Women learn from experience in past matches, move on

The women\'s volleyball record has not effected its spirits as the team hits the road this weekend. The Hoosiers will travel to Minnesota Friday to face Iowa on Saturday. IU is 3-8 overall and a disappointing 0-4 in the conference.\n"I think (the past weekend\'s matches) have taught us to really take from those experiences and move on," senior Meghan Stout said. "I think that we all have a different attitude now and I think it has inspired us because we know our potential and we know we are so much better than that."\nThe absence of junior setter Laurie Gardner hurt the Hoosiers Saturday. IU fell to Northwestern in four games. Head coach Katie Weismiller said Gardner will be back in action by the weekend.\nMinnesota won last season's meeting with IU, sweeping the Hoosiers in three games.\n"The No. 1 main thing that we are going to work on right now is our side of the court," Weismiller said. "Offensively we know that we can compete with anybody and so this week in practice we have been working really hard on our passing and serving." \nThe Gophers return to the court this weekend after losing two matches against Michigan and Michigan State. The team\'s record of 8-4 and 2-2 in conference matches gives them a slight advantage over the Hoosiers, after they defeated Iowa and Purdue. \nMinnesota packs a young team. Ten players are freshmen or sophomores, but they return four seniors. Among the senior force is setter Lindsay Berg, a two-time All-District selection, All-Big Ten and conference leader in service aces for three seasons. \nThe next challenge is Iowa; who also lost its last two matches against Michigan and Michigan State. The Hawkeyes\' season is off to a rough start with a 2-8 record (0-4 Big Ten). \nIowa has six newcomers and only two seniors, outside hitter Sara Meyerman and setter Larissa Lopes. Meyerman was named to the 2001 Preseason All- Big Ten team and posted 191 kills last season. Another Hawkeye to watch is junior Jamie Lansing, who recorded 12 kills and four blocks in Iowa\'s last game against Michigan State. \nThe challenges the team face have only brought on confidence.\n"Minnesota gets a lot of fan support and I really like playing there," junior Hillary Toivonen said. "It\'s good team atmosphere … we just need to go in there and do what we need to do. Iowa is a little more difficult place to play because they have a huge arena and they don\'t get a lot of fans. We just need to step up our communication and push through. No matter what happens Friday night, Saturday is a new day"