Hoosiers drop 2 in Big Ten

The underdogs aren't supposed to win.\nThat was truly the case this weekend for the IU women's volleyball team as it dropped its Big Ten home openers against No. 2 Penn State and No. 13 Ohio State. The Hoosiers are now 1-3 in the Big Ten and 10-6 overall.\nDespite out blocking the Nittany Lions 6-4, IU lost the first match to still undefeated Penn State, falling in three straight games (19-30, 23-30, 22-30). Sophomore Erica Short led the team with 13 kills, and freshman Allison Regas added 26 set assists in the game.\nCoach Katie Weismiller found the game important despite the loss.\n"Penn State is obviously a very good team," Weismiller said. "We couldn't finish, but we definitely learned a lot tonight."\nIU tried to forget the loss as it looked to Saturday night's "Jam the Gym" against Ohio State. The goal to set the attendance record was fulfilled as 1,362 people packed the gym, beating the previous record of 1,267, set last year against Purdue.\nWeismiller appreciated the high attendance.\n"I was exceptionally pleased with the turnout tonight," Weismiller said. "To see all of those fans, both from the community and other student athletes, that definitely pumped everyone up in the beginning of the match."\nSenior Sara Diehl agreed.\n"The crowd was awesome," Diehl said. "It was an exciting environment, and it was nice to have it."\nAlthough the crowd was large, it was not enough to help the Hoosiers overcome the Buckeyes as they beat IU in four games (30-25, 25-30, 23-30, 25-30).\nThe Hoosiers looked good in the first game but committed some unforced errors that cost them the next three games. Short again led the team with 23 kills, while Regas tallied 41 set assists. The team also had 14.5 blocks, a number of which Weismiller said she was proud.\n"Ohio State is a very good team, and we had the opportunity to compete against a top-15 team tonight," said Weismiller. "We gave up some points and had some miscommunication that we will work on before the match against Purdue."\nIU will take on in-state rival No. 11 Purdue at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the University Gym as it continues its home stretch of ranked teams.\nWeismiller knows the importance of these Big Ten games.\n"It's the Big Ten, and every night's a battle," Weismiller said. "This is a great league, and you have to know every night is going to be a battle. The difference between the good and the great teams is the great teams are getting splits at home, and that's what we are going to fight to do."\nThe players understand its importance, too. \n"I think it's a great experience being (in) this conference," Diehl said. "Even though we lost to Penn State, we know we can hang with them, and we know we can hang with anyone in the conference. You have to be in this conference to get to know that"