IU volleyball faces top-tier teams in Big Ten action

Five Big Ten teams are ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association top-25 poll, including top-ranked defending national champion Penn State.

IU volleyball coach Sherry Dunbar said she knows what it will take for her young squad to compete in and win matches in such a challenging conference.

“We’re trying to get them better mentally focused,” Dunbar said. “We’re going to start at a higher level and teach them to compete, so that starts transferring over to matches. In reality, I think we need to play more now that we’re getting into Big Ten, so our kids learn how to compete at that level.”

With a young 2009 roster, the IU volleyball team has already displayed flashes of competitive brilliance.

The Hoosiers (12-4) enter their 2009 Big Ten slate as champions of two non-conference invitational tournaments and winners of two five-set matches against 2008 NCAA tournament participants Ohio and Missouri State.

Dunbar said those two victories were especially helpful to the team’s confidence and motivation heading into the conference schedule.

“It gives us more motivation to get ready for Big Ten season,” Dunbar said, “that we can beat quality opponents and fight.”

In the Big Ten, IU can expect to be challenged every match. Following a loss to No. 8 Michigan and upset of No. 16 Michigan State last weekend, IU is 1-1 in Big Ten play.

The Hoosiers will play the first of their home-and-away match series against Purdue (8-3) in West Lafayette on Wednesday. The Boilermakers were ranked to begin the season and currently stand just outside the top 25.

Oct. 4, IU will play host to No. 9 Minnesota (11-3). The Hoosiers split their 2008 series with the Golden Gophers, losing in Minneapolis and then winning in Bloomington after five sets Nov. 1.

The Hoosiers will kick off Hoosier Hysteria on Oct. 16 against Iowa in Assembly Hall.

Seven of IU’s Big Ten matches will air on television, including Oct. 23 at Penn State and home matches on Oct. 30 against Illinois and Oct. 31 against Northwestern.

Freshman setter Whitney Granado said the players understand what they have to accomplish in practice in order to succeed in the Big Ten.

“Right now, we’re just trying to compete,” Granado said, “compete with each other and with ourselves.”

Senior outside hitter Kelsey Hall said the Hoosiers’ preparation means nothing if they don’t keep up their energy level during matches.

“Just trusting each other, going out there and fighting,” Hall said. “Like, when we get those big points, we need to celebrate.”