to the 25th spot in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll after a five-week absence from the Top-25. The Buckeyes began the season ranked ninth in the poll prior to a series of injuries.
A LOOK AT OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes, coached by Jim Stone, are 15-10 overall and 9-7 in Big Ten play. Ohio State moved to a three-way tie for fourth place in the Big Ten Conference with a 3-2 (30-17, 28-30, 29-31, 30-27, 18-16) victor over Indiana and a 3-0 (30-28, 32-30, 30-25) upset win over No. 13 Penn State. Stacey Gordon leads Ohio State with a 5.84 kills (578) and a 3.36 digs (333) per game average. Suzie Stiling (Sr., Glenview, Ill.) ranks second in kills at 2.87 (284) and is the team leader in blocks per game at 1.01 (14 solos, 86 assists). Shelly Draeger (Sr., Milwaukee, Wis.) is third in kills at 2.71 (268). Freshman Stephanie Higgins (Fr., Biggsville, Ill.) is second on the team in blocks with a .99 per game average (three solos, 94 assists). Katie Virtue is the team leader with a 13.24 assists (900) per game average. Jackie Schardt (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) is second with a 6.94 (229) average. Gordon has a team-high 33 ace serves for a .33 per game average with Stiling second with 24 aces (.24) each. Ohio State averages 15.63 kills per game and is hitting .228. The Buckeyes average 1.36 aces, 13.48 digs and 2.24 blocks per game. OSU opponents average 13.27 kills per game and are hitting .193. Buckeye opponents average 1.23 aces, 11.98 digs and 2.92 blocks per game.
A LOOK AT IOWA
The Hawkeyes, coached by Rita Buck-Crockett, are 8-18 overall and 2-14 in the Big Ten. In road matches last weekend, Iowa lost 3-0 (30-20, 30-26, 30-17) to Michigan State and 3-0 (30-23, 30-23, 30-25) to Michigan. The Hawkeyes have lost the last 10 matches. Renee Hill is the team leader in kills (252) per game at 3.76. Amoreena Reynolds is the top percentage hitter at .229. At setter, Jityka Stehnova averages 11.14 assists (1,003) per game. Stehnova is the team leader in aces (29) per game at .32. Defensively, Pam Kavadas leads the squad with a 3.47 digs (319) per game average. At the net, Abby Tjaden has a team-high 1.15 blocks per game average on 15 solos and 77 assists. Iowa averages 14.39 kills per game and is hitting .176. The Hawkeyes average 1.20 aces, 15.34 digs and 2.29 blocks per game. Opponents average 15.86 kills per game and are hitting .234. Iowa opponents average 1.18 aces, 16.28 digs and 2.38 blocks per game.
OHIO STATE – IOWA SERIES
Ohio State has a 36-8 margin in the series with Iowa. Earlier this season, OSU defeated Iowa 3-1 (31-29, 32-34, 30-28, 30-17) in Columbus. The Buckeyes are 14-4 in matches played in Iowa, 19-4 in Columbus, and 3-0 on neutral courts. Ohio State has not lost an on-court match to the Hawkeyes since 1988. The Buckeyes had won 29 consecutive matches prior to forfeits in 1999 and 2000.
A LOOK AT MINNESOTA
The sixth ranked Golden Gophers, coached by Mike Hebert, are 28-3 overall and 15-1. Minnesota has earned a least a share of the Big Ten title with four matches to play. Last week the Gophers won road matches at Michigan 3-0 (30-26, 30-24, 32-30) and at Michigan State 3-1 (30-24, 27-30, 30-27, 30-21). Minnesota has won its last 10 matches. Leading the Gophers in kills per game is Cassie Busse at 4.16 (449) with Erin Martin second at 3.40 (367). Busse is the top percentage hitter on the squad at .319. Running the offense is Lindsey Vander Well with a 12.73 assists (1,413) per game average. Busse tops the team in aces (66) per game at .61 with Martin second at .45 (49). Defensively, Paula Gentil has a team-high 4.43 digs (447) per game average with Vander Well second at 2.68 (298). At the net, Bethany Brafford is the team leader in blocking at 1.16 per game with eight solos and 115 assists. Busse is second at .98 with eight solos and 98 assists. Minnesota is averaging 15.85 kills per game and is hitting .257. The Gophers average 1.99 aces, 15.80 digs and 2.79 blocks per game. Opponents average 13.12 kills per game and are hitting .154. Gopher opponents average 1.03 aces, 14.47 digs and 2.08 blocks per game.
OHIO STATE – MINNESOTA SERIES
Ohio State has a 25-21 lead in the series with Minnesota. In a match earlier this season, in Columbus, No. 8 Minnesota defeated OSU 3-2 (24-30, 30-22, 28-30, 30-24, 15-6). The Gophers have a 10-9 advantage in matches played in Minneapolis, are 6-14 in Columbus and the Gophers have a 5-2 advantage in neutral court matches.
STILING SECOND IN CAREER TOTAL BLOCKS
Suzie Stiling, with 13 total blocks last weekend, has moved to second on the OSU career total blocks list with 426 (61 solos, 365 assists). She moved past Sherri Helman (1993-95) with 423 (63-360). Stiling had a season-high eight (1-7) blocks against Indiana and added five assists in the Penn State match. Her 12 assist blocks last weekend moved her to third on the OSU career assist blocks list passing Helman who has 360.
DRAEGER NOW TIED FOR 14TH IN CAREER ASSIST BLOCKS
With four assist blocks last weekend, Shelly Draeger has moved into a tie for 14th on the Ohio State career assist blocks list with Holly O’Leary (1987-90) at 192. She recorded three assist blocks against Indiana and one against Penn State to raise her career total to 192. Draeger moved past Audrey DiPronio (1988-91) who has 191 assists.
GORDON TOPS CONFERENCE STATISTICS IN KILLS PER GAME
Stacey Gordon continues to lead the Big Ten in kills per game, overall at 5.84 and in conference matches at 5.75. In overall statistics, Gordon ranks fourth in digs at 3.36 and ninth in aces at .33 per game. She is 10th in aces at .31 per game in conference statistics and ninth in digs at 3.10.
GORDON CONTINUES DOUBLE-FIGURE KILLS STREAK
Stacey Gordon continued her consecutive streak of double-figure kill matches with 27 kills against Indiana and 19 against Penn State. She now has recorded double-figure kills in her last 41 matches. For her career, Gordon has double-figure kills in 54 of 56 matches and has 26 matches with 20 or more kills. Defensively, Gordon has 18 double-figure dig matches this season and 37 in her career. She has had 36 double-doubles (kills-digs) in her career.
GORDON RANKED THIRD NATIONALLY IN KILLS PER GAME LAST WEEK
Stacey Gordon, with a 5.84 kills per game average this week, was ranked third nationally in the national statistics release by the NCAA.
GORDON REACHES 1,000 KILLS AS A SOPHOMORE
With eight kills against Michigan, Stacey Gordon became the first Ohio State sophomore to ever reach 1,000 kills. Six players reached 1,000 kills as juniors and seven as senior. The only exception to this is Vanessa Wouters (1996-97), a transfer from Southwest Missouri State who played her final two years at Ohio State. She reached 1,000 kills in her 46th match for OSU, but as a senior. Gordon, as a sophomore, reached 1,000 kills in her 53rd match. With 27 kills against Indiana and 19 against Penn State, Gordon now has 1,091 career kills and has moved to 14th on the OSU career kills list.
VIRTUE MOVES TOWARD OSU CAREER ASSIST RECORD
With 5,330 career assists, Katie Virtue has moved a little closer to the OSU career assist record of 5,483 held by Laura Davis (1991-94). Virtue had a season-high 67 assists against Indiana and added 38 against Penn State to move within 154 of becoming OSU’s career leader. In conference statistics, she leads the Big Ten in assists per game at 13.72 (conference matches) and is third in overall statistics at 13.24. Her overall average of 13.24 assists per game ranks 14th in this week’s NCAA national statistics.
VIRTUE HAS SEASON-HIGH SEVEN BLOCKS AGAINST LIONS
Katie Virtue helped her team out with a season-high seven blocks against Penn State. Her one solo and six assists equal her career-high for the third time. Virtue also had double-figure digs in both matches last week, recording 11 digs against Indiana and 10 against Penn State.
HIGGINS EQUALS CAREER HIGH IN ASSIST BLOCKS AGAIN
For the fifth time this season, Stephanie Higgins has equaled her career high of seven assist blocks in the Indiana match. She also contributed seven kills (.357), two aces and three digs against the Hoosiers. She added five blocks, six digs and an ace against Penn State. She has had eight matches this season with five or more blocks. Higgins ranks 12th in the Big Ten Conference in blocks at 1.06.
KASTEIN ADDS ANOTHER DOUBLE-FIGURE DIG MATCH
With 12 digs against Penn State, Rebecca Kastein (Fr., Mt. Lebanon, Pa.) recorded her sixth match with double-figure digs. Kastein has established herself as the libero on the squad as she has played the position in the last 12 matches for the Buckeyes. She has played in a total of 17 matches and is averaging 2.01 digs per game.
BUCKEYES HURT BY INJURIES
Ohio State, in the first four weeks of the season, was hit hard by injuries, The Buckeyes had five players injured in the first month of action with three now back in action. Since then Heather Whalen also has missed matches due to an injury. Below is a list of the players and their current status. Maria Pongonis (Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio), foot stress fracture at Hawaii, currently unavailable for competition Katie Virtue, fractured hand in Illinois-Chicago match, missed seven matches, now playing Jackie Schardt, concussion on Sept. 17, missed three matches, now playing Katherine Grant (Fr., Nashville, Tenn.), dislocated elbow in Miami (Ohio) match, currently unavailable for competition Anna Andersson, knee sprain on Sept. 20, missed eight matches, now playing Heather Whalen (Jr., Kalamazoo, Mich.), concussion on Oct. 31, missed two matches, now playing
WHO IS STARTING?
Because of the five early season injuries for the Buckeyes, Ohio State has tried to find the right starting combination with the available players. In 25 matches, the Buckeyes have used 12 different starting combinations and at one point used a different lineup in 10 consecutive matches. Each of the 14 student-athletes has now started at least one match this season.
OHIO STATE 3, INDIANA 2
Trailing two games to one, Ohio State rallied for a 30-17, 28-30, 29-31, 30-27, 18-16 win over Indiana. Stacey Gordon had 27 kills for OSU with Suzie Stiling adding 18 and Shelly Draeger 16. IU’s Melissa Brewer had 21 kills with Christina Archibald adding 13, Katie Pollom 12 and Nikki Hill 10. OSU trailed by six early in game two, closed to 28-27 but fell 30-28. The Buckeyes had a 29-24 lead in game three but fell, 31-29. Game five saw Indiana have two match points at 15-14 and 16-15, but two IU errors set match point (17-16) for OSU and a Gordon kill ended the game at 18-16. For the match, Ohio State hit .292 to .141 for Indiana. The Buckeyes had an 81-66 advantage in kills. Each squad had four aces with IU’s Pollom and OSU’s Stephanie Higgins sharing match-high honors with two each. The Buckeyes gave up 14 service errors to eight for Indiana. Ohio State had a 60-49 margin in digs with OSU’s Gordon collecting a match-high 14. IU’s Hillary Toivonen (Sr., Muncie, Ind.) recorded a team-high 13. The Buckeyes had a 15-14.5 advantage in blocks. OSU’s Stiling had a match-high eight blocks (1-7) with Higgins adding seven assists. IU’s Brewer recorded a team-high seven assists with Pollom adding six blocks (2-4). OSU’s Katie Virtue had a match-high 67 assists in the match to 56 for Victoria Zimmerman.
OHIO STATE 3, PENN STATE 0
Ohio State upset 13th-ranked Penn State 3-0 (30-28, 32-30, 30-25) behind 19 kills from Stacey Gordon, 11 from Suzie Stiling and 10 by Shelly Draeger. PSU’s Cara Smith had 14 kills with Ashley Pederson adding 12. From 10-all in game one, OSU held the lead for a 30-28 win. The Buckeyes stopped two PSU game points before winning 32-30. Leading 24-23 in game three, OSU closed the match with a 30-25 win. Ohio State hit .286 for the match to .138 for Penn State. OSU had a 49-45 margin in kills. Penn State had a 5-3 advantage in aces but had 10 service errors to eight for OSU. Ohio State had a 46-33 margin in digs with OSU’s Gordon recording a match-high 12. The Buckeyes had an 11.5 to 8.5 margin in blocks. OSU’s Katie Virtue tied her career-high of seven total blocks with a solo and six assists. Penn State’s Sam Tortorello recorded 39 assists in the match to 38 for OSU’s Virtue.
BUCKEYE HEAD COACH JIM STONE
Jim Stone is in his 21st season at Ohio State. He has a 424-239 record with the Buckeyes and is 245-138 in Big Ten play. His squads have won Big Ten Championships in 1989, 1991 and 1994 and in the last 13 years have finished in the Top 3 in the league 10 times. 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 in 11 of the last 13 years, advancing to the national semifinals in 1991 and 1994. Stone’s coaching career record includes three years at Wyoming (1979-1981). His 23-year career record is 474-281.
NEXT WEEK FOR OHIO STATE
Ohio State closes out the regular season with home matches against Illinois (11-14, 5-11) Fri., Nov. 29 and Purdue (11-18, 1-15) Sat., Nov. 30.
