Big Ten proves too much for IU in '05

The IU volleyball team wrapped up its season with the conclusion of the Big Ten schedule a little over a week ago, sending off a record-breaking senior while also paving the way for a record-breaking freshman to cement her place in IU lure.\nSenior Mandy Eberle played her last match as a Hoosier against Wisconsin and broke the single-season total blocks and block assist records in the process. \nBy breaking the individual record, Eberle moved into seventh place all-time for both the total blocks and block assist records. \n"Mandy really worked her tail off this year to break those records," IU coach Katie Weismiller said in a statement. "It was great to see her achieve this in breaking the records. It is a testament to just how tough of a kid she is."\nWhile Eberle broke records in the final match of the season, her teammate Erica Short broke the freshman single-season kills record a week earlier in a match against Purdue.\nShort's 398 kills on the season shattered the record of 364 set by Christina Archibald in 2001.\nIndividual records came to the Hoosiers this year, but they were not indicative of team success. \nIU finished with a 9-23 record on the season, including a 2-18 record in Big Ten play, marking the third time in five seasons the Hoosiers have been unable to eclipse double-digit wins. \nThe Hoosiers particularly struggled on the road, where they finished with an 0-12 record.\n"It's definitely tougher to play on the road," Eberle said. "All the Big Ten schools have good crowds and good fans."\nShort agreed but said the Hoosiers need to adjust to harsh conditions on the road.\n"We should be a strong team no matter where we play," she said.\nThe struggles were particularly evident in the Big Ten season, during which IU finished with a 10-match losing streak.\n"We have competed with everyone in every match this season," Weismiller said. "We just have a young group who has a hard time sustaining any momentum."\nIU featured 10 freshmen, and 15 of the 17 players on the team were underclassmen. Despite the team's youth, Eberle said there were positive steps taken by all the Hoosiers throughout the season.\n"It's really important (to get young players playing time) just to get that experience," Eberle said. \nAlong with Eberle, IU will graduate senior Rachel Gerling, who earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors Sept. 26 and led the team in service aces with 51. \n"Our seniors have been unbelievable; (they are) going to be very difficult to replace," Weismiller said.\nAmong other notables: Freshman setter Laura Holm led the team in assists with 1,077, good enough for third on the freshman record list and No. 10 on the all-time list.\nDespite the struggles, IU did experience some early-season success, starting off 8-6 and taking second place in the T.I.S. Bookstore Invitational before the start of conference play. The Hoosiers split their first two Big Ten matches before losing 17 of their last 18 matches.