The IU women's volleyball team will travel to the Winthrop Invitational in Rock Hill, S.C. this weekend, where it will face the University of North Florida, Furman University and Winthrop University.\n"We learned (from the Alabama Invitational) that we cannot take any point for granted, and we have to keep playing at our potential," said freshman setter Laura Holm. "But at the same time, we need to have fun and enjoy what we do."\nHead coach Katie Weismiller noted other teams gave her players more to work on in terms of tenacious offense and scrappy defense. \n"We need to step it up and hit with a higher percentage than before. We can dig deeper, and our defense is definitely ready to try it," she said. \n The Hoosiers will play Northern Florida at 4:30 p.m. Friday before facing Furman and Winthrop to round out the tournament at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday.\n"We have the opportunity to see where we are now, and also to note where we've improved," said Weismiller. "We're always getting better, and it's good to check on our progress each week."
Hoosiers look for home-field advantage
The IU women's soccer team is finally returning home and hopes to gain home field advantage this weekend at the inaugural Hoosier Classic.\nIU (1-2-1) will host the University of Miami (3-1) Friday and then Xavier University (2-2) Sunday, with No. 18 Marquette also making the trip to Bloomington.\nThe Hoosiers are playing at home for the first time this season and are excited after spending the last two weekends away from home.\n"Being home is going to help a lot," said head coach Mick Lyon. "It is so hard on everyone to travel. You can see the relief of the girls now that they are home."\nLast weekend on the road at the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge, the Hoosiers split two games, defeating Iowa State but losing to Missouri. In the Iowa State game, IU captured not only its first win, but also its first goal, scored by freshman Molly Beckwith.\nMiami and Xavier look to be good competition for the Hoosiers as they plan to add to their win total. Miami is an athletic, well-organized, defensive club, but the Hoosiers feel they are up for the challenge.\n"Playing at home is energizing for the team," said Molly Beckwith. "I know the girls are going to step up and play some great soccer this weekend."
Field Hockey to take on Pacific
After opening the season with four road games, of which the Hoosiers won three, IU field hockey coach Amy Robertson is ready to come home. \n"It's nice to have as least three practices to get ready for our opponent, instead of one or two, when you're playing on the road," Robertson said. "We're looking forward to our first home match."\nThe 3-1 Hoosiers will square off against the University of the Pacific tonight at Mellencamp Pavilion. Senior midfielder and co-captain Kayla Bashore said she believes her team is more than ready for the challenge.\n"We're going to come out with a lot of emotion and intensity; we're definitely not taking Pacific lightly," she said. \nThe 2-3 Tigers are attempting to follow up a successful 2004 campaign that saw them post an 11-10 record and claim the NorPac Conference championship. Pacific has already suffered losses to two Big Ten teams this year, a 2-0 loss to Michigan State, and most recently, an 8-1 defeat against Iowa.\nDespite being separated by over 2,000 miles, some Hoosier players, like freshman back and San Diego native Danitra Castro, are familiar with many of the Pacific players.\n"I know a lot of the players on Pacific, and I know they probably want to upset us in our first home game, but I don't think that will happen," Castro said. "We're prepared for anything they throw at us." \nRobertson said she believes the four-game road trip the team started on this year has helped prepare it for tonight's contest. \n"We've been able to sharpen up some things we've been able to catch by watching video," Robertson said. "We just need to make ourselves better defensively"
