No. 25 Women’s Volleyball Hosts Indiana and No. 14 Purdue – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 31, 2006
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 25 Ohio State (15-7, Big Ten 5-7) women’s volleyball team begins a four-match home stand this week by hosting Indiana (10-14, 1-11) and No. 14 Purdue (19-4, 9-3). The Buckeyes face the Hoosiers Friday and the Boilermakers Saturday in 7 p.m. matches in St. John Arena. Last week Ohio State, in road matches, lost 0-3 (22-30, 28-30, 19-30) at No. 12 Minnesota and 0-3 (15-30, 23-30, 20-30) at No. 14 Wisconsin.
A LOOK AT OHIO STATE
Head coach Jim Stone is in his 25th season with the 25th-ranked Buckeyes. Ohio State has a 15-7 overall record and is 5-7 in the Big Ten. Last week Ohio State, in road matches, lost 0-3 (22-30, 28-30, 19-30) at No. 12 Minnesota and 0-3 (15-30, 23-30, 20-30) at No. 14 Wisconsin.
Leading Ohio State in kills per game is Anna Szerszen (Fr., Conflans Ste Hne, France) with a 4.46 average. Danielle Meyer (6-1, Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio) ranks second at 4.41 with Briana McCarthy (Jr., Beaver Dam, Wis.) third at 2.64. OSU’s top percentage hitter is Marisa Main (5-9, Sr., Louisville, Ky.) at .336. Setter Main is averaging 12.52 assists per game. Ami Stevens (Jr., Centerburg, Ohio) is averaging a team-high .35 aces per game with 28. McCarthy ranks second at .31 with 25 and Meyer third at .30 with 24. Defensively, Stevens leads the team with a 3.79 digs per game average. Meyer ranks second at 2.41 with Main third at 2.16. At the net Kristen Dozier (Fr., Sandy Spring, Md.) has a team-high 1.08 blocks per game average. She has seven solos and 72 assist blocks. Meghan Simons (Fr. Carroll, Ohio) ranks second at .94 with 29 assists with McCarthy third at .81 with five solos and 60 assists. As a team, OSU is averaging 15.85 kills and 14.60 assists per game while hitting .269. The Buckeyes average 1.60 aces, 14.48 digs and 2.37 blocks per game. Opponents average 13.29 kills and 12.15 assists per game while hitting .189. OSU opponents average 1.11 aces, 13.16 digs and 2.51 blocks per game. A LOOK AT INDIANA
Head coach Katie Weismiller is in her 14th season with the Hoosiers. Indiana is 10-14 overall and 1-11 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers have lost their last 11 matches. Last week Indiana lost 0-3 (21-30, 22-30, 19-30) at Purdue and 0-3 (23-30, 25-30, 20-30) at home to Iowa.
Erica Short, with a 4.53 average, leads the Hoosiers in kills per game. Lauren Ditteon is second at 2.24. Allison Regas is the top percentage hitter on the team at .269. Setters Regas and Caitlin Watts average 6.29 and 5.68 assists per game, respectively. Watts has a team-high .30 aces per game average with 19 aces. Sara Diehl ranks second at .22 (17) and Ditteon third at .21 (17). Defensively, Juli Pierce has a team-high 3.49 digs per game average with Diehl second at 2.88. At the net, Annie Moddrell leads the team with a 1.17 blocks per game average with 12 solos and 84 assists. Gabrielle Allison ranks second at .99 with nine solos and 71 assists. Indiana is averaging 13.48 kills and 12.47 assists per game and is hitting .193. The Hoosiers average 1.13 aces, 14.19 digs and 2.46 blocks per game. Opponents average 15.53 kills and 14.30 assists per game while hitting .213. Indiana opponents average 1.41 aces, 16.02 digs and 2.28 blocks per game.
OHIO STATE SERIES VS. INDIANA
Ohio State has a 38-22 lead in the series with Indiana. At home, the Buckeyes are 20-7 and have won the last five matches against the Hoosiers in St. John Arena. Last season Ohio State won 3-0 (30-26, 30-20, 30-22) in Columbus and 3-1 (30-23, 30-17, 29-31, 30-18) in Bloomington. Earlier this year, the Buckeyes won 3-1 (25-30, 30-25, 30-23, 30-25) at Indiana.
A LOOK AT PURDUE
Head coach Dave Shondell is in his fourth season with the 14th-ranked Boilermakers. Purdue. The Boilermakers are 19-4 overall and 9-3 in the Big Ten. Purdue has won their last four matches prior to playing at Penn State Friday. Last week the Boilermakers won 3-0 decisions, at home, against Indiana (30-21, 30-22, 30-19) and Iowa (30-25, 32-30, 30-15).
Leading Purdue in kills per game is Danita Merlau with a 3.90 average. Samantha Mader ranks second at 3.09. Stephanie Lynch is the top percentage hitter on the team at .328. Setters Sam Gray and Lindsay Shondell are averaging 8.60 and 5.46 assists per game, respectively. Gray has a team-high .38 aces per game average with 33 aces. Brittany Dildine ranks second at .37 (32) with Merlau third at .34 (30). Defensively, Kelli Miller leads the team in digs per game at 4.29 with Dildine second at 3.64. At the net, Lynch has a team-high 1.17 blocks per game average with 16 solos and 85 assists. Elizabeth Jacques ranks second at .95 with 13 solos and 66 assists. Purdue is averaging 15.80 kills and 14.47 assists while hitting .250. The Boilermakers average 1.80 aces, 15.11 digs and 2.55 blocks per game. Opponents average 14.94 kills and 13.70 assists per game and are hitting .218. Purdue opponents average 1.08 aces, 14.74 digs and 2.11 blocks per game.
OHIO STATE SERIES VS. PURDUE
Ohio State leads the series with Purdue, 37-30. The Buckeyes are 17-9 in matches played in Columbus. Last year Ohio State won 3-1 (30-25, 30-26, 28-30, 30-23) in Columbus and 3-2 (30-24, 30-24, 24-30, 22-30, 15-11) at Purdue. Earlier this season, in West Lafayette, Purdue defeated Ohio State, 3-2 (30-26, 27-30, 29-31, 34-32, 15-7).
MAIN NOW THIRD IN OSU CAREER ASSISTS
Marisa Main, with 58 combined assists against Minnesota (28) and Wisconsin (30), has moved to third on the Ohio State career assists list with 4,192. She passed Audrey DiPronio (1988-90) with 4,184. Main had 28 assists at Minnesota, adding four kills, 12 digs and an assist block. She had 30 assists, two kills, four digs, a solo block and two assist blocks at Wisconsin. For the season Main is averaging 12.52 assists, 2.16 digs and 1.41 kills per game.
MAIN MOVES TO 23RD IN OSU CAREER ASSIST BLOCKS
Marisa Main, with 149 career assist blocks, has moved to 23rd on the OSU career assist blocks list. She passed Brianne Spiers (1995-96, 98-99) with 148. Main collected one assist block at Minnesota and two at Wisconsin.
SZERSZEN EXTENDS DOUBLE-FIGURE KILL STREAK TO 14 MATCHES
Ana Szerszen, with 12 kills at Minnesota and 14 at Wisconsin has extended her double-figure kill streak to 14 matches. She added seven digs and an assist blocks against the Gophers and six digs and an assist block against the Badgers. Szerszen has started all 14 matches she has played in since arriving from France. She is averaging a team-high 4.46 kills per game and averages .21 aces, 1.83 digs and .42 blocks per game.
MEYER NOW SEVENTH IN ASSIST BLOCKS AND NINTH IN TOTAL BLOCKS
Danielle Meyer, with a total of five blocks on the weekend (one solo, four assists) now has 264 career assist blocks and 296 career total blocks (32 solos, 264 assists) and has moved to seventh in OSU career assist blocks and ninth in OSU career total blocks. Meyer moved out of a tie for seventh with Gabriele Jobst (1991-94) with 260 assist blocks to hold seventh alone. In total blocks, Meyer moved past Margie Meyers (1984-87) with 292 (77-215) total blocks to hold the ninth spot. At Minnesota, Meyer had nine kills, nine digs and an assist block. She had four kills, one dig, a solo block and three assists at Wisconsin. Meyer has started all 22 matches and is averaging 4.41 kills, 2.41 digs, .65 blocks and .30 aces per game on the season.
MEYER NOW RANKS 12TH IN OSU CAREER POINTS
Danielle Meyer had 16 points last weekend and has moved to 12th in OSU career points with 1,439. She passed Rosie Snow (1996-99) with 1,430. Meyer has 1,201 kills, 74 aces, 32 solos blocks and 264 assist blocks to account for her 1,439 points.
McCARTHY MOVES TO 11TH IN OSU CAREER ASSIST BLOCKS
Briana McCarthy had two assist blocks at Minnesota and a season-high six at Wisconsin to give her 237 career assist blocks and move her to 11th on the OSU career list. She past Sara Daniel (1991-94) with 230. McCarthy had five kills, two digs and two assist blocks at Minnesota and two kills, one dig and six assist blocks at Wisconsin. She has played in all 22 matches with 18 starts this season. McCarthy is averaging 2.64 kills, 31 aces, 1.15 digs and .81 blocks per game.
JONES CONTINUES STEADY PLAY
Felicia Jones (Sr., Concord, Ont.) has started the last 11 matches for Ohio State and is averaging 1.72 kills and .76 blocks per game on the season. She has played in 20 of 22 matches this year. Jones had three kills, two digs and two assist blocks at Minnesota and had seven kills and five assist blocks at Wisconsin.
DOZIER IS OSU’S TOP BLOCKER
Kristen Dozier is averaging a team-high 1.08 blocks per game this season. She has seven solos and 72 assists. Dozier posted three kills, one digs and three assist blocks at Minnesota and added a solo block in one game at Wisconsin.
STEVENS NOW 13TH IN OSU CAREER DIGS
Ami Stevens had 13 digs at Minnesota and nine at Wisconsin to give her 960 and move her to 13th on the OSU career list. She passed Tricia Stragliotto (1993-95) with 940, Marlene O’Brien (1983-86) with 942 and Rosie Snow (1996-99) with 945. Stevens played the Minnesota match at libero and started the Wisconsin match at libero in game one before switching to outside hitter for games two and three. She added five kills and an assist block against the Badgers. For the season, Stevens has nine starts with 13 starts at libero. She is averaging a team-high 3.79 digs per game on the season and is averaging 1.26 kills and .35 aces per game.
KIEL SEES ACTION AT DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST AND LIBERO
Ashley Kiel played at Minnesota as a defensive specialist recording five digs and an assist. At Wisconsin, she had her fourth start of the season, playing a defensive specialist in game one before switching to libero in games two and three. She had four digs, an ace serve and an assist against the Badgers. Kiel has played in all 22 matches with the four starts and six at libero. She is averaging 1.95 digs per game and has 10 ace serves on the season.
OSU RANKED 25TH IN THE CSTV/AVCA COACHES POLL
The CSTV (College Sports Television/AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) 2006 Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll has Ohio State ranked 25th this week. OSU was ranked 24th last week and began the season at 23rd. The Buckeyes are one of five Big Ten squads ranked in the CSTV/AVCA Poll. Others include Penn State third, Wisconsin 10, Minnesota 12 and Purdue 14.
BUCKEYES HAVE TWO-.500-PLUS HITTING MATCHES
Ohio State hit a .513 percentage against Iona and a .521 against Lehigh. The .521 mark ranks third and the .513 mark ranks fourth on the Ohio State match records list. At the Towson Invitational, the Buckeyes hit .489 against Robert Morris which now ranks seventh.
BUCKEYES HAVE SECOND 0-2 COME-FROM-BEHIND VICTORY IN THREE YEARS
Ohio State’s come-from-behind victory over Wisconsin was the second time in three years that the Buckeyes rallied to win after trailing 0-2 in a match. In 2004 in the NCAA regional semifinals at Minnesota, the Buckeyes lost the first two games, 29-31, 27-30, to Tennessee before winning the next three games, 30-16, 30-26, 15-12 to advance to the regional championship match against Minnesota. Ohio State lost that match, 2-3.
MEYER NAMED BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
(AUG. 28, 2006) Women’s volleyball Danielle Meyer was selected the Big Ten Player of the Week by the conference office. She was key in Ohio State’s 3-0 season start, winning the Towson Invitational last weekend.
Meyer posted a match high 15 kills while hitting .565 in the 3-0 (30-15, 30-20, 30-17) win over Robert Morris. She added two ace serves, five digs and an assist block in the match. Against Houston, in the 3-2 (30-32, 30-18, 28-30, 30-15, 15-12) win, Meyer had a career-high 30 kills while hitting .283. She added two ace serves, four digs and four assist blocks. In the 3-1 (28-30, 30-27, 30-27, 30-22) victory over Towson, Meyer set a new career-high with 32 kills while hitting .373. She added an ace serve, a season-high 16 digs and two solo blocks in the match. Meyer closed out the Towson match with double-figure kills in game three (12) and four (10).
For the three matches, Meyer averaged 6.42 kills, 7.21 points and 2.08 digs per game while hitting .366. She added five ace serves and seven total blocks with two solo and five assists.
SZERSZEN NAMED CO-BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
(Oct. 23, 2006) Anna Szerszen was named the Co-Big Ten Player of the Week for her play in Ohio State wins over Michigan State and Michigan. She shares the honor with Penn State’s Megan Hodge.
In the 3-2 come-from-behind win over Michigan, Szerszen recorded career highs of 27 kills, two solo blocks and tied her career high of three total blocks. She added 11 digs in the match. Down 2-1 in the match to Michigan, Szerszen had a game-high nine kills in game four while hitting .421. She then had a game-high four kills, hitting .600 in the deciding fifth game. She totaled 17 kills and 18 points against Michigan State prior to the match versus the Wolverines. For the two matches, Szerszen averaged 5.94 points, 5.50 kills, 1.75 digs and hit .278.
THREE NAMED TO BIG TEN PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Three Ohio State players named to the 12-player 2006 Preseason All-Big Ten Volleyball Team, announced by the conference office. Setter Marisa Main and outside hitter Ami Stevens earned their second-straight preseason selection with middle blocker Danielle Meyer earning her first selection.
Main is a two-time All-Big Ten selection and was named to the 2005 Preseason All-Big Ten Team. Last season, she averaged 12.78 assists, 2.08 kills and 2.30 digs per game while hitting .388 in conference play. Main is a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association second-team All-American selection.
Stevens was a 2005 Preseason All-Big Ten selection. Last season she averaged 3.44 kills and 2.71 digs while hitting .230 in conference play. She has played for USA Volleyball the last three years as a member of the United States Junior National team in 2004 and 2005 and with the USA National A-2 Team in 2006.
Meyer was a 2005 All-Big Ten selection. She averaged 4.11 kill, 2.48 digs and 1.14 blocks per game while hitting .260 in conference play. Meyer was a 2005 AVCA third-team All-American.
OHIO STATE PICKED TO FINISHED FOURTH IN THE BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
Ohio State, by a vote of the Big Ten conference coaches, was picked to finish fourth in the league by a vote of the conference coaches. The Buckeyes finished in a tie for third with Minnesota in 2005. The Gophers were picked to finish third, with Wisconsin second and three-time defending Big Ten Champion Penn State chosen to repeat.
HEAD COACH Jim Stone
Jim Stone enters his 25th season at Ohio State. He has a 508-275 record with the Buckeyes and is 282-162 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 14 of the last 17 years, advancing to the national semifinals in 1991 and 1994. Stone’s coaching career record includes three years at Wyoming (1979-1981). His 28-year career record is 558-317.
MEET THE BUCKEYES
#1 Meghan Simons (Middle Blocker, 6-3, Fr., Carroll, Ohio) – 2006 played in 11 matches, starting 10 – nine kills against Robert Morris and Houston – hit a career-high .667 (9-1-12) against Houston – season-high five assist blocks at Towson.
#2 Brittany Dahms (Libero/Defensive Specialist, 5-5, Jr., Bryon, Ill.) – 2006 played in two matches – missed the first 10 matches of the season – two digs at Penn State – 2005 played in 29 matches with two starts at defensive specialist and 22 at libero – named to the Academic All-Big Ten squad – 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, Sr., Hyletbruk, Sweden) – 2006 played in 20 matches – season-high 11 digs against Arizona State – 2005 has played in 15 matches with four starts at libero – named to the Academic All-Big Ten squad – 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.
#5 Lindsay Schad (Libero/Defensive Specialist, 5-4, Fr., St. Louis, Mo.) – 2006 played in seven matches, starting three at libero – double-figure digs against Houston with 12 and Towson with 13.
#6 Danielle Meyer (Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter, 6-1, Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio) – 2006 started 22 matches – became the 16th player to reach 1,000 kills against IPFW – has 1,201 career kills, ranking 14th – named the Most Outstanding Player of the Sports Imports Classic – named the Most Valuable Player of the Towson Invitational – named the Big Ten Player of the Week for her play at the Towson Invitational – career-high 32 kills at Towson – season-high 17 digs at Iowa – back-to-back 30-plus kill matches against Houston (30) and Towson (32) – added her third 30-kill match at Iowa – preseason All-Big Ten selection – career-high five aces against Tennessee Tech – double-figure kills in 19 matches, double-figure digs in nine matches 2005 a third-team AVCA All-American – All-Big Ten – a second team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection – named to the Academic All-Big Ten squad – started all 31 matches – ranked fourth in the Big Ten in kills per game at 4.11 – career-high 29 kills at Cleveland State – career-high 31 points at Bowling Green – career-high 19 digs at Indiana – tied her career-high nine blocks at Iowa (1-8) and at Purdue (2-7) – equaled her career-high of four aces at Northwestern – 25 matches with double-figure kills – nine matches with 21 or more kills – 11 matches with double-figure digs – 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/Libero, 6-1, Jr., Centerburg, Ohio) – 2006 played in 22 matches, starting nine with 13 starts at libero – season-high 14 kills against Iona – double-figure kills in seven matches – double-figure digs in 14 matches – season-high 26 digs at Iowa and against Wisconsin – 20 or more digs in six of the last nine matches – equaled her career-high of seven assist blocks at Northwestern – preseason All-Big Ten Selection – 2005 a third team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection – started and played in 29 matches – named to the Academic All-Big Ten squad – career-highs of 26 kills at Bowling Green – career-high 28.5 points at Northwestern – season-high .500 (13-0-26) hitting percentage at Michigan – ranked 10th in the Big Ten in kills per game at 3.44 – season-high 22 digs against Brigham Young – double-figure kills in 20 matches – double-figure digs in 15 matches – Ohio State Athlete of the Week for her play at Wisconsin and Northwestern – 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, Sr./Jr., Beaver Dam, Wis.) 2006 played in all 22 matches with 18 starts – career-high 22 kills at Purdue – double-figure kills in 12 matches – season-high 10 digs at Iowa – season-high five assists at Purdue – career-high 25 points at Purdue – 2005 did not play – named to the Academic All-Big Ten squad – 2004 started 26 matches – averaged 1.33 kills, .58 digs and .88 blocks per game – 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, Sr., Concord, Ontario/Southwest Missouri State-West Plains) 2006 played in 20 matches, starting 12 – season-high 12 kills at Northwestern – career-high six assist blocks at Indiana and against Michigan – career-high seven total blocks (1-6) against Michigan – hit a career-high .538 (8-1-13) against Michigan – 2005 played in 25 matches, starting 16 – career-high four digs at Penn State – career-high 13 kills at Illinois and at Michigan State – hit a career-high .421 (9-1-19) at Penn State – career-high 15 points at Michigan State – career-high four blocks (1-3) against Marshall 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 Ashley Hughes (Setter, 5-11, Fr., Carroll, Ohio) – 2006 played in four matches – career-high six assists at Youngstown State – career-high two digs against Lehigh.
#12 Kristen Dozier (Middle Blocker, 6-2, Fr., Sandy Spring, Md.) – 2006 played and started in 21 matches – career-high 11 kills against Iona – career-high 13 assist blocks against Houston to set an OSU match record for assist blocks and tied the OSU record for total blocks – hit a career-high .750 (10-1-12) against Lehigh – career-high five digs against Houston – career-high three ace serves against Iona – double-figure kills in three matches.
#13 Marisa Main (Setter, 5-9, Sr., Louisville, Ky./Xavier) – 2006 started all 22 matches – season-high nine kills at Purdue and at Northwestern – season-high 71 assists at Iowa – season-high 18 digs against Michigan – double-figure digs in six matches – season-high six assist blocks against Houston – honored as the Best Setter in the Sports Imports Classic – preseason All-Big Ten selection – 2005 An AVCA second-team All-American – All-Big Ten – a third team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection – started all 31 matches – named to the Academic All-Big Ten squad – named the Sports Imports/AVCA Division I National Player of the Week and the Big Ten Player of the Week for her play at No. 12 Wisconsin and at Iowa – named the Big Ten Player of the Week for her play against Michigan State and Michigan – season-high 70 assists against Purdue – season-high of 14 kills at Cleveland State – career-high 22 digs against Purdue – season-high 16 points at Michigan State – has five triple-doubles this season – 14 kills, 54 assists, 14 digs at Cleveland State – 11 kills, 47 assists and 10 digs against Michigan – 12 kills, 37 assists and 13 digs at Minnesota – 10 kills, 60 assists and 10 digs at Iowa – 12 kills, 42 assists and 15 digs against Northwestern- hit a season-high .786 against Michigan – eight matches with double-figure kills and 13 matches with double-figure digs – finished second in hitting percentage in the Big Ten at .398 and was third in assists per game at 12.78 – twice named the Ohio State Athlete of the Week – 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 Anna Szerszen (Outside Hitter, 6-3, Fr., Conflans Ste Hne, France) – 2006 Played and started in 14 matches – career-high 27 kills against Michigan – double-figure kills in 14 matches – career-high .440 hitting percentage against IPFW – career-high 17 digs at Northwestern – has four 20-plus kill matches including 25 at Iowa, 23 at Purdue and 20 against Minnesota – named the Co-Big Ten Player of the Week for her play against Michigan State and Michigan at home – arrived in Columbus, September 8 after playing for France in the European Junior National Championship.
#15 Ashley Kiel (Outside Hitter, 5-11, Sr., Allenton, Wis./Northern Michigan) 2006 played in 22 matches, starting six at libero and four as a defensive specialist – season-high 15 digs at Northwestern – season-high four ace serves against Iona, part of a string of 18 consecutive points she served in game one – double-figure digs in five matches – 2005 played in 31 matches, starting 29 and had one start at libero – season-high 17 kills against Purdue – hit a career-high .600 (7-1-10) against Marshall – season-high 20 digs at Indiana – season-high seven total blocks (1-6) at Michigan State – six matches with double-figure kills and 12 matches with double-figure digs 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.
REVIEWING LAST WEEK
MINNESOTA 3, OHIO STATE
The 24th ranked Ohio State (15-6, 5-6 Big Ten) women’s volleyball team dropped an 0-3 (22-30, 28-30, 19-30) decision at No. 12 Minnesota (16-5, 10-1) Friday night in the Sports Pavilion. Ohio State’s Anna Szerszen scored a team-high 12.5 points for the Buckeyes while Meghan Cumpston of Minnesota had a match-high 17.5 points. Szerszen had 12 kills and an assist block with Cumpston recording 16 kills, a solo block and an assist block.
Ohio State held a 1-0 lead in game one with a Kristen Dozier kill. An OSU error tied the game at one. Minnesota took a 3-1 lead with a Meredith Nelson kill and a Malama Peniata ace serve. The Gophers expanded the lead to eight at 18-10. At 19-11, Ohio State cut the lead to three at 19-16 with blocks by Dozier and Szerszen and Briana McCarthy and Dozier, kills by Szerszen and Danielle Meyer and a Minnesota error. Minnesota responded with a five-point run to return the lead to eight at 24-16. Minnesota held the lead and won the game, 30-22, with a Kyla Roehrig kill. The Buckeyes hit .289 for the game to .340 for the Gophers.
In game two, Ohio State held an early lead 5-3 lead from a 3-3 tie with kills from Felicia Jones and Meyer. The Gophers tied the game at nine with a Cumpston kill. The score remained close when at 20-all, a Rachel Hartmann kill, an OSU error and a Nelson ace serve gave Minnesota a 23-30 lead. At 28-24, Minnesota, a Szerszen kill cut the lead to 28-25. Minnesota reached game point at 29-25 with a Cumpston kill. Ohio State cut the Gopher lead to one at 29-28 with a McCarthy kill, a Minnesota error and a McCarthy-Jones block. The Gophers won the game, 30-28, with a Cumpston kill. Minnesota hit .236 for the game with Ohio State hitting .127.
Minnesota broke a 2-2 tie in game three with a kill and ace serve by Kelly Bowman. The Gophers held the lead to win the game, 30-19, off an OSU error to win the match, 3-0. The Gophers hit .375 for the game to .030 for Ohio State.
Minnesota hit .306 for the match to .151 for Ohio State. The Gophers had a 58-36 advantage in kills and an 8-0 margin in ace serves. The Gophers gave up 15 service errors to seven for the Buckeyes. Defensively, Minnesota had a 61-52 edge in digs with Peniata recording a match-high 20 digs for the Gophers. At the net, Minnesota enjoyed a seven to five margin in team blocks. Minnesota setter Hartmann had a match-high 44 digs in the match to 28 for OSU’s Marisa Main.
WISCONSIN 3, OHIO STATE 0
The 24th ranked Ohio State (15-7, 5-7 Big Ten) women’s volleyball team fell 0-3 (15-30, 23-30, 20-30) to No. 14 Wisconsin (17-5, 9-3) Sunday afternoon in the Wisconsin Field house. Ohio State’s Anna Szerszen scored a team-high 14.5 points for the Buckeyes with 14 kills and an assist block. Wisconsin’s Taylor Reineke posted a match-high 19 points for the Badgers with 14 kills, an ace serve, a solo block and six assists. Maria Carlini added 14.5 points for Wisconsin with 13 kills, a solo block and an assist block.
Wisconsin opened game one with kills from Brittney Dolgner and Carlini for a 2-0 lead. The Badgers held the lead, winning the game with an Audra Jeffers-Amy Bladow block at 30-15. The Badgers hit .438 for the game to .057 for Ohio State.
A Danielle Meyer solo block gave Ohio State a 1-0 lead in game two. A Jeffers’ kill tied the game at one. A Wisconsin error and a Felicia Jones-Szerszen block gave the Buckeyes a 3-1 lead. A Buckeye error and a Dolgner kill tied the game at three. At 4-4, three Buckeye errors, two from Badger blocks and two kills from Reineke and one from Dolgner opened a 10-4 Wisconsin lead. At 11-6, Wisconsin, two Meyer-Briana McCarthy block and an Ashley Kiel ace serve cut the lead to two at 11-9. At 12-10, a Wisconsin error allowed Ohio State to cut the lead to one at 12-11. Badger kills by Jackie Simpson and Carlini and an OSU error made it 15-11 Wisconsin. Trailing by two, Ohio State used a Szerszen kill and a McCarthy-Jones block to tie the game at 17. At 18-all, Wisconsin took the lead for good at 19-18 from a Buckeye error. Wisconsin, with a Reineke kill, won the game, 30-23, to take a 2-0 lead in the match. Wisconsin hit .184 for the game to .088 for Ohio State.
Wisconsin opened game three with a 2-0 lead from a Bladow kill and a Jeffers-Bladow block. After a Szerszen kill, a Badger kill by Jeffers, an OSU error and a Dolgner kill gave Wisconsin a 5-1 lead. A McCarthy kill and two McCarthy-Jones blocks cut the lead to 5-4. Wisconsin, with a Bladow kill and a Jocelyn Wack ace serve made the lead, 7-4. A Szerszen kill and a Badger error cut the Wisconsin lead to one at 7-6. Two Reineke kills, one from Dolgner, a Simpson-Reineke block and an Amanda Berkley ace serve gave Wisconsin a 12-6 lead. The Buckeyes could not cut the lead and a Dolgner kill ended the game at 30-20, Wisconsin, for a 3-0 Badger win. Wisconsin hit .333 for the game to .133 for Ohio State.
Wisconsin hit .312 for the match while Ohio State hit .096. The Badgers had a 53-34 advantage in kills and a four to one edge in ace serves. Ohio State gave up eight service errors to three for the Badgers. Defensively, Wisconsin had a 47-26 margin in digs with Wack collecting a match-high 19 for the Badgers. At the net, each squad had 12 team blocks. Wisconsin’s Reineke recorded a match-high seven blocks with a solo and six assists. Simpson had 43 assists in the match for Wisconsin with OSU’s Marisa Main recording 30.
