No. 13 Volleyball Hosts Miami Wednesday – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 17, 2002
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 13th-ranked Ohio State (5-3) women’s volleyball team host the RedHawks of Miami (Ohio) (5-6) at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 18 in St. John Arena. The contest will close out the non-conference schedule for the Buckeyes. OSU’s match with Miami will be cablecast by the Ohio News Network at 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21. Arica Robbins and former OSU All-American Audrey DiPronio (Flaugh) will call the action.
BUCKEYES GO 2-1 LAST WEEK
Ohio State finished last week with two wins and a loss. The Buckeyes defeated Illinois-Chicago 3-1 (30-28, 30-13, 23-30, 30-24) on the road and Loyola-Chicago 3-1 (30-19, 31-29, 22-30, 30-23) in the semifinals of the Ohio State Invitational. OSU dropped a 0-3 (24-30, 23-30, 28-30) decision to Texas in the championship match of the Ohio State Invitational. OSU’s Stacey Gordon (So., Oshawa, Ontario) and Suzie Stiling (Sr., Glenview, Ill.) were named to the all-tournament team.
A LOOK AT OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes, coached by Jim Stone, are 5-3 on the season. Stacey Gordon leads Ohio State with 5.86 kills per game and a 3.75 digs per game average. Suzie Stiling ranks second in kills at 2.46 and is second in blocks per game at .64 (two solos, 16 assists). Freshman Stephanie Higgins (Fr., Biggsville, Ill.) leads the team in blocks with a .86 per game average (two solos, 22 assists). Katie Virtue (Sr., St. Charles, Ill.) is the team leader in assists with an 11.89 per game average. Jackie Schardt (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) is second with a 7.53 average. Stiling has a team-high 10 ace serves for a .36 per game average. Ohio State averages 15.14 kills per game and is hitting .225. The Buckeyes average 1.68 aces, 12.96 digs and 1.75 blocks per game. OSU opponents average 12.61 kills per game and are hitting .210. Buckeye opponents average 1.18 aces, 12.18 digs and 2.30 blocks per game. A LOOK AT MIAMI
The RedHawks, coached by Carolyn Condit, are 5-6 on the season. Miami won the TCU Invitational last week with wins over Stephen F. Austin 3-1 (30-22, 29-31, 30-23, 30-21 and San Jose State 3-2 (28-30, 30-25, 27-30, 30-21, 16-14) and a loss to host Texas Christian 1-3 (24-30, 27-30, 30-23, 28-30). RedHawk Susan Poll was named the most valuable player of the tournament and teammate Tara Buroker was named to the all-tournament squad. Buroker is the team leader in kills per game at 3.17 with Kelly McCullough second at 2.95. Megan Clark runs the offense and is averaging 10.05 assists per game. Erika Egan is the team leader in aces with 19 (.48). Defensively Buroker has 150 digs for a 3.66 per game average. Jennifer Eaton averages a team-high 1.28 blocks per game on seven solos and 43 assists. McCullough is second at 1.02 with two solos and 39 assists. The RedHawks average 14.44 kills per game and are hitting .202. Miami averages 1.61 aces, 14.68 digs and 2.40 blocks per game. Opponents are averaging 13.71 kills per game and are hitting .168. RedHawk opponents average 2.00 aces, 14.39 digs and 2.61 blocks per game.
OHIO STATE – MIAMI SERIES
Ohio State has an 8-3 lead in the series with Miami. The squads have not played since 1987 at the Buckeye Invitational, a 3-0 (15-13, 15-5, 15-13) OSU win. Ohio State is 3-1 in matches played in Columbus and has won the last three matches played at Ohio State.
MIAMI (OH) 8-3
12/ 9/72 N W 2-0 15-1, 15-13 OAISW Championship at Ohio University 11/12/76 N W 2-0 15-1, 15-7 OAISW Championship at Ohio University / /77 N W 2-1 15-5, L, 15-7 OAISW Championship at Cleveland State 11/10/79 N W 3-2 10-15, 15-2, 15-4, 10-15, 15-8 OAISW Championship at Cleveland State 11/ 4/80 H L 1-3 12-15, 15-7, 7-15, 5-15 11/15/80 N W 3-2 13-15, 15-13, 20-18, 11-15, 15-13 OAISW Championship at Kent State 11/ 3/81 A L 1-2 15-17, 12-15, 3-15 11/ 8/83 H W 3-1 15-17, 15-6, 15-13, 16-14 9/ 4/84 A L 0-3 13-15, 7-15, 12-15 10/16/85 H W 3-0 15-2, 15-12, 15-9 10/10/87 H W 3-0 15-13, 15-5, 15-13 Buckeye Invitational at Ohio State
#9 OHIO STATE 3, ILLINOIS-CHICAGO 1
Behind a career-high 33-kill performance by Stacey Gordon, Ohio State defeated Illinois-Chicago 3-1 (30-28, 30-13, 23-30, 30-24). Suzie Stiling added 14 kills and a match-high 17 digs for OSU with Shelly Draeger (Sr., Milwaukee, Wis.) adding 13 digs. Lindsey Filkins had a team-high 12 kills for the Flames with Lara Clarkson adding 11. OSU hit .324 for the match to .197 for Illinois-Chicago. The Buckeyes had a 73-50 advantage in kills and out served the Flames, 6-2. OSU gave up 17 service errors to eight for UIC. The Buckeyes had a 62-44 advantage in digs and out blocked the Flames, 9-8. OSU’s Stephanie Higgins recorded a career-high eight blocks (1-7) in the contest. Buckeye setter Katie Virtue (Sr., St. Charles, Ill.) had season-high 62 assists in the match and added seven digs and four assist blocks. Gordon now has scored double-figure kill in 22 consecutive matches and in 35 of 37 in her career. She has also had 12 matches with 20 or more kills.
#9 OHIO STATE 3, LOYOLA-CHICAGO 1
Behind a 23-kill performance by Stacey Gordon, Ohio State defeated Loyola-Chicago 3-1 (30-19, 31-29, 22-30, 30-23) in the semifinals of the Ohio State Invitational. OSU’s Shelly Draeger adding 11 kills and Stephanie Higgins, a career-high 10 for the Buckeyes. Rambler Kristen Daly scored team-high 21 kills for Loyola-Chicago with Shari Davis adding eight. OSU out hit the Ramblers .250 to .148 and had a 62-42 advantage in kills. Each squad had eight ace serves with OSU’s Suzie Stiling recording a match-high three. The Buckeyes gave up 19 service errors to 14 for the Ramblers. OSU had a 56-45 advantage in digs with Gordon collecting a match-high 15. The Ramblers out blocked Ohio State, 8-5.5. Carrie Culos (0-4) and Davis (3-1) had four blocks each for the Ramblers with Stiling adding four assists for OSU.
TEXAS 3, #9 OHIO STATE 0
With 19 kills from Mira Topic and 11 from Kathy Hahn, Texas defeated Ohio State 3-0 (24-30, 23-30, 28-30) in the championship match of the Ohio State Invitational. OSU’s Stacey Gordon had a team-high 12 kills with Suzie Stiling and Shelly Draeger adding eight each. Texas out hit Ohio State, .330 to .170 and had a 47-38 advantage in kills. The Longhorns had a 6-3 margin in ace serves with LaTonya Coates collecting a match-high four. Each squad recorded 26 digs and six blocks in the match. OSU’s Gordon had a match-high eight digs for the Buckeyes while Longhorn Hahn had a match-high four assist blocks. UT’s Topic was named the tournament most valuable player with Caron Blotch and Hahn named to the all-tournament team. Also named to the team from Ohio State were Gordon and Stiling along with Loyola-Chicago’s Kristen Daly and Akron’s Sandy Lewis.
GORDON CONTINUES DOUBLE-FIGURE KILLS STREAK
Stacey Gordon collected a career-high 33 kills Tuesday against Illinois-Chicago and added 23 and 12 kills against Loyola-Chicago and Texas, respectively during the last week. She now has recorded double-figure kills in her last 24 matches. For her career, Gordon has double-figure kills in 37 of 39 matches and has 13 matches with 20 or more kills. Defensively, Gordon has 24 matches with double-figure digs in her career and recorded a season-high 19 digs against Kent State.
GORDON RANKED FIFTH NATIONALLY IN KILLS PER GAME LAST WEEK
Stacey Gordon with a 5.65 kills per game average prior to the past week was ranked sixth nationally in the national statistics release by the NCAA. Including last week’s matches, Gordon is currently averaging 5.86 kills per game. The NCAA national leaders will be released later this week on the NCAA web site at http://goomer.ncaa.org:8080/stats/reports’sportCode=WVB&rpt=wkly. National leaders from last week are listed below:
Rank Name, Team CL G Kills PG 1 Aline Pereira, George Mason Jr. 24 153 6.38 2 Kim Willoughby, Hawaii Jr. 20 122 6.10 3 Stephanie Volckers, Hartford So. 18 108 6.00 4 Julie Dupont, Cincinnati So. 18 103 5.72 5 Michelle Collier, South Fla. Sr. 23 130 5.65 6 Stacey Gordon, Ohio St. So. 17 96 5.65
HIGGINS RECORDS CAREER HIGH EIGHT BLOCKS AT ILLINOIS-CHICAGO
With one solo and seven assist blocks, freshman Stephanie Higgins recorded a career-high eight total blocks against Illinois-Chicago on Tuesday. Her previous high was four assist blocks in two earlier matches. Higgins has played in all eight matches this season, starting seven, and has a team-high .86 blocks per game average with a two solos and 22 assists.
HIGGINS RECORDS CAREER HIGH 10 KILLS AGAINST LOYOLA-CHICAGO
With 10 kills against Loyola-Chicago, Stephanie Higgins established a new career high. Her previous high was seven against Cleveland State and at Illinois-Chicago. Higgins has been moved to the outside hitting position from middle blocker.
GRANT GETS STARTING ASSIGNMENT AGAINST TEXAS
Playing in only her third match of the season, Katherine Grant (Fr., Nashville, Tenn.) was given the start in the middle against Texas. Grant produced three kills in six swings (.333) adding a dig and two assist blocks in the match.
DRAEGER COLLECTS SEASON-HIGH 11 KILLS AGAINST THE RAMBLERS
Shelly Draeger had a double double in the match against Loyola-Chicago. Draeger had a season-high 11 kills and added 10 digs in the match. She also produced her top hitting performance of the season with a .350 mark (11 kills, 4 errors, 20 attempts).
SCHARDT COLLECTS CAREER-HIGH 52 ASSISTS AGAINST LOYOLA-CHICAGO
In her first start as a Buckeye, Jackie Schardt recorded a career-high 52 assists in the win over the Ramblers. She also added career-highs of three ace serves and eight digs against Loyola-Chicago.
ANDERSSON SETS CAREER-HIGHS IN KILLS AND DIGS AGAINST RAMBLERS
With eight kills and nine digs against Loyola-Chicago, Anna Andersson (Fr., Angelholm, Sweden) set new career highs in both categories. Her previous high in kills was six in two matches and seven in digs in two matches.
STILING RECORDS SEASON-HIGH 17 DIGS AT ILLINOIS-CHICAGO
Suzie Stiling picked up a season-high 17 digs against the Flames of Illinois-Chicago last week. Her previous high for the season was four against Kent State.
OSU 13TH IN USA TODAY/AVCA POLL
Ohio State was ranked 13th in the USA Today/AVCA Poll release Monday. Last week the Buckeyes were ninth. Southern California (6-0) is now ranked No. 1 after Stanford lost last week.
OSU 15TH IN VOLLEYBALL MAGAZINE POLL
The Buckeyes are 15th in the Volleyball Magazine poll this week. Ohio State was ranked 10th last week in the poll. Southern California (6-0) tops the poll this week after previous leader Stanford suffered a loss.
OHIO STATE TABBED AS PRESEASON BIG TEN FAVORITE
The Ohio State women’s volleyball squad has been voted as the preseason favorite to win the 2002 Big Ten Conference Championship by the conference coaches. The Buckeyes, who finished second at 17-3 last season, finished ahead of 2001 conference champion Wisconsin in the preseason poll.
THREE BUCKEYES NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
By a vote of the Big Ten coaches, Ohio State student-athletes Stacey Gordon, Suzie Stiling and Katie Virtue have been named to the 13-player 2002 Preseason All-Big Ten Team. Gordon, an outside hitter, was an All-Big Ten selection as a freshman and was the Big Ten and American Volleyball Coaches Association Freshman of the Year. She also was named a second team AVCA All-American. Stiling has been honored as an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection the last two seasons. Virtue, a two-time All-Big Ten selection, was a Volleyball Magazine honorable mention All-America selection last year. The Buckeyes, with three student-athletes on the team, lead the preseason team. Michigan State, Minnesota and Penn State placed two players each to the squad.
TV MATCHES INCLUDE NATIONAL AND REGIONAL BROADCAST
Ohio State will be featured in a national and regional broadcast this season. The Buckeyes will face Wisconsin in a Saturday, Nov. 2 match that will be cablecast by ESPN2 Sunday, Nov. 3 at 3 p.m. CST. OSU will play at Michigan State Friday, Oct. 4 in a match that will be cablecast by Fox Sports Chicago at 3 p.m. CST Sunday, Oct. 6.
ONN TO CARRY FIVE BUCKEYE CONTESTS
The Ohio News Network will cablecast five Ohio State matches this season. Four matches will be broadcast on a delayed basis while the fifth match against Iowa at 1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 27 will be carried live. The other contests include OSU’s matches against Cleveland State (Friday, Sept. 6, broadcast Saturday, Sept. 7, 1 p.m.), Loyola-Chicago (Friday, Sept. 13, broadcast Saturday, Sept. 14, 1 p.m.), Miami (Ohio) (Wednesday, Sept. 18, broadcast Saturday, Sept. 21, 1 p.m.) and Minnesota (Friday, Oct. 25, broadcast Saturday, Oct. 26, 1 p.m.)
BUCKEYE HEAD COACH JIM STONE
Jim Stone is in his 21st season at Ohio State. He has a 414-232 record with the Buckeyes and is 236-131 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 464-274.
NEXT WEEK FOR OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes open Big Ten Conference play Wednesday, Sept. 28 at Indiana (7-2). Ohio State then plays Saturday, Sept. 28 at #9 Penn State (9-0).
