Hoosiers finish in 2nd place at T.I.S. Invitational

The IU volleyball team rebounded after a tough start to the weekend to claim second place in the TIS Bookstore Invitational Saturday by defeating Arkansas State University and perennial NCAA Tournament team University of Dayton at University Gym.\nThe Hoosiers began the tournament Friday by dropping a match to Western Michigan University 0-3 (24-30, 26-30, 27-30). The Broncos played stingy defense, holding IU to a .075 hitting percentage in the match. The Hoosiers also had ten attacking errors.\n"We weren't anywhere where we needed to be and it really showed," sophomore Lauren Ditteon said. "It definitely wasn't IU playing out there."\nIU rebounded with a straight-set victory of its own Saturday by defeating Arkansas State 3-0 (30-18, 30-23, 30-26). The IU offense, led by freshman Erica Short on her 18th birthday, overwhelmed the Arkansas State defense with a .344 hitting percentage. Short led the team with a .667 hitting percentage and 14 kills.\n"The passers did a great job, and Laura (Holm) did a great job delivering the ball," Short said. \nThe Hoosiers captured second place by defeating the defending Atlantic 10 Conference Champion Dayton Flyers in five games (30-32, 30-27, 30-25, 25-30, 15-12). The victory marked the first time this season the Hoosiers have dropped the first game of the match and come back to win. \nShort led the IU offensive attack again with a .408 htting percentage while setting career highs in kills with 27 and total attacks with 49. Short and freshman setter Laura Holm were both named to the all-tournament team for their efforts. Holm set career highs, reaching 61 assists, three aces and 15 digs against Dayton.\n"We didn't just win it, we played well," head coach Katie Weismiller said. "It gave us a lot of confidence going into this weekend, which is something we needed."\nIU continues its six-game homestand this weekend by opening up Big Ten play with matches against Michigan State and Michigan at University Gym.