No. 11 Hoosiers hold Fluid Four Invitational

The No. 11 Hoosiers water polo team will hope to continue their winning ways and extend a five-game winning streak this weekend as they play host to the Fluid Four Invitational. Joining IU this weekend will be a solid group of teams in No. 7 Loyola Marymount, No. 8 Michigan and No. 19 Cal-State Northridge.\nIU will kick off the invitational at noon Saturday against the Matadors of Cal State. Immediately following IU's match will be Michigan and LMU at 1:15 p.m. In the nightcap, Michigan will battle Northridge at 6 p.m. before IU takes on LMU at 7:15 p.m. Wrapping up the Invite Sunday will be Northridge against LMU at 10 a.m.\nThis weekend also marks the final home matches for a pair of talented seniors. Melissa Pietras and Kristy Streefkerk will swim the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center waters for one last time Saturday. IU coach Barry King has been impressed with Pietras and Streefkerk this season, as well as their improvement over the last four years.\n"I am very pleased with the way Melissa and Kristy have slid into leadership roles on our squad," said King. "Play-wise, both have been solid all season. Kristy has been spectacular on defense, and Melissa has done well driving our offense."\nPietras and Streefkerk have been on the squad all four years and have seen the program grow. The duo helped lead the Hoosiers to an 80-43-1 mark and were a part of IU's first CWPA Eastern Championship, the school's first appearance in the NCAA Final Four, and a school-record 26 wins in 2003. \nIn the 2004 campaign, Pietras has netted 14 goals while registering eight assists and 17 swipes. Streefkerk has one goal scored along with 10 assists and 22 steals for the year. In addition, Streefkerk has seen limited action in the goal, tallying four saves.\nBoth Pietras and Streefkerk are excited for this weekend and will look to get the ball rolling into the post-season with a pair of wins over Northridge and LMU. \n"It's an honor to compete against a pair of top teams in the nation, especially at home," Pietras said. "We've done a great job throughout the season and this weekend will be a great tune-up as we get ready to make another run at a conference title and the NCAA Final Four."\nIU's first opponent, Northridge, comes into the Invite at 14-8 on the year. The match-up will be the first between the two schools. In only its third year in the NCAA, Northridge has been on the rise ever since conception. The Matadors' key player to watch this weekend will be senior Pam Barba. Barba is second in scoring with 25 and leads the team with an impressive 65 steals. \nLMU, the Hoosiers' second opponent in the Fluid Four, enters the weekend at 16-4 on the season. Both squads have faced seven common opponents this season, all in the top 20. IU is 5-4 against the group, while LMU is 6-2. The Hoosiers will look to change their fate against the Lions, as they are 0-5 all-time against LMU. \nDespite IU's impressive performance last weekend in Pennsylvania, the Hoosiers have had their fair share of troubles in closing out games against top-ranked teams. Streefkerk believes the Hoosiers are ready for the competition but will need to make sure to score a few more goals as well as shut the door in the final stages of each match. \n"The challenge this weekend will be putting a couple more goals in the back of net as well as closing out the end of each match," said Streefkerk. "It should be a great invite, nevertheless, and I'm excited to get out there and play."\n-- Contact staff writer Matt Ostrega at mostrega@indiana.edu.