Comeback against IPFW has Hoosiers fired up

Coming off what might have been its biggest win of the season so far, the IU volleyball team has high expectations for the T.I.S. Bookstore Invitational this weekend at IU's University Gym. \nIn Tuesday night's match against IU-Purdue University Fort Wayne, the Hoosiers trailed two games to one before mounting a furious rally to win the match 3-2 (30-32, 30-16, 24-30, 30-22, 15-11). As has been a problem in this season's early matches, the Hoosiers struggled with their consistency. \nAt times, IU took on the appearance of two different teams, getting edged out in the first game of the set 32-30 and then blowing out the Mastodons in the second, 30-16. Despite losing the lead and the momentum in the third game, the Hoosiers managed to keep their heads up and pull out the win.\n"You just have to believe that you have the squad that can do it, that your team has what it takes to come back." IU coach Katie Weismiller said following the match.\nThe Hoosiers will have to combine the confidence they gained with the energy they showed, as they play three matches in two days this weekend. The lineup of visiting teams includes the University of Alabama, Kent State University and Pittsburgh University.\nDespite having many of its school's other athletic events canceled, postponed or moved because of Hurricanes Frances and Ivan, the Crimson Tide volleyball team is off to its best start since 1989. A 3-0 win over Birmingham-Southern College Tuesday improved the team's record to 7-0 and also gave the Tide their 20th consecutive win over an in-state opponent.\nThe Kent State Golden Flashes will attempt to improve on their 2-2 record after falling to the University of Cincinnati in straight sets in the Bearcat Invitational two weekends ago. \nIU's final opponent, Pittsburgh, is 4-3 so far this season. The Panthers will attempt to match their run into the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2003 after compiling a regular season mark of 25-5.\nThe Hoosiers will look to their vocal leaders on the floor, seniors Katie Pollom and Christina Archibald, to keep the energy level high for what could be three very difficult matches.\n"The best way to fire everyone up is screaming my lungs out when I come down from a kill," Archibald said. "I just try and show the excitement I want everyone else to have." \nWhether getting out to big leads or playing from behind, the Hoosiers agree they need to seal matches more quickly and not allow opponents an opportunity to come back.\n"We are going to get back in the gym before this weekend," Pollom said. "We are going to work on our passing, and, most importantly, we are going to work on finishing games."\nThe Invitational will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday with IU versus Alabama and continue at 12:30 p.m. Saturday with the Hoosiers facing Kent State and then Pittsburgh at 7:30 p.m All games will be played at University Gym on the corner of the 45/46 Bypass and 10th Street.\n-- Contact staff writer Kevin Dwire at kdwire@indiana.edu.