Hoosiers drop to 2 Michigan schools

The Hoosiers came back home this weekend looking to turn things around after two road losses to Ohio State and Penn State last weekend. This Homecoming weekend, however, would prove to be the end of IU's five-match winning streak in the University Gym as Michigan and Michigan State each were able to capture victories.\nWhen the weekend began, IU found itself in a five-way tie for fourth place in the Big Ten with a 2-2 record. Two of the teams tied with IU were coming into Bloomington for the match, and the weekend could set a pace for the Big Ten season.\n"(The Big Ten) is strong as always, and I think people are starting to peak right now," IU coach Katie Weismiller said. "We need to step it up. Everybody else is, and that's what we need to do. I think the Big Ten is much better now than it was during the preseason."\nAfter a poor hitting performance against Michigan, the Hoosiers looked to step up their level of play against Michigan State and were able to do just that when the match got under way. IU was able to take the first game 30-26, led by junior middle blocker Katie Pollom's seven kills and three block assists.\nThe Spartans quickly turned it around on IU as they took the next three games consecutively and won the match 26-30, 30-25, 30-26, 30-25. \n"This loss is really tough," Weismiller said. "We have a lot of talent. We are just not getting it done right now."\nThe Hoosiers did show signs of some improvement as their hitting and defense both indicated that they were on the rise. Pollom and junior outside hitter Christina Archibald along with senior middle blocker Melissa Brewer and senior outside hitter Monique Pritz all reached double digits in kills, and freshman outside hitter Katy Jo Mroski added in with a career high eight kills and a .417 hitting percentage.\n"I just tried to come into the game and do my best," Mroski said. "I try to get everyone fired up by getting a block or a kill that could bring up momentum."\nJunior setter Victoria Zimmerman made a solid contribution with 57 assists during the match. \nDespite the loss, the performance against the Spartans was a definite step up after a match against the Michigan Wolverines that resulted in a .088 hitting percentage and a straight set loss. \nSophomore middle blocker Mandy Eberle was able to contribute her part, going three of four on her attacks and went on to explain some of the team's hitting woes.\n"I think in practice we are really working hard on hitting shots and just being consistent and not making as many errors," Eberle said. "I think we just really need to focus on the mental aspect of the game."\nThe Wolverines were able to take the games 30-23, 30-22, 30-23. Archibald led the team with 14 kills and was the only person besides Eberle to hit over .300 on the night. Junior libero Beth Heimann and freshman libero Lindsay Cochrane were both able to help out the team on defense, combining for 37 digs in the two games. \n"I would say the biggest thing we need to do right now is to get a consistent performance from everyone," Weismiller said. "We are doing a little better job of limiting our unforced errors, but we have to be an aggressive team."\nThe Hoosiers will look to turn things around in the Big Ten as they face rival Purdue Wednesday at Purdue.\n-- Contact staff writer Brian Janosch at bjanosch@indiana.edu.