One step at a time

One match, one game, one point at a time. \nThis doctrine has been the 2002 women's volleyball team's motto. The Hoosiers are off to one of their best starts in team history, going 7-2 after nine matches with one of the losses coming in the closing moments of the final game against the Dayton Flyers. With just one more win, the team will have already tied last season's total win column in a third of the matches. \n"Last year was a learning experience for everyone," senior Libero Hillary Toivonen. "This year we've put it behind us, and we've worked out with the strength and conditioning coach and made a huge commitment this year."\nThe entire team tackled a strenuous conditioning program over the summer with strength and conditioning coach Geoff Eliason, and at last Saturday's Terrapin Invitational, the Hoosiers won back-to-back, hard-fought, five game matches that occurred within just two hours of each other. \n"Our all-out effort was definitely a lot more than it has been in the past; it's something that we've really focused on," junior middle blocker Melissa Brewer said. "I'm very proud of the team; even balls that aren't playable, people are diving on the floor."\nLast Saturday's impressive display of physical stamina and mental toughness has all but galvanized preseason team expectations.\n"We have higher expectations for this year," sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald said. "We worked really hard; we came back in the summer to get us up to where we are at." \nThe squad has earned individual performance records. Archibald herself is mounting impressive numbers, logging a career high 29 kills and 18 digs in a recent match against Loyola Marymount and was named to the all-tournament teams for all three of the team's weekend tournaments. Sophomore setter Victoria Zimmerman also logged career highs with 69 assists and 15 digs during the Maryland Tournament.\nAlong with Archibald, Brewer and sophomore middle blocker Katie Pollom have been named to two all-tournament teams. Toivonen also has lived up to coach Katie Weismiller's hefty expectations, putting together impressive defensive shows in each of the nine matches. She was also named to the all-tournament team at the Terrapin Invitational. \nWhile there is still quite a long road ahead, the 2002 women's volleyball team seems poised and prepared for what shall come.\n"No matter who we see, we're going to be ready for them," Weismiller said.