Sophomore contributes power drive to team

The 2002 Big Ten women's volleyball season has been full of ups and downs for IU, with winning streaks and losing streaks trading off to a hard-fought .500 rating within the conference. While the Hoosiers sixth standing in the conference puts them in the middle of the conference, the Hoosiers have managed to overcome ranked opponents including Big Ten rivals Penn State and Wisconsin. \nDespite their streakiness, constant factors including impressive hitting throughout the season have kept the Hoosiers afloat. Statistically, the Hoosiers have controlled their opponents in the team kills category by leading their opponents by 2.4 kills per game. Overall, their 16.4 kills per game is good for a third ranking in the Big Ten. The main contributors to IU's hitting prowess include sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald, sophomore middle blocker Katie Pollom, junior middle blocker Melissa Brewer and junior outside hitter Nikki Hill.\nThroughout the season, Archibald has led the Hoosier attack with powerful kills and a second in the conference 4.38 kills per game along with 2.32 digs per game, second only to senior libero Hillary Toivonen. As the sole Hoosier to win player of the week honors in 17 years, Archibald has lived up to her billing.\nDespite her awards, Archibald is certainly not IU's only offensive weapon. Brewer has improved her game throughout the season by logging career highs in kills this season. Her improvement has moved her into the conference top ten by notching 3.74 kills per game. Along with her hitting strength, Brewer brings an ability to place her spikes well to gain a .304 hitting percentage.\n"Melissa Brewer and Christina Archibald are just killing balls, but they are not the only players I can go to," junior setter Victoria Zimmerman said. \nNikki Hill, although quiet off the court, has made a voice for herself on the court, by logging 2.82 kills per game and is third on the team with 2.29 digs per game. On defense, opponents may look at Archibald, Brewer or Pollom, but Hill certainly makes her mark.\n"Nikki Hill is one of the best passers on our team, offensively she's really exploding, maturing," coach Katie Weismiller said.\nWhile blocking has been a bit of a problem for the Hoosiers, they managed to find their sweet spot within last week's Northwestern match by logging 14 team blocks to the Wildcats' 6.\nMain contributors to the IU blocking attack are one and the same with the team's main hitters. Katie Pollom as the current IU leader in blocking with 1.12 blocks per game to place her at 10th in the Big Ten conference. Brewer follows up Pollom by adding 1.03 blocks per game of her own to place her at 13th in the conference.\nWith four impressive hitters leading the Hoosier offensive attack, paired with budding blocking prowess, IU is quick to credit a team ethic and their ability to play as a unit.\n"The thing about volleyball, it's so much of a team sport," Brewer said. "It's fun to go out on the court with five other girls and just totally gel on the court. They're your best friends, your sisters"