No. 10 Volleyball Hosts Buckeye Classic – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 4, 2002
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State (1-2) women’s volleyball team opens at home Friday by hosting the Buckeye Classic. The 10th-ranked Buckeyes face Cleveland State (2-2) at 7 p.m. with Kent State (1-3) facing Eastern Kentucky (0-3) in the first semifinal match at 5 p.m. OSU’s match with Cleveland State will be cablecast by the Ohio News Network at 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 7. Arica Robbins and former OSU All-American Audrey DiPronio (Flaugh) will call the action. The teams return Saturday for a 5 p.m. consolation match and the 7 p.m. championship.
BUCKEYES ARE 1-2 AT VOLLEYBALL CLASSIC
Ohio State finished third at the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic last weekend in Hawaii. OSU lost to No. 4 Hawaii 0-3 (24-30, 24-30, 23-30), defeated No. 21 Colorado 3-2 (32-30, 30-21, 26-30, 21-30, 15-11) and lost to No. 11 UCLA 0-3 (25-30, 25-30, 22-30). Hawaii won the classic with a 3-0 record. UCLA finished second at 2-1 and Colorado was fourth at 0-3.
GORDON NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
OSU’s Stacey Gordon (So., Oshawa, Ontario) was named to the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team. Gordon had 13 kills (.075) and 15 digs against Hawaii, 29 kills (.281) and 16 digs against Colorado and 22 kills (.357) and eight digs against UCLA. Also named to the team were UCLA’s Lauren Fendrick and Brynn Murphy, Colorado’s Monique Gerlach and Hawaii’s Lauren Duggins, Lily Kahumoko and MVP Kim Willoughby.
SIX FRESHMEN SEE ACTION IN OPENING WEEKEND
Six of Ohio State’s eight freshmen saw action at the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic. Pongonis started all three matches in Hawaii. Stephanie Higgins (Fr., Biggsville, Ill.) played in all three matches with two starts while Anna Andersson (Fr., Angelholm, Sweden) started one match and played in all three. Jackie Schardt (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Amanda Miller (Fr., Littleton, Colo.) each played in all three matches. Brie Hagerty (Fr., Defiance, Ohio) saw action in one match.
A LOOK AT OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes, coached by Jim Stone, are 1-2 on the season. Stacey Gordon leads Ohio State with a 5.82 kills per game average with Maria Pongonis (Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio) second at 2.20. Gordon has a team-high 3.55 digs per game average while Shelly Draeger (Sr., Milwaukee, Wis.) leads the team with a .55 aces per game average. Stephanie Higgins (Fr., Biggsville, Ill.) has a team-high .55 blocks per game average. Setter Katie Virtue (Sr., St. Charles, Ill.) averages 11.60 assists per game.
A LOOK AT CLEVELAND STATE
The Vikings, coached by former Ohio State men’s volleyball student-athlete Chuck Voss, is 2-2 on the season. Last weekend Cleveland State went 1-2 at the Central Michigan Tournament. The Vikings lost to Marquette 2-3 (30-25, 25-30, 21-30, 30-24, 11-15), defeated Central Michigan 3-2 (22-30, 30-22, 30-27, 21-30, 15-9) and lost to Wyoming 0-3 (30-27, 30-28, 30-26). Michelle Iafigliola was named to the all-tournament team. Last Tuesday the Vikings defeated Buffalo 3-0 (30-25, 30-23, 30-23) at home. Iafigliola averages a team-high 4.69 kills per game. She also leads the team with a .62 aces and 2.81 digs per game average. Jamie Bouyer has a team-high blocks average of .94 per game. Setter Kelly Crain averages 10.50 assists per game.
OHIO STATE – CLEVELAND STATE SERIES
Ohio State has a 12-10 advantage in the series with Cleveland State. The Buckeyes have won the last nine meetings. OSU has won six of nine matches played in Columbus. The Buckeyes are 4-3 in contests played in Cleveland and are 2-4 in matches played at neutral sites. The squads last played in 1998, a 3-0 (15-6, 15-7, 16-14) OSU win in St. John Arena.
CLEVELAND STATE 12-10
12/ 8/72 N L 0-3 2-15, 13-15, 3-15 OAISW Championship at Ohio University 10/31/73 N L 0-2 na Played at Capital 10/22/74 H L 1-2 12-15, 15-8, 7-15 10/22/74 H W 2-1 15-12, 5-15, 14-12 10/26/74 N L 0-2 2-15, 5-15 Played at Dayton / /75 A L 1-2 na / /75 H L 0-2 10-15, 14-16 / /75 N L 1-2 na OAISW Championship at Ashland 10/19/76 H L 1-2 15-10, 9-15, 9-15 / /77 H W 2-1 12-15, 15-11, 15-3 10/ 7/78 A L 1-2 11-15, 15-9, 12-15 Cleveland State Invitational 11/10/78 A W 2-1 3-15, 18-16, 15-7 OAISW Championship at Cleveland State 11/11/78 A L 0-3 9-15, 12-15, 7-15 OAISW Championship at Cleveland State 10/16/79 H W 3-1 15-17, 16-14, 15-10, 15-8 11/ 9/79 A W 2-0 15-8, 15-6 OAISW Championship at Cleveland State 11/10/79 A W 3-1 13-15, 15-12, 15-4, 15-6 OAISW Championship at Cleveland State 10/14/80 H W 3-1 15-2, 13-15, 15-7, 15-10 10/18/80 N W 2-1 13-15, 15-10, 15-11 Cincinnati Invitational 9/ 7/81 A W 3-1 15-3, 13-15, 15-8, 15-11 11/20/81 N W 2-1 5-15, 15-10, 15-12 MAIAW Championship at Western Illinois 9/25/84 H W 3-0 15-3, 15-10, 15-9 9/20/98 H W 3-0 15-6, 15-7, 16-14 A LOOK AT EASTERN KENTUCKY
The Colonels, coached by Lori Duncan, are 0-3 on the season. Eastern Kentucky lost three 0-3 decisions at the Ruby’s Montana Invitational. The Colonels lost to Mississippi (18-30, 21-30, 27-30), Boise State (23-30, 29-31, 26-30) and Montana (25-30, 21-30, 27-30). Becky Galati leads the team in kills per game with a 3.78 average with Marisa Kawa second at 3.11. Liz Guard has a team-high 18 blocks while Galati has a team-high 3.22 digs per game average. Setter Chrissy Isaac averages 9.56 assists per game.
OHIO STATE – EASTERN KENTUCKY SERIES
Ohio State has a 5-2 advantage in the series with Eastern Kentucky. OSU has won the last four meetings and is 2-0 in matches played in Columbus. The Buckeyes are 2-0 in matches played in Eastern Kentucky and are 1-2 in contests played on neutral courts. The teams last played in 1986, a 3-0 (15-10, 15-12, 15-8) Buckeye victory.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 5-2
10/27/72 N L na na Indiana Invitational 10/26/74 N W 2-0 15-11, 15-6 Played at Dayton / /75 N L 0-2 9-15, 13-15 Played at Mt. St. Joseph 9/25/76 A W 2-0 15-8, 15-11 Eastern Kentucky Invitational 9/23/78 H W 3-0 15-3, 15-12, 15-8 9/22/79 A W 2-0 15-7, 15-9 Eastern Kentucky Invitational 9/13/86 H W 3-0 15-10, 15-12, 15-8 A LOOK AT KENT STATE
The Golden Flashes, coached by Mora Kanim, are 1-3 on the season. Last week Kent State played in the Fremont Investment and Loan Invitational at Cal State Northridge. The Golden Flashes lost 0-3 (22-30, 20-30, 20-30) to host Cal State Northridge, defeated North Carolina A&T 3-2 (23-30, 30-27, 36-34, 27-30, 15-8), lost to San Franciso 0-3 (15-30, 25-30, 27-30) and to Oregon 0-3 (18-30, 26-30, 23-30). Danielle Holt has a team-high 3.93 kills per game average with Jennifer Dreyer averaging 3.21. Tarrin Pelton averages 3.71 digs per game with Dreyer recording a team-high .64 blocks per game. Anne Butts averages 11.43 assists per game.
OHIO STATE – KENT STATE SERIES
Ohio State has won all nine meetings with Kent State. The Buckeyes have five wins in Columbus, two at Kent State and two on neutral courts. The teams last played in 1997 in the Oregon State Tournament with OSU winning 3-1 (15-12, 6-15, 15-13, 15-7).
KENT STATE 9-0
/ /75 H W 2-1 15-5, 13-15, 15-11 10/ 1/77 A W 2-0 15-10, 15-6 11/10/78 N W 2-1 9-15, 15-5, 15-2 OAISW Championship at Cleveland State 9/15/79 H W 3-2 15-3, 15-5, 8-15, 12-15, 15-12 11/ 9/79 N W 2-0 15-7, 15-13 OAISW Championship at Cleveland State 11/14/80 A W 2-0 15-7, 16-14 OAISW Championship at Kent State 9/19/84 H W 3-1 13-15, 15-9, 15-11, 15-6 9/ 3/88 H W 3-0 15-5, 15-10, 15-1 8/29/97 N W 3-1 15-12, 6-15, 15-13, 15-7 Oregon State Tournament #4 HAWAII 3, #9 OHIO STATE 0
A battle of Top-10 teams saw No. 4 Hawaii defeat No. 9 Ohio State 3-0 (30-24, 30-24, 30-23). OSU held early leads in all three games but unforced errors and the play of Wahine Kim Willoughby (18 kills, .342) and Lauren Duggins (10 kills, .769 and 11 digs) was too much for the Buckeyes. OSU’s Stacey Gordon scored team-highs of 13 kills and 15 digs to lead the Buckeyes. Freshman Maria Pongonis, in her first start, added nine kills and six digs. Hawaii hit .287 for the match to .111 for the Buckeyes. The Wahine had a 45-43 advantage in kills and a 3-2 margin in ace serves. Each team had 12 service errors. Hawaii outdug Ohio State, 44-38 and had a 10 to 3.5 advantage in team blocks. An attendance of 9,495 in the Stan Sheriff Center represents the largest road crowd in Ohio State history.
#9 OHIO STATE 3, #21 COLORADO 2
Stacey Gordon scored 29 kills (.281) as Ohio State defeated Colorado 3-2 (32-30, 30-21, 26-30, 21-30, 15-11) at the American Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic. Gordon added 16 digs as did Heather Whalen for her career-high. OSU’s Maria Pongonis added a career-high 11 kills and Suzie Stiling 13 for the Buckeyes. Kim Traskey had 15 kills for Colorado with Monique Gerlach adding 12. Taskey also collected a match-high 17 digs. Colorado hit .214 to OSU’s .213. The Buckeyes had a 73-56 advantage in kills. OSU outserved Colorado, 11-6, but had 24 service errors to 14 for the Colorado. OSU was outdug 67-59 and outblocked 13-4.
#11 UCLA 3, #9 OHIO STATE 0
Stacey Gordon’s match-high of 22 kills could not overcome a balanced attack of No. 11 UCLA in a 0-3 (25-30, 25-30, 22-30) loss to the Bruins. UCLA’s Lauren Fendrick had a team-high 13 kills and added a match-high 12 digs for the Bruins. OSU’s Shelly Draeger had eight kills and three ace serves for the Buckeyes while Brynn Murphy had nine kills for UCLA. The Bruins had a .385 to .224 hitting advantage and a 53-44 margin in kills. UCLA outblocked the Buckeyes, 7-4. The Buckeyes had the advantage in ace serves, 3-1 and a 40-34 margin in digs. OSU’s Gordon was named to the all-tournament team.
WHALEN DIGS NEW CAREER HIGH AGAINST COLORADO
Heather Whalen (Jr., Kalamazoo, Mich.) recorded a career-high 16 digs against Colorado as OSU’s libero in the five-game win. Her previous high was 14 digs at Indiana in 2000. Whalen also scored a kill off one of her digs when the ball went over the net and was not played by Colorado.
DRAEGER MOVING UP THE CAREER LISTS FOR KILLS AND ACES
With 24 kills on the weekend, Shelly Draeger now has 908 in her career and has moved to 17th on the OSU career list. Draeger added six ace serves in the three matches to raise her career total to 125 and moved into 10th on the OSU career list.
GORDON ADDS BIG NUMBERS
It was an outstanding weekend for Stacey Gordon. For the three matches she recorded 64 kills, 39 digs, five assist blocks and two ace serves. Her 29 kills against Colorado was one short of her career mark of 30 against Purdue last season. She has had double-figure kills in her last 19 matches and 32 of 34 matches in her career. Gordon, with her 22 kills against UCLA, has produced 11 matches with 20 or more kills.
OSU 10TH IN USA TODAY/AVCA POLL
Ohio State is ranked 10th in the USA Today/AVCA Poll release Monday. Last week the Buckeyes were ninth. Stanford maintains first place in the poll.
OSU 11TH IN VOLLEYBALL MAGAZINE POLL
The Buckeyes are 10th in the Volleyball Magazine poll this week. Ohio State was ranked 10th in the preseason poll. Stanford maintains first place in the poll
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 (So., Oshawa, Ontario), Suzie Stiling (Sr., Glenview, Ill.) and Katie Virtue (Sr., St. Charles, Ill.) 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 410-23 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 460-273.
NEXT WEEK FOR OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes will play at Illinois-Chicago at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10. OSU then returns home to host the Ohio State Invitational. Texas faces Akron at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 in the first semifinal. Loyola-Chicago will then face the Buckeyes at 7 p.m. The consolation match of the Invitational will be played in the Larkins Hall Exhibition Gym at noon Saturday, Sept. 14. The championship match will be played at 8 p.m. in St. John Arena. OSU will then close out the non-conference schedule by hosting Miami (Ohio) at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 18.
