Hoosiers set for home matches against Big Ten teams

After beginning the Big Ten season 10-3 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten, the IU volleyball squad has dropped seven consecutive matches and is looking to grab a life preserver this weekend.\nThe Hoosiers are now 10-10 overall and 1-7 in the Big Ten and are looking to get back afloat at home this weekend when they challenge Northwestern at 7 p.m. Friday and Illinois at 7 p.m. Saturday, both at the University Gym.\n"We definitely would like a few more wins this season," said IU coach Katie Weismiller. "We have had a tough road stretch."\nOne thing the Hoosiers won't have to worry about is a lack of fan support. The team said there is something to be said for playing in front of the home fans.\n"I think having fan support is a huge help for our team," freshman setter Allison Regas said .\nThe Hoosiers said earlier in the week that there were a few things they needed to work on in practice in order to get ready for Friday and Saturday's matches.\n"We need to definitely improve on our defense," said junior outside hitter Gabrielle Allison. "We need to work on setting up a solid block and playing behind it."\nWeismiller cited other areas the Hoosiers needed to work on in order to compete at the same level as other Big Ten squads.\n"We need to work on our side of the court, especially on tough serving," Weismiller said. "Serving and passing will be two areas we will be working on."\nRegas said that winning this weekend will simply come down to executing better than they have in recent matches.\nA sweep of this weekend's matches against the Wildcats and Fighting Illini could do wonders for team confidence, members of the team said, which could lead to momentum through the rest of the season.\n"It would bring up everyone's confidence level," Allison said. "It would give us a boost in next week's practices and in the starting up of the next round in the Big Ten"