No. 11 Women’s Volleyball Travels To Indiana and No. 9 Penn State To Open Big Ten Play – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/24/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 24, 2002
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 11th-ranked Ohio State (6-3) women’s volleyball team begins Big Ten Conference play with matches at Indiana (10-2) and No. 9 Penn State (10-1). The Buckeyes face the Hoosiers at 7 p.m., Wed., Sept. 25 in Bloomington and travel to University Park for a 7 p.m., Sat., Sept. 28 contest against the Nittany Lions.
BUCKEYES HURT BY INJURIES
Ohio State, in the first four weeks of the season, has been hit hard by injuries. The Buckeyes returned from Hawaii to find out that outside hitter Maria Pongonis (Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio) had a stress fracture in her left foot. Two weeks later setter Katie Virtue (Sr., St. Charles, Ill.) suffered a fracture to her right hand during the road match at Illinois-Chicago. The day prior to the Miami (OH) match, setter Jackie Schardt (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) suffered a concussion in practice. The next day outside hitter Katherine Grant (Fr., Nashville, Tenn.) suffered a dislocated elbow during the match with the RedHawks. Last Friday in practice, Anna Andersson (Fr., Angelholm, Sweden) suffered a knee sprain. The five student-athletes are currently unavailable for competition. Ohio State has had seven difference lineups in the nine matches this season. Pongonis started all three matches in Hawaii while Virtue had six starts prior to her injury. Schardt, who replaced Virtue, had started two matches as had Grant. Andersson had four starts to date. The starting setter position has been taken over by starting libero and former setter Heather Whalen (Jr., Kalamazoo, Mich.) A LOOK AT OHIO STATE
The 11th-ranked Buckeyes, coached by Jim Stone, are 6-3 on the season. Stacey Gordon leads Ohio State with 6.03 kills (193) and a 3.91 digs (125) per game average. Suzie Stiling ranks second in kills at 2.53(81) and is second in blocks per game at .72 (three solos, 20 assists). Freshman Stephanie Higgins (Fr., Biggsville, Ill.) leads the team in blocks with a .84 per game average (two solos, 24 assists). Katie Virtue (Sr., St. Charles, Ill.) is the team leader with an 11.89 assist (214) per game average. Jackie Schardt (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) is second with a 7.53 (143) average. Gordon has a team-high 12 ace serves for a .38 per game average with Stiling second with 11 aces (.34). Ohio State averages 15.22 kills per game and is hitting .224. The Buckeyes average 1.75 aces, 13.09 digs and 1.88 blocks per game. OSU opponents average 12.69 kills per game and are hitting .211. Buckeye opponents average 1.16 aces, 11.97 digs and 2.17 blocks per game.
A LOOK AT INDIANA
The Hoosiers, coached by Katie Weismiller, are 10-2 this season. Indiana has won five consecutive matches including the IU Credit Union Classic Championship. The Hoosiers defeated Central Michigan 3-0 (34-32, 30-25, 30-23), Butler 3-2 (30-26, 27-30, 22-30, 30-28, 15-13) and Louisville 3-1 (30-18, 30-25, 30-32, 30-22) at the Classic. Christina Archibald, the Big Ten Player of the Week, was named the most valuable player of the tournament with Melissa Brewer and Nikki Hill named to the all-tournament team. Statistically, Christina Archibald leads the team with a 4.67 kills (215) per game average. IU has three student-athletes averaging three-plus kills per game. They include: Brewer (3.35, 154), Katie Pollom (3.28, 151) and Hill (3.22, 148). Pollom is the top percentage hitter at .322. At setter, Victoria Zimmerman averages 13.72 assists (631) per game. Archibald is the top server on the team with a .33 aces (15) per game average. Defensively, Hillary Toivonen has a team-high 3.20 digs (147) per game. At the net, Pollom is the team leader in blocking with a 1.15 blocks per game average on three solos and 50 assists. Brewer ranks second at 1.13 (5-47). As a team, Indiana is hitting .254 and averages 16.46 kills per game. The Hoosiers average 1.43 aces, 14.41 digs and 2.58 blocks per game. IU opponents are hitting .179 and average 13.07 kills per game. Hoosier opponents average .91 aces, 13.13 digs and 2.10 blocks per game.
OHIO STATE – INDIANA SERIES
Ohio State leads the series with Indiana, 30-20. The Buckeyes won both conference matches last season, winning 3-0 (30-22, 30-20, 30-27) in Columbus and 3-0 (30-27, 20-12, 30-14) in Bloomington. Ohio State is 9-12 in matches played in Bloomington, 17-6 in Columbus and 4-2 on neutral sites.
A LOOK AT PENN STATE
The Nittany Lions, coached by Russ Rose, are 10-1 this season and are ranked ninth in the country. Penn State had won nine consecutive matches prior to last weekend. PSU lost to No. 3 Florida 2-3 (30-32, 30-20, 30-32, 30-28, 13-15) at the American Volleyball Classic in Washington D. C. The Nittany Lions then defeated Yale 3-0 (30-15, 30-17, 30-13) in the second day of the tournament. Cara Smith and Syndia Nadeau were named to the all-tournament team. Statistically, Mishka Levy averages a team-high 4.36 kills (157) per game with Nadeau at 3.33 (100) and Smith at 3.17 (114). The top percentage hitter on the squad is Smith at .556. Sam Tortorello averages 10.65 assists (330) per game with Jessica Hayden at 5.04 (121). Tortorello averages a team-high .58 aces (18) per game with Amy Morris second at .48 (16). Defensively Hilary Sexton averages a team-high 2.94 digs (100) per game with Tortorello second at 2.03 (63). At the net, Robyn Guokas is the team leader in blocks with a 1.39 per game average on five solo and 45 assists. Levy (1-41) and Smith (7-35) each average 1.17 blocks per game. Penn State is averaging 16.61 kills per game and is hitting .377. The Nittany Lions average 2.61 aces, 12.14 digs and 2.94 blocks per game. PSU opponents are averaging 10.75 kills per game and are hitting .109. Opponents average .97 aces, 9.17 digs and 1.75 blocks per game.
OHIO STATE – PENN STATE SERIES
Penn State leads the series with Ohio State, 21-11. The Buckeyes won both conference contests last year. OSU won 3-2 (30-24, 28-30, 38-20, 31-29, 15-12) in Columbus and won 3-0 (30-19, 30-23, 30-19) in University Park. Penn State has won 10 of 14 matches played in University Park, nine of 15 played in Columbus and two of three on neutral courts. Since 1991 in Big Ten Conference action, the Nittany Lions have a 12-10 lead in league contests.
#13 OHIO STATE 3, MIAMI (Ohio) 1
With 29 kills and 20 digs, OSU’s Stacey Gordon helped the Buckeyes to a 3-1 (29-31, 30-28, 30-24, 30-21) win over Miami (Ohio). Suzie Stiling added 12 kills and Amanda Miller a career-high eight for OSU. RedHawks Erika Eagan, Kelly McCullough and Tara Buroker had 11 kills each for Miami with Suzan Poll adding 10. Due to injuries former OSU setter Heather Whalen returned to the position and recorded 51 assists, 11 digs, three kills and an ace serve. OSU’s Katherine Grant dislocated her elbow in game three and was replaced by Brie Hagerty who had five digs, three assist blocks, two kills and an ace serve. OSU out hit Miami .221 to .217 and had a 63-53 advantage in kills. The Buckeyes had a 9-4 margin in aces with Gordon serving up a match-high three. Ohio State out dug Miami 56-42 and out blocked the RedHawks 11-5.
GORDON CONTINUES DOUBLE-FIGURE KILLS STREAK
Stacey Gordon recorded 29 kills and 20 digs in the win over Miami (Ohio). She now has recorded double-figure kills in her last 25 matches. For her career, Gordon has double-figure kills in 38 of 40 matches and has 14 matches with 20 or more kills. Defensively, Gordon has 25 matches with double-figure digs in her career and recorded a season-high 20 digs against the RedHawks. She has had 24 double-doubles (kills-digs) in her career.
GORDON RANKED FOURTH NATIONALLY IN KILLS PER GAME LAST WEEK
Stacey Gordon with a 5.86 kills per game average prior to the past week was ranked fourth nationally in the national statistics release by the NCAA. Including last week’s matches, Gordon is currently averaging 6.03 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:
WHALEN RETURNS TO SETTER, PRODUCES WIN OVER REDHAWKS
With Katie Virtue and Jackie Schardt injured, libero Heather Whalen returned to the setter position against Miami (Ohio) last week. She had season-highs of 51 assists, three kills and one ace and added 11 digs in the match. Whalen had three starts at setter during her freshman season and saw limited action in two other matches.
HAGERTY CALLED TO ACTION WITH GRANT INJURY
When Katherine Grant was injured during the match against Miami (Ohio), Brie Hagerty (Fr., Defiance, Ohio) entered the match in game three. Playing in only her second match of the season, she recorded career-highs of five digs, three assist blocks, two digs and an ace serve. Hagerty’s only other action this season was a brief appearance in one game against UCLA in Hawaii.
MILLER RECORDS CAREER-HIGH EIGHT KILLS AGAINST MIAMI
With a career-high eight kills, Amanda Miller came off the bench in the match against the RedHawks to help OSU collect the victory. Miller saw action in the last three games and produced five of her eight kills in game three.
DRAKE RECORDS FIRST START
In her first start of her career, Tamika Drake (Jr., Euclid, Ohio) was in the starting lineup against Miami (Ohio) as a back row defensive specialist. Drake recorded career-highs of eight digs, a kill and an ace in the match.
ANDERSSON MOVES TO LIBERO AGAINST MIAMI
With Heather Whalen moved to the setter position, Anna Andersson (Fr., Angelholm, Sweden) took over the libero position against Miami (Ohio). She had four digs and added a kill against the RedHawks. Andersson is the third player to start at the libero position. Whalen had five starts in the position with Tamika Drake starting three times. Drake started in the RedHawk match, in the back row as a defensive specialist.
STILING PRODUCES SEASON-HIGH FIVE BLOCKS AGAINST MIAMI
With a season-high five blocks (one solo, four assists) against Miami, Suzie Stiling produced her best blocking match of the season. Her previous best this season was four assist blocks against Loyola-Chicago. Stiling added 12 kills while hitting .308 and collected three digs and an ace serve.
KASTEIN SEES FIRST ACTION OF THE SEASON
Entering the Miami (Ohio) match in game two, Rebecca Kastein (Fr., Mt. Lebanon, Pa.) saw her first action of the season. She entered the match to serve and recorded a dig.
OSU 11TH IN USA TODAY/AVCA POLL
Ohio State was ranked 11th in the USA Today/AVCA Poll released Monday. Last week the Buckeyes were 13th. Southern California (8-0) is ranked No. 1.
OSU 15TH IN VOLLEYBALL MAGAZINE POLL
The Buckeyes are 15th in the Volleyball Magazine poll this week. Ohio State was ranked 15th last week in the poll. Southern California (8-0) tops the poll this week.
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 415-232 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 465-274.
NEXT WEEK FOR OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes continue conference play on the road with matches at Michigan State (8-2) and Michigan (6-4). OSU faces the Spartans at 7 p.m, Fri., Oct. 4 and the Wolverines at 7 p.m., Sat., Oct. 5. Ohio State then returns home to face No. 16 Wisconsin (9-2) at 7 p.m., Fri., Oct. 12 and Northwestern (7-5) at 7 p.m., Sat., Oct. 13.
