Hoosiers struggle in weekend tourney

Coming off an exciting five-set win against IP-Fort Wayne Tuesday, the IU women's volleyball team hosted the TIS Bookstore Invitational this weekend. The Hoosiers were unable to get on track all weekend, losing all three matches they played.\nIU coach Katie Weismiller was quick to point out what went wrong for the Hoosiers this weekend.\n"Consistency," Weismiller said. "We weren't consistent. We have to come out ready for every game."\nPlaying an undefeated Alabama team Friday, IU began the match with promise, but was unable to close out the match, losing in four games (30-25, 26-30, 31-33, 25-30).\nThe Hoosiers came out strong against the Crimson Tide in Friday's opening match. Jumping out to an early lead behind three Katie Pollom kills and two Christine Nilles service aces, IU held off several Alabama comebacks. The Crimson Tide came within five points, but that was as close as they got. On senior Christina Archibald's kill, the Hoosiers won the game 30-25.\nThe first game was the high point of the night for IU as the team proceeded to lose the next three games. In the second game, Alabama gained an early lead, never letting the Hoosiers back in the game.\nIn the third set, IU held the lead for much of the game before Alabama tied the score at 25. With the momentum shifting, the Tide went on an 8-6 run to win the game. Similarly, Alabama came back from a late deficit to win game four, 30-25.\nPollom, a senior, led IU with 16 kills while sophomore setter Tasha Arsenych had 46 assists. Sophomore Sara Diehl and Nilles, a freshman, had strong defensive games with 11 and 14 digs, respectively.\nIn the Saturday afternoon match, the Hoosiers lost to Kent State in five games (30-28, 30-27, 37-39, 28-30, 15-17). After claiming the first two games convincingly, IU lost its next three.\nIn the third game, as the Hoosiers tried to finish off the match, Kent State refused to give in. IU was unable to put the Golden Flashes away, and after an Archibald kill broke a tie, Kent State scored three straight points to win the game 39-37.\nIn the fourth game, the score bounced back and forth as neither team could gain control. The Golden Flashes ultimately won the game, forcing a decisive fifth game.\nIn the fifth game, Kent State jumped out early before IU was able to knot the score at 13. From there it seemed the Hoosiers ran out of gas, losing 15-17.\nOne of the few bright spots for IU was Archibald, who broke former Hoosier Melissa Brewer's IU record for kills (1,547 kills) in the fourth game.\n"I would have traded the record in for a win," Archibald said after the loss.\nArchibald led the Hoosiers with 26 kills while Pollom pounded out 21 of her own.\nSaturday night's match featured a very inconsistent Hoosier team, losing to eventual tournament champion, Pittsburgh in five sets (30-21, 27-30, 24-30, 30-18, 7-15).\nThe Hoosiers won the first and fourth game, but were unable to hold the momentum into the fifth game. In the fourth game, a balanced Hoosier attack picked apart the Panthers' defense. After a rush of points from Pollom and Nilles, the Hoosiers won the game 30-18.\nIn the fifth and final game, the Panthers started quickly and never looked back. Up by just one point, Pittsburgh went on a 9-2 run to win the match and take home the tournament championship. \n"We had a lot riding on this game," Pollom said. "It was a heartbreaking loss for us."\nPollom led the Hoosiers against Pittsburgh with 16 kills, with Archibald, Nilles and freshman Lauren Ditteon all contributing double-digit kills.\nPollom's performance this weekend garnered her a spot on the All-Tournament Team.\nThe Hoosiers begin Big Ten play this week as they take on in-state rival Purdue Wednesday in West Lafayette.\n-- Contact staff writer Tim O'Brien at tpobrien@indiana.edu .