No. 18 Women’s Volleyball Hosts No. 4 Penn State Wednesday and Indiana Friday in St. John Arena – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 26, 2005
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 18th-ranked Ohio State (8-3 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) women’s volleyball team continues a four-match home stand this week by hosting No. 4 Penn State (11-2, 2-0) and Indiana (7-6, 1-1) in St. John Arena. Ohio State will host the Nittany Lions Wednesday at 7 p.m. and face the Hoosiers Friday at 7 p.m. Last week Ohio State defeated No. 19 Purdue, 3-1 (30-25, 30-26, 28-30, 30-23) and lost to Illinois, 3-2 (30-27, 30-21, 30-32, 24-30, 18-20) in home matches.
A LOOK AT OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes are coached by Jim Stone, the 2004 Big Ten and the American Volleyball Coaches Association Mideast Region Coach of the Year. Ohio State is 8-3 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes defeated No. 19 Purdue, 3-1 and lost 3-2 to Illinois in home matches last weekend. Danielle Meyer (So., Cincinnati, Ohio) leads the Buckeyes in kills per game with a 5.42 per game average. Ami Stevens (So., Centerburg, Ohio) ranks second at 3.74. Setter Marisa Main (Jr., Louisville, Ky.) is the top percentage hitter at .377 with Meyer second at .329. Main has a 12.42 assist per game average. Ashley Kiel (Jr., Allenton, Wis.) has a team-high 19 ace serves (.44 per game) with Meyer second with 12 (.28). Defensively, Stevens has a team-high 3.32 digs per game average with Main second at 2.49. At the net, Meyer is averaging a team-leading .84 blocks per game with five solos and 31 assists. Nicole Britenriker (So., Cincinnati, Ohio) ranks second in blocking with a .63 average on three solos and 24 assists. The Buckeyes are averaging 17.09 kills and 15.42 assists and are hitting .256. OSU averages 1.51 aces, 15.23 digs and 1.66 blocks per game. Opponents average 13.19 kills and 11.47 assists and are hitting .214. They average 1.02 aces, 13.44 digs and 2.42 blocks per game.
A LOOK AT PENN STATE
The fourth-ranked Nittany Lions are coached by Russ Rose. Penn State is 11-2 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions defeated Illinois, 3-0 (31-29, 30-19, 30-21) and No. 19 Purdue, 3-2 (22-30, 30-21, 27-30, 30-24, 15-11) last weekend in home matches and have won five consecutive matches, all at home. Leading Penn State in kills per game is Nicole Fawcett, the Big Ten Player of the Week, with a 4.41 average. Christa Harmotto ranks second at 2.96. Melissa Walbridge is the top percentage hitter at .367 with Harmotto second at .328. Setter Sam Tortorello is averaging 13.13 assists per game and has a team-high 12 ace serves (.26 per game). Walbridge ranks second in aces with 10 (.22). Defensively, Kaleena Walters has a team-high 4.57 digs per game average with Tortorello second at 2.80. At the net, Harmotto has a team-high 1.46 blocks per game average with nine solos and 58 assists. Walbridge is second in blocking at 1.00 per game with nine solos and 36 assists. The Nittany Lions are averaging 16.04 kill and 14.87 assists per game and are hitting .276. Penn State averages 1.13 aces, 15.52 digs and 3.03 blocks per game. Opponents average 13.22 kills and 12.35 assists per game and are hitting .152. Nittany Lion opponents average .80 aces, 14.22 digs and 2.45 blocks per game.
OHIO STATE-PENN STATE SERIES
Penn State leads the series with Ohio State, 25-13. The Nittany Lions are 11-7 in matches played in Columbus, Ohio. Over the last four years, each team has won four matches. Penn State has won the last two matches in St. John Arena. Last season the Buckeyes won 3-2 (30-25, 22-30, 30-26, 26-30, 15-11) at Penn State while the Nittany Lions won 3-1 (30-28, 22-30, 30-19, 30-28) in Columbus.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST PENN STATE (Nov. 17, 2004)
Ohio State dropped a 3-1 (30-28, 22-30, 30-19, 30-28) decision to No. 4 Penn State Wednesday night in St. John Arena. The loss, OSU’s first at home this season, drops the Buckeyes into second place in the Big Ten behind Penn State. Ohio State’s Stacey Gordon had a match-high 24.5 points for the Buckeyes with Danielle Meyer adding 17.5. Gordon recorded a match-high 21 kills, one solo block and three assist blocks. Meyer had 14 kills and seven assist blocks. Penn State’s Kate Price had a team-high 21.5 points for the Nittany Lions. For the match, both squads hit .224 and recorded three ace serves. The Buckeyes gave up seven service errors to five for Penn State. Ohio State had a 70-66 margin in kills and an 85-62 advantage in digs. The Buckeyes out blocked the Nittany Lions, 14 to eight with Meyer recording a match-high seven assists. Ohio State’s Marisa Main recorded 60 assists for the Buckeyes while PSU’s Sam Tortorello had 52.
A LOOK AT INDIANA
The Hoosiers are coached by Katie Weismiller. Indiana is 7-6 overall and is 1-1 in the Big Ten. Last week the Hoosiers lost, 3-1 (31-29, 23-30, 30-22, 30-24) to Michigan State and defeated Michigan, 3-2 (27-30, 30-22, 18-30, 30-27, 15-12) in home matches. Erica Short leads the team in kills per game with a 4.00 average. Ranking second is Rachel Gerling, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, at 3.20. The top percentage hitter on the squad is Annie Moddrell at .317. Short ranks second at .278. Setter Laura Holm is averaging 11.63 assists per game for Indiana. Gerling has a team-high 37 aces (.63 per game) with Short second with 16 (.33). Defensively, Gerling has a team-high 3.22 digs per game with Sara Diehl second at 2.45. At the net, Moddrell leads the team with a 1.74 blocks per game average with three solos and 56 assists. Mandy Eberle ranks second at 1.49 with nine solos and 64 assists. The Hoosiers are averaging 14.59 kills and 13.10 assists per game and are hitting .213. Indiana averages 2.06 aces, 13.57 digs and 3.39 blocks per game. Opponents average 15.00 kills and 13.78 assists and are hitting .196. Hoosier opponents average 1.18 aces, 14.39 digs and 1.84 blocks per game.
OHIO STATE-INDIANA SERIES
Ohio State has a 35-22 lead in the series with Indiana. In Columbus, OSU has a 19-7 record against the Hoosiers. In the last four years, the Buckeyes have won six of eight matches including both contests last season. Ohio State won 3-1 (30-22, 30-20, 27-30, 30-19) at Bloomington and won 3-0 (30-20, 30-20, 30-20) in Columbus.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST INDIANA (Oct. 31, 2004)
Ohio State defeated Indiana 3-0 (30-20, 30-20, 30-20). OSU’s Stacey Gordon scored a match-high 23 points against the Hoosiers with Danielle Meyer adding 14.5. Indiana’s Katie Pollom scored a team-high 11.5 points with Christin Archibald adding 9.5. OSU leads the Big Ten Conference after Minnesota’s 3-2 loss at Wisconsin. Minnesota is now tied for second with Penn State at 10-2. For the match, OSU hit .287 to .077 for Indiana. The Buckeyes had a 52-30 margin in kills and an eight-four advantage in ace serves. OSU’s Brittany Dahms recorded a career-high three ace serves. Defensively, OSU had a 44-35 advantage in digs and out blocked Indiana, nine to eight. For the Buckeyes, Meyer had a match-high seven assist blocks. Marisa Main produced 41 assists in the match to Tasha Arsenych’s 22.
LAST WEEK AGAINST PURDUE
Ohio State opened Big Ten Conference play with a 3-1 (30-25, 30-25, 28-30, 30-23) victory over previously undefeated Purdue Friday night in St. John Arena in front to 967 fans. OSU’s Danielle Meyer paced the Buckeyes with a match-high 29 points with Ami Stevens adding 20.5. Meyer had a match-high 26 kills (.467), adding an ace serve and four assist blocks for her points while Stevens recorded 18 kills (.333) with two ace serves and an assist block. Leading the Boilermakers was Samantha Mader with 20 points and Danita Merlau with 16. Mader had a team-high 17 kills (.452) with two solos and two assists with Merlau recording 14 kills (.250), a solo block and two assist blocks.
Ohio State took a quick 10-3 lead in game one. Purdue responded with a 6-2 run to cut the Buckeye lead to 12-9. Ohio State held a 22-20 lead when a Stevens kill and a block by Meyer and Amanda Miller took the lead to four at 24-20. Purdue, with kills from Mader, Elizabeth Jacques and Merlau cut the lead to 24-23. Kills from Meyer and Merlau made it 25-24. A Purdue error, an OSU ace serve from Meyer and two Meyer kills set game point at 29-24. A Buckeye error cut the lead to 29-25 but a kill from Nicole Britenriker ended the game at 30-25, OSU. The Buckeyes hit .293 in the game to .263 for Purdue.
Tied at eight in game two, a Buckeye hitting error and a solo block by Mader gave Purdue a 10-8 lead. The Boilermakers held a 12-10 lead when OSU out scored Purdue 7-1 to open a 17-13 lead. The run saw three kills from Britenriker and kills from Meyer, Ashley Kiel and Marisa Main. At 20-17, Purdue scored five straight points to take a 22-20 lead with two kills from Merlau, one from Jacques and block from Merlau and Jacques and Renata Dargan and Jacques. After a Kiel kill made it 22-21, a Jacques kill and an OSU error opened a three point Purdue lead at 24-21. OSU, with two kills from Kiel and kills from Britenriker and Main and a Purdue error regained the lead at 26-24. A Purdue kill from Kelli Miller cut the lead to 26-25, but a Kiel kill and two from Stevens set game point at 29-25. An OSU service error made it 29-26 but a Britenriker kill ended the game at 30-26, OSU. The Buckeyes hit .442 in the game to .308 for Purdue.
Ohio State opened game three with a 5-2 lead. Purdue responded with a 7-0 run to take a 9-5 lead that they would not lose. The Buckeyes, trailing 24-19, made a 5-1 run to cut the lead to 25-24. Kills from Purdue’s Merlau and OSU’s Meyer moved the score to 26-25. Two Buckeye errors and a Mader kill set game point for Purdue at 29-25. OSU, with kills from Meyer, Miller and Britenriker cut the lead to 29-28 but a Mader kill ended the game at 30-28, Purdue. The Boilermakers hit .326 in the game to .222 for Ohio State.
OSU opened game four with a 7-2 run including three kills from Stevens and single kills from Meyer, Britenriker and Main. OSU took the lead to eight at 13-5 with a Meyer kill. Purdue cut the lead to 13-9 off two OSU errors, a Jacques-Dargan block and a Melanie Ukovich ace serve. Ohio State with kills from Miller, Kiel, Main and Meyer built an 18-10 lead. At 19-11, two kills from Stephanie Lynch and one from Mader cut the lead to five at 19-14. At 21-15, Purdue produced a 5-1 run off kills from Miller and Mader and two OSU errors to cut the Buckeye lead to three at 22-19. Ohio State scored the next six points with three kills from Kiel, one from Main and two blocks from Kiel and Britenriker. A Merlau kill and an OSU error stopped the run at 28-21. A Britenriker kill set match point at 29-21. Purdue, with kills from Merlau and Lynch stopped two match points to cut the lead to 29-23. Britenriker’s third game-winning kill ended the game at 30-23 for a 3-1 Ohio State victory. OSU hit .347 for the game to .163 for Purdue.
For the match, Ohio State hit .326 to .264 for Purdue. OSU had an 86-60 margin in kills and produced a 6-4 edge in ace serves. Purdue gave up seven service errors to six for OSU. Defensively, the Buckeyes had a 77 to 54 advantage in digs with OSU’s Main recording a career-high 22 digs. At the net, Purdue had an 11 to seven advantage in team blocks with Jacques recording a match-high five assist blocks. For the Buckeyes, Main recorded 70 assists in the match to 49 for Dargan.
LAST WEEK AGAINST ILLINOIS
Ohio State could not hold a 2-0 lead as Illinois rallied to win 3-2 (27-30, 21-30, 32-30, 30-24, 20-18) Saturday night in front of 954 fans in St. John Arena. OSU’s Danielle Meyer posted a team-high 27 points with 24 kills (.308), an ace serve and four assist blocks. Nicole Britenriker added 18 points with 18 kills (.355). Illini Rachel VanMeter matched Meyers’ 27 points with 25 kills (.183) and four assist blocks while Meghan Macdonald (14 kills, .444, two ace serves, 6 assist blocks) and Kayani Turner (18 kills, .515, one solo block) each contributed 19 points.
Ohio State opened game one with a 4-0 lead. The Buckeyes lead 11-7 when kills by VanMeter and Vicki Brown, a Brown-Stephanie Obermeier block and a solo block by Brown tied the game at 11. OSU regained the lead with a Marisa Main kill, her solo block and a Meyer kill to take a 14-11 lead. Illinois would close to within one at 27-26, but two Britenriker kills set game point at 29-26. A VanMeter kill made it 29-27 but an Illini service error ended the game at 30-27. The Buckeyes hit .243 to .229.
Tied at four-all, seven consecutive kills by the Buckeyes opened an 11-4 lead. OSU held the lead and ended the game with an Ami Stevens service ace at 30-21. Illinois hit .423 for the game to OSU’s .350.
Ohio State held a four-point (18-14) lead midway in game three. Illini kills from Macdonald, Turner and Lizzie Bazzetta cut the lead to 18-17. Two Britenriker kills and one from Turner moved the score to 20-18. Back-to-back kills by Brown and an OSU error gave Illinois a 21-20 lead. The score would be tied five times and Ohio State had match points at 29-28 and 30-29 before two kills from VanMeter gave Illinois game point at 31-30. A Buckeye error ended the game for a 32-30 Illini victory. Illinois hit .370 in the game to .320 for Ohio State.
Illinois took a 2-0 lead in game four off two OSU errors and never trailed. Ohio State trailed by as many as eight (20-12) but could only close to within five at 28-23. Service errors by both teams moved the score to 29-24 and an Obermeier kill ended the game at 30-24 to tie the match at two games each. Illinois hit .529 for the game to .290 for Ohio State.
Ohio State held a 6-4 lead in game five before two OSU errors and a Bazzetta ace serve put Illinois ahead, 7-6. An Illini error and an ace serve from Rebecca Kastein with a Turner kill, tied the game at eight. A Brown kill, along with an OSU error put Illinois ahead, 10-8. Errors by both teams and an Obermeier kill made it 12-9 Illinois. An OSU block from Main and Meyer and a VanMeter kill made it 13-10, Illini. Buckeye kills from Meyer and Stevens cut the lead to one at 13-12. A VanMeter kill set match point for Illinois at 14-12. A Stevens’ kill and an Illinois error tied the game at 14. Illinois went up 15-14 with a Turner kill. A Meyer kill tied the game at 15. A Buckeye error made it 16-15, Illinois. A kill from Ashley Kiel tied the game at 16. Illinois took a 17-16 lead with a Turner kill. Meyer tied the game at 17 with a kill. A VanMeter kill put Illinois ahead, 18-17. OSU tied the game at 18 with an Illinois error. A Buckeye hitting error put Illinois ahead at 19-18 and a block by VanMeter and Macdonald closed out the game at 20-18 on their seventh match point attempt to win the match, 3-2. Illinois hit .150 for the game to .062 for Ohio State.
Illinois hit .354 for the match to .263 for the Buckeyes. OSU had an 85-76 advantage in kills and a 13 to three margin in ace serves. Illinois gave up 13 service errors to 10 for OSU. Defensively, Ohio State had a 58-52 advantage in digs with Stevens collecting a match-high 15. At the net, Illinois posted 11 team blocks to four for the Buckeyes. Macdonald had a match-high six assist blocks for the Illini. Obermeier recorded 65 assists for the Illini while Main had 61 for Ohio State.
MEYER CONTINUES STRONG PLAY
Danielle Meyer posted 50 kills in the two matches last week to continue to lead the Buckeyes in kills per game at 5.42. She had 26 kills (.467), 15 digs, four assist blocks and an ace serve against Purdue and recorded 24 kills (.308), five digs, four assist blocks and an ace serve against Illinois. She has had double-figure kills in 10 of the 11 matches including the last five and has posted 22-plus kills in seven matches including the last three. Meyer has also produced double-figure digs in five matches including four of her last five.
STEVENS CONTINUES TO IMPROVE
Ami Stevens, after a slow start to the season, has had seven consecutive matches with double-figure kills. Against Purdue last week she had 18 kills (.333), 12 digs, two ace serves and an assist block. Stevens posted 13 kills (.200), 15 digs, three ace serves and an assist blocks against Illinois. Defensively, she has had double-figure digs in her last five matches and six on the season.
MAIN HAS HER SECOND DOUBLE-DIGIT KILL MATCH
Marisa Main recorded 11 kills against Illinois for her second double-figure kill match of the season. She hit a season-high .600 in the match with two errors in 15 attempts. Main was one dig shy of her second triple-double with nine digs and 61 assists and added three assist blocks and two ace serves. In the Purdue match, she had a career-high 22 digs adding six kills, two assist blocks, two ace serves and a season-high 70 assists. Main is averaging 12.42 assists per game and is second on the team in digs per game with a 2.49 average.
KIEL ADDS TO OFFENSE AND DEFENSE
Ashley Kiel has continued to improve for the Buckeyes as she has had double-figure kills in six of the last seven matches and double-figure digs in four of the last five matches. Kiel had a season-high 17 kills against Purdue, adding eight digs and two assist blocks. She had 12 kills, 10 digs and two ace serves against Illinois. Kiel is averaging 2.26 kills per game, ranking fourth on the squad and is fourth in digs with a 2.33 per game average.
BRITENRIKER BECOMING AN OFFENSIVE FORCE
Nicole Britenriker stepped up last weekend producing 31 kills while hitting .392 to open conference play. She had her third 13 kill match against Purdue while hitting a career-high .450. Britenriker adding two digs and three assist blocks against the Boilermakers. She posted a career-high 18 kills against Illinois while hitting .355 and added two digs in the contest.
KASTEIN NOW 19TH IN CAREER DIGS
Rebecca Kastein, with 15 digs on the weekend, has moved to 19th on the Ohio State career digs list with 899. She passed Katie Virtue (1999-02) with 885 and Anne Botica (1998-01) with 893. Kastein, starting as the defensive specialist, had eight digs and an ace serve against Purdue and added seven digs, two ace serves and an assist against Illinois. She has played in all 11 matches this season with four starts at defensive specialist and three at libero.
DAHMS RETURNS TO THE LIBERO POSITION
Brittany Dahms returned to the libero position for both matches last weekend. She had previously started at libero in five matches earlier in the season and had one start at defensive specialist. Dahms had nine digs against both Purdue and Illinois and added a season-high two ace serves against the Illini. She is averaging 2.12 digs per game this season
OSU NOW 18TH IN CSTV/AVCA COACHES POLL
The CSTV (College Sports Television/AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll released this week by the AVCA has Ohio State ranked 18th nationally. The Buckeyes received 470 votes. The Buckeyes fell from 16th (493 points) last week. OSU finished the 2004 season with a 30-4 overall record and was ranked sixth in the final 2004 poll. The Buckeyes are one of five Big Ten squads ranked in the top-21 of the poll. Others include Penn State at fourth, Wisconsin eighth, Minnesota ninth, and Purdue 21st. Illinois also received votes.
HEAD COACH Jim Stone
Jim Stone is in his 24th season at Ohio State. He has a 479-264 record with the Buckeyes and is 264-152 in Big Ten play. His squads have won Big Ten Championships in 1989, 1991 and 1994 and finished tied for second in 2004 being named the Big Ten Coach of the Year. He was the 1991 Volleyball Monthly National Coach of the Year and the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1989, 1991, 1994 and 2004. Under Stone, Ohio State has participated in the NCAA championship in 13 of the last 16 years, advancing to the national semifinals in 1991 and 1994. Stone’s coaching career record includes three years at Wyoming (1979-1981). His 26-year career record is 529-306.
BUCKEYES HAVE FOUR TELEVISED MATCHES
Ohio State is scheduled to appear in four televised matches this season. The Buckeyes will appear twice in the eight regional broadcasts scheduled by Comcast SportsNet Chicago. OSU will host Purdue Friday, Sept. 23 in a match that will be delayed telecast Sunday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. ET. Ohio State’s Friday, Oct. 21 match at Minnesota will be delayed telecast Saturday, Oct. 22 at 5:30 p.m. ET. The Buckeyes have two additional televised matches this season. OSU will host Wisconsin Saturday, Oct. 29 in match with will be delayed telecast by ESPN2 Sunday, Oct. 30 at 3 p.m. ET and will play at Penn State, at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 2 in a live CSTV (College Sports Television) broadcast.
MAIN AND STEVENS NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
The Big Ten Conference announced that Ohio State setter Marisa Main (Jr., Louisville, Ky.) and outside hitter Ami Stevens (So., Centerburg, Ohio) have been named to the 2005 Preseason All-Big Ten Volleyball Team by a vote of the conference coaches. The Buckeyes were picked to finish fourth in the coaches’ preseason poll. Penn State was picked to finish first with Minnesota second and Wisconsin third.
JOBST AND DIPRONIO JOIN THE OSU ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
Outside hitter Gabriele Jobst (1991-94) and setter Audrey DiPronio (1988-90) were inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall Of Fame, Friday, Sept. 16 and were honored at halftime of the Ohio State-San Diego State football game on Saturday, Sept. 17. Previous women’s volleyball players in the Hall of Fame include Karen Alsbrook (1977-79), Lisa Bettio (1982-85), Laura Davis (1991-94), Holly O’Leary (1987-90), Mary Ormsby (1977-80) Vanessa Wouters (1996-97) and Leisa Wissler (1988-91).
STEVENS SPENDS THE SUMMER WITH US JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM
Outside hitter Ami Stevens was selected to the 12-player United State Junior National Team that traveled to Turkey to play in the FIVB Junior Women’s U-20 Volleyball World Championship, July 23-28. The squad finished 1-4 in pool play. She had been in training at the United States Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y. since July 8. Stevens was also selected to the team in 2004.
MEET THE BUCKEYES
#1 Rebecca Kastein (Libero/Defensive Specialist, 5-8, Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) – 2005– played in 11 matches, starting four matches as a defensive specialist and three at libero – season-high 13 digs at Cleveland State 2004 started 22 matches at libero and three at defensive specialist in 2004 – averaged 3.27 digs per game with 18 matches with double-figure digs – career-high 29 digs at Minnesota in the NCAA Regional Championship match.
#2 Brittany Dahms (Libero/Defensive Specialist, 5-5, So., Bryon, Ill.) – 2005– played in 11 matches with one start at defensive specialist and seven at libero – season-high 25 digs at Cleveland State 2004 started seven matches at libero and three as a defensive specialist – averaged 2.23 digs per game with a career-high 19 against Michigan – double-figure digs in 10 matches.
#3 Anna Tengnas (Libero/Defensive Specialist, 5-5, Jr., Hyletbruk, Sweden) – 2005– has played in four matches 2004 played in 16 matches with three starts at libero – averaged 1.43 digs per game in 2004 with a season-high of nine against Dayton and North Carolina.
#4 Megan Blake (Libero/Defensive Specialist, 5-3, Jr., West Jefferson, Ohio) – 2005– played in one match 2004 did not play – named to the 2005 Buckeye Power Club for strength and conditioning.
#5 Nicole Britenriker (Middle blocker, 5-11, So., Cincinnati, Ohio) – 2005– played in 11 matches with eight starts – career-high 18 kills against Illinois – career-high .450 (13-4-20) hitting percentage – career-high seven digs against Chicago State and Bowling Green – season-high four assist blocks against Brigham Young 2004 played in 22 matches with one start – USA National experience includes the Youth National Team in 2001 and 2003 and the Junior National Team in 2004.
#6 Danielle Meyer (Middle Blocker, 6-1, So., Cincinnati, Ohio) – 2005– started all 11 matches – career-high 29 kills at Cleveland State – career-high 31 points and 17 digs at Bowling Green – season-high seven blocks (1-6) at Bowling Green – double-figure kills in 10 of 11 matches including the last five – named to the Buckeye Classic All-Tournament Team – named to the Bowling Green Invitational All-Tournament Team 2004 started all 34 matches – averaged 2.91 kills, .75 digs and 1.10 blocks per game – career-high nine blocks against Illinois – USA National experience includes the Youth National Team in 2003.
#7 Ami Stevens (Outside Hitter, 6-1, So., Centerburg, Ohio) – 2005– started and played in nine matches – career-highs of 26 kills and 27.5 points at Bowling Green – season-high 22 digs against Brigham Young – double-figure kills in her last seven matches – double-figure digs in her last five matches – 2005 Preseason All-Big Ten Selection – named to the Buckeye Classic All-Tournament Team – named to the Bowling Green Invitational All-Tournament Team 2004 started all 34 matches – named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team – averaged 2.78 kills, 3.02 digs and .43 blocks per game – career-high 17 kills against Northwestern and vs. Tennessee in the NCAA Regional Semifinals – career-high 27 digs vs. Tennessee – double-figure kills in 18 matches – double-figure digs in 16 matches – USA National experience includes the Junior National Team in 2004 and 2005.
#8 Briana McCarthy (Outside hitter, 6-2, Jr., Beaver Dam, Wis.) 2005– has not played 2004 started 26 matches – averaged 1.33 kills, .58 digs and .88 blocks per game in 2003 started 26 matches at setter and two at outside hitter in – averaged 11.53 assists per game with a career-high 66 assists against Temple.
#9 Felicia Jones (Outside Hitter, 5-11, Jr., Concord, Ontario/Southwest Missouri State-West Plains) 2005 played in nine matches, starting three – season-high three digs at Cleveland State – season-high seven kills against Long Beach State – hit a season-high .308 against Toledo 2003-04 played two years at Southwest Missouri State-West Plains Junior College – first team American Volleyball Coaches Association Junior College All-American and a National Junior College Athletic Association All-American in 2004 – averaged 4.12 kills, 3.68 digs and .33 blocks per game in 2004 – a second-team AVCA and NJCAA JC All-American – career-highs of 23 kills against Southern Idaho in 2003 and 27 digs against Tennessee in 2004.
#11 Amanda Miller (Outside hitter, 5-11, Sr., Littleton, Colo.) – 2005– played in 11 matches, starting 10 – hit a season-high .348 against Brigham Young – season-high 12 kills against Long Beach State and at Cleveland State 2004 played in 27 matches 2003 had 16 starts.
#13 Marisa Main (Setter, 5-9, Jr., Louisville, Ky./Xavier) – 2005– started all 11 matches – season-high 70 assists against Purdue – season-highs of 14 kills at Cleveland State – career-high 22 digs against Purdue – produced a triple-double (14 kills, 54 assists, 14 digs) at Cleveland State, the fourth in her career – 2005 Preseason All-Big Ten Selection 2004 second-team AVCA All-American – first team AVCA Mideast All-Region – All-Big Ten – started 34 matches in 2004 averaging 14.88 assists, 2.35 digs and .46 blocks per game – career-high 85 assists against Tennessee in the NCAA Regional Semifinals in Minneapolis – Ohio State season assist leader with 1,785 – Big Ten statistical champion at 14.68 assists per game and finished second nationally in NCAA statistics at 14.88 – double-figure digs in 13 matches 2003 played at Xavier University – named to the Atlantic-10 All-Conference and All-Rookie teams.
#14 Caitlin Slevin (Libero/Defensive Specialist, 5-5, Fr., St. Joseph, Mich.) 2005– has not played / high school team was 2004 and 2005 district champions – honorable mention all-conference in 2005 – also played setter.
#15 Ashley Kiel (Outside Hitter, 5-11, Jr., Allenton, Wis./Northern Michigan) 2005 played in 11 matches, starting nine – season-high 17 kills against Purdue – season-high 16 digs against Pittsburgh – double-figure kills in six of the last seven matches 2003-04 played two seasons at Division II Northern Michigan – 2004 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference Selection – averaged 2.58 kills, 3.24 digs and 1.10 blocks per game in 2004 – career-high 23 kills at Ashland in 2004 – career-high 26 digs at Hillsdale in 2004 – second team GLIAC All-Conference selection in 2003 – named the 2003 AVCA Great Lakes Region Freshman of the Year – 2003 Great Lakes All-Region honorable mention selection.
#16 Jackie Schardt (Setter, 5-10, Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) 2005 has played in seven matches – season-high 13 assists, two digs and three assist blocks against Chicago State 2004 played in six matches 2003 had nine starts at middle blocker 2002 career-high 62 assists at Michigan State.
