No. 20 Volleyball Hosts Illinois And Purdue – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 27, 2002
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 20th-ranked Ohio State (17-10 overall, 11-7 Big Ten) women’s volleyball team closes out the regular season with home contests against Illinois (12-15, 6-12) and Purdue (12-19, 2-16). The Buckeyes face Illinois Fri., Nov. 29 and complete the regular season with Purdue Sat., Nov. 30. Both matches begin at 7 p.m. in St. John Arena.
GORDON RECEIVES FOURTH BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
The Big Ten Conference has named outside hitter Stacey Gordon (So., Oshawa, Ontario) the Co-Big Ten Player of the Week for her play in road victories at Iowa and sixth-ranked Minnesota. In OSU’s 3-1 (27-30, 30-23, 30-19, 30-18) win at Iowa Gordon had match-highs of 23 kills and 16 digs in the match. She hit .326 and added three blocks (one solo, two assists) and an ace serve. The next night in OSU’s 3-0 (30-23, 30-28, 30-25) upset win over the 2002 Big Ten Champion Gophers, Gordon had a match-high 24 kills, hit .340 and added 12 digs. In game two of the match with the Gophers, she recorded 11 of OSU’s 21 kills. For the two-match road trip, Gordon averaged 6.71 kills and 4.00 digs per game. She hit .333 for the two matches adding three blocks and an ace serve. She shares Player of the Week honors with Michigan State’s Kim Schram.
This marks the fourth time this season that Gordon has been honored as the Big Ten Player of the Week. She received back-to-back honors in early October, first in losses to Michigan State (2-3) and Michigan (0-3) on the road and then was Co-Player of the Week in a loss to Wisconsin (1-3) and in the win against Northwestern (3-0) in home matches. Earlier this month she was again honored for wins over Michigan (3-1) and Michigan State (3-1). In her freshman season, Gordon was named Big Ten Player of the Week three times. BUCKEYES MOVING UP CONFERENCE STANDINGS
After a 0-5 start in the Big Ten Conference standings, Ohio State has won 11 of the last 13 matches and is in fourth place 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 .249 in the last 13. OSU improved from 14.81 kills per game to 16.53 since the first five league contests.
OHIO STATE MOVES TO 20TH IN AVCA POLL
Following a 3-1 win at Iowa and a 3-0 upset victory at Minnesota, Ohio State has moved to 20th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. The Buckeyes were 25th last week 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 17-10 overall and 11-7 in Big Ten play. Ohio State stands in fourth place in the Big Ten Conference after a 3-1 (27-30, 30-23, 30-19, 30-18) win at Iowa and a 3-0 (30-23, 30-28, 30-25) upset victory at Minnesota. Stacey Gordon leads Ohio State with a 5.90 kills (625) and a 3.41 digs (361) per game average. Suzie Stiling (Sr., Glenview, Ill.) ranks second in kills at 2.84 (301) and is the team leader in blocks per game at 1.04 (15 solos, 95 assists). Shelly Draeger (Sr., Milwaukee, Wis.) is third in kills at 2.74 (290). Freshman Stephanie Higgins (Fr., Biggsville, Ill.) is second on the team in blocks with a .96 per game average (three solos, 98 assists). Katie Virtue is the team leader with a 13.43 assists (1,007) per game average. Jackie Schardt (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) is second with a 6.94 (229) average. Gordon has a team-high 34 ace serves for a .32 per game average with Stiling second with 26 aces (.25) each. Ohio State averages 15.79 kills per game and is hitting .231. The Buckeyes average 1.36 aces, 13.61 digs and 2.25 blocks per game. OSU opponents average 13.26 kills per game and are hitting .190. Buckeye opponents average 1.19 aces, 12.01 digs and 2.96 blocks per game.
A LOOK AT ILLINOIS
The Illini, coached by Don Hardin, are 12-15 overall and 6-12 in the Big Ten. At home last week, Illinois lost 3-1 (30-22, 27-30, 28-30, 30-32 to Michigan State and defeated Michigan 3-0 (30-21, 30-28, 30-25). Lisa Argabright has a team-high 3.23 kills (252) per game average. Sue Webber is second at 3.06 (306) with Melissa Vandrey third at 3.05 (287). Argabright is the team leader in hitting percentage at .322. Betsy Eiserman runs the offense and averages 11.77 assists (1,106) per game. Webber is the top server on the squad with a .67 per game average on 34 aces. She also averages a team-high 2.87 digs (287) per game. At the net, Argabright has a team-high 1.22 blocks per game average on 13 solos and 82 assists. Shelly O’Bryan is second at .91 with 10 solos and 81 assists. Illinois averages 14.18 kills per game and is hitting .202. The Illini average 1.43 aces, 13.67 digs and 2.59 blocks per game. Illinois opponents average 15.05 kills per game and are hitting .207. Opponents average 1.51 aces, 14.48 digs and 2.53 blocks per game.
OHIO STATE – ILLINOIS SERIES
Ohio State has a 27-25 lead in the series with the Illini. Earlier this season, in Champaign, OSU defeated Illinois 3-2 (30-24, 24-30, 27-30, 30-16, 15-6). Each team has won 10 matches in Columbus. The series in Champaign is also tied at 12. OSU has a 5-3 advantage in matches played at neutral sites.
A LOOK AT PURDUE
The Boilermakers, coached by Jeff Hulsmeyer, are 12-19 overall and 2-16 in the Big Ten. Purdue split home matches last weekend, defeating Michigan 3-2 (17-30, 36-34, 21-30, 30-24, 15-9) and losing to Michigan State 3-1 (15-30, 30-21, 19-30, 25-30). Joanna Lowry is the team leader in kills per game at 3.83 (460). Kim McConaha is second at 3.51 (421). McConaha is the top percentage hitter at .333. Renata Dargan controls the offense and averages 11.30 assist (1,333) per game. McConaha leads the team in aces per game at .32 (38). Defensively, Daren Poe has a team-high 3.53 digs (417) per game. Lowry is second at 3.88 (346). At the net, McConaha has a team-high .94 blocks per game average on 24 solos and 89 assists. Tiffany Yoskey is second at .59 (2-68). Purdue averages 14.13 kills per game and is hitting .221. The Boilermakers average 1.34 aces, 14.50 digs and 1.81 blocks. Purdue opponents average 16.10 kills per game and are hitting .240. Opponents average 1.65 aces, 14.98 digs and 2.42 blocks per game.
OHIO STATE – PURDUE SERIES
Ohio State has 31-28 advantage in the series with the Boilermakers. Earlier this season, OSU won at Purdue 3-1 (23-30, 32-30, 30-28, 30-25). The Buckeyes are 14-8 in matches played in Columbus, 10-10 at Purdue and 2-5 at neutral sites.
VIRTUE MOVING UP IN CAREER BLOCKS
With an assist block at Iowa and four at Minnesota, Katie Virtue has raised her career assist total to 216 and has moved to 12th on the OSU career list. Virtue passed Margie Meyers (1984-87) with 215. Her five total blocks gives her 233 career total blocks (17 solos, 216 assists) and places her 14th on the OSU career list. She passed Audrey DiPronio (1988-90) with 228 (37-191). Virtue is four blocks back of Holly O’Leary (1987-90) who is 13th on the list with 237 (45-192) total blocks.
VIRTUE RANKS 19TH IN OSU CAREER DIGS
With four digs at Iowa and eight at Minnesota, Katie Virtue has moved into a tie for 19th on the OSU career digs list with 850. She is tied with Audrey DiPrionio (1988-90).
DRAEGER MOVES TO 18TH IN CAREER DIGS
With 13 digs at Iowa and 11 at Minnesota, Shelly Draeger now has 861 career digs and has moved to 18th on the OSU career digs list. She passed Audrey DiPronio (1988-90) and teammate Katie Virtue who are tied for 19th.
DRAEGER RISES IN CAREER BLOCKS
With five assist blocks on the weekend (two at Iowa, 3 at Minnesota), Shelly Draeger now has 197 career assist blocks and has moved to 14th on the OSU career list. She moved past Holly O’Leary (1987-90) with 192. Draeger’s five total blocks gives her 210 (13-197) for her career and has moved her to 17th on the OSU career list passing Lisa Vitali (1986-89) (29-177) and Laura Davis (1991-94) (19-187) who are now tied for 18th with 206. Draeger stands four blocks behind Jenny Collins (1982-85) who is 16th on the list with 214 blocks (84-130).
GORDON TOPS CONFERENCE STATISTICS IN KILLS PER GAME
Stacey Gordon continues to lead the Big Ten in kills per game, overall at 5.90 and in conference matches at 5.84. In overall statistics, Gordon ranks fourth in digs at 3.41 and 10th in aces at .32 per game. She is ninth in aces at .30 per game in conference statistics and eighth in digs at 3.19.
GORDON CONTINUES DOUBLE-FIGURE KILLS STREAK
Stacey Gordon continued her consecutive streak of double-figure kill matches with 23 kills at Iowa and 24 at Minnesota. She now has recorded double-figure kills in her last 43 matches. For her career, Gordon has double-figure kills in 56 of 58 matches and has 28 matches with 20 or more kills. Defensively, Gordon has 20 double-figure dig matches this season and 39 in her career. She has had 38 double-doubles (kills-digs) in her career.
GORDON RANKED THIRD NATIONALLY IN KILLS PER GAME LAST WEEK
Stacey Gordon, with a 5.90 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 23 kills at Iowa and 24 at Minnesota, Gordon now has 1,138 career kills and ranks 14th on the OSU career kills list. With 14 kills, Gordon will pass Anne Botica (1998-01) with 1,151 and move to 13th on the list.
VIRTUE MOVES TOWARD OSU CAREER ASSIST RECORD
With 5,437 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 62 assists at Iowa and 45 at Minnesota to move within 47 of becoming OSU’s career leader. In conference statistics, she leads the Big Ten in assists per game at 13.91 (conference matches) and is third in overall statistics at 13.43. Her overall average of 13.43 assists per game this week ranks 10th in the NCAA national statistics.
HIGGINS EQUALS CAREER HIGH IN KILLS
Stephanie Higgins equaled her career high 13 kills at Iowa. She previously had 13 at Purdue. Higgins hit .455 for the match adding four digs and an assist block. She had nine kills (.400), three digs and three assist blocks the next night at Minnesota. Higgins is second on the team in blocks per game at .96 with three solos and 98 assists. She ranks 12th in Big Ten Conference statistics at 1.01 (1-74).
STILING NEARS NO. 2 IN CAREER ASSIST BLOCKS
She has 374 career assist blocks in her career, ranking third on the OSU career list. OSU’s Suzie Stiling stands six assist blocks behind Dana Stearns (1997-00) who ranks second on the list with 380 assists. Stiling needs seven assist blocks to move to second in assist blocks to match her No. 2 ranking in career total blocks of 436 (61-365).
KASTEIN EQUALS HER CAREER HIGH FOR DIGS
With 14 digs at Minnesota, Rebecca Kastein (Fr., Mt. Lebanon, Pa.) equaled her career high set against Wisconsin. She has had double-figure digs in nine matches this season and in her last three. Kastein is averaging 2.15 digs per game on the season.
MILLER CONTRIBUTES TO IOWA VICTORY
Coming off the bench against Iowa, Amanda Miller (Fr., Littleton, Colo.) produced a career-high 10 kills and hit .364 in the contest. Miller has played in 22 matches this season with two starts.
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 27 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.
#25 OHIO STATE 3, IOWA 1
With five players reaching double-figure kills, Ohio State defeated Iowa 3-1 (27-30, 30-23, 30-19, 30-18). Stacey Gordon recorded match-highs of 23 kills and 16 digs in the victory. OSU’s Stephanie Higgins had 13 kills, Suzie Stiling 12, Shelly Draeger 11 and Amanda Miller 10. Kelli Chesnut had a team-high 15 kills for Iowa with Echaka Agba adding 11 and Laura Simpson 10. Iowa out scored OSU 3-1 from a 26-all tie in game one for a 30-27 win. After hitting .225 in game one, Iowa hit .118 in the final three games. The Buckeyes hit .274 for the match to .147 for Iowa. OSU had a 72-50 advantage in kills and served six aces to none for the Hawkeyes. Iowa gave up nine service errors to eight for the Buckeyes. OSU enjoyed a 58-44 advantage in digs while Iowa out blocked Ohio State, 15-8. OSU’s Katie Virtue had 62 assists in the match to 43 for Jitka Stehnove of Iowa.
#25 OHIO STATE 3, #6 MINNESOTA 0
Stacey Gordon had a match-high 24 kills as Ohio State upset #6 Minnesota 3-0 (30-23, 30-28, 30-25) in Minneapolis. Shelly Draeger added 11 kills as OSU stopped an 11-match winning streak for the Gophers. Minnesota had won the outright Big Ten title the night before but hit only .174 against Ohio State. Cassie Busse had a team-high 11 kills for the Gophers. Tied at 13 in game one, OSU opened a lead and took a 30-23 win. Game two was tied at 27 before a Katie Virtue kill and two by Draeger, including the game winner, ended the game at 30-28. Minnesota held lead of 9-5 and 16-13 before OSU tied the game at 18. A four-point Buckeye run opened the lead to 22-18 and a 30-25 win. OSU out hit Minnesota, .285 to .174. The Buckeyes had a 55-42 advantage in kills while the Gophers had a 4-3 margin in ace serves. Minnesota gave up nine service errors to eight for OSU. The Buckeyes had a 50-43 edge in digs. The Gophers out blocked Ohio State, 10-8. OSU’s Virtue had a match-high 45 assists with Gopher Lindsey Vander Well recording 31.
BUCKEYE HEAD COACH JIM STONE
Jim Stone is in his 21st season at Ohio State. He has a 426-239 record with the Buckeyes and is 247-138 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 476-281.
NEXT WEEK FOR OHIO STATE
Ohio State will learn at 9 p.m., Sun., Dec. 1 their next opponent as the NCAA announces the Division I bracket live on ESPNEWS.
