Team confident despite three game skid

The 2002 Hoosier volleyball season began with spectacular results as the team bolted out to an 11-2 record. But three road losses and two ranked teams later, the IU women's volleyball team is looking to turn its young Big Ten season around. This will be no easy task as the squad faces a two match weekend against the Northwestern Wildcats tonight and the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday.\nTeam health has become a concern for the Hoosiers. IU's main offensive weapon, sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald has been fighting illness the past two weeks. Despite that, Archibald currently reigns as the team leader in kills and service aces for the Hoosiers. \n"We were a little beat up last weekend from sickness and injuries, but we'll be in better shape this week," coach Katie Weismiller said.\nDespite falling to 1-3 in the Big Ten, Weismiller said the team is keeping a strong morale.\n"Team morale is great, (the players) are frustrated with the losses, no doubt about it, but now they're more committed than ever," Weismiller said.\nNorthwestern comes into tonight's match boasting a 10-6 overall record and a 3-1 Big Ten record. The Wildcat's main offensive weapon is 6-foot-3-inch junior middle blocker Erika Lange. A preseason All-Big Ten team member, Lange boasts team best stats in blocks and kills with 67 and 193 respectively. \n"Erika Lange is definitely an offensive threat, if we can stop her, and we can stop the slide, we'll be in good shape," junior middle blocker Melissa Brewer said.\nWisconsin brings an even heavier hand to the table with a No. 15 ranking in the latest USA Today/AVCA Coaches poll. The 11-4 Badgers are coming off a 3-0 sweep of Iowa and have a 12 game winning streak against the Hoosiers. \nWisconsin's offensive leader is 6'0" senior outside hitter Erin Byrd, who was also a Preseason All Big Ten member. Byrd has a team leading 3.76 kill per game and is second on the team with 3.20 digs per game. Byrd's offensive attack is flanked by 6'3" senior middle blocker Amy Hultgren with a 1.04 blocks per game average while adding 2.75 kills per game of her own. \n"Wisconsin has six all-around good players, they're good every year, they're ranked, it's just our one chance to play them at home and get an upset," Brewer said.\nIU brings a balanced offensive attack with three players in the Big Ten top 20 for kills. Archibald has been the perennial leader smashing home 4.62 kills per game, good for second in the Big Ten. Brewer adds 3.55 kills of her own along with sophomore Katie Pollom's 3.25. \nSophomore setter Victoria Zimmerman's passing has been a major factor for the Hoosiers' hitting prowess. Zimmerman is currently fifth in the nation with 13.72 assists per game and is second to Archibald in service aces for the team.\nDefensively, senior libero Hillary Toivonen provides the Hoosiers with a solid base, averaging 3.18 digs per game and is inching closer each game to third all-time in Hoosier career digs.\nDespite a tough three game losing streak and a set of tough opponents this weekend, hope still reigns throughout the Hoosier volleyball team.\n"We realize that we've had a few losses, but if we can play well and win this weekend we can turn this season around," Pollom said. "We're in control of our future"