Volleyball team aims for another sweep

The Hoosiers (9-2) enter this weekend’s T.I.S. College Bookstore IU Invitational on a six-match win streak, having swept two of three tournaments in which they have participated.

“We’re really, really driven to get these three wins in the home tournament,” sophomore setter Mary Chaudoin said. “To finish out 12-2 would be awesome.”

IU opened the season at the University of Houston for the Flo Hyman Invitational, winning all three of its matches and claiming the tournament title.

After going 2-2 in the first IU-sponsored tournament the following week, the Hoosiers swept the Hampton Inn Invitational at the University of Ohio, winning two five-set matches against Ohio and Missouri State.

In addition to IU winning the tournament title, sophomore libero Caitlin Cox was named the event’s most valuable player and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, and freshman outside hitter Jordan Haverly earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.

IU coach Sherry Dunbar said the sweep at Ohio showed that her squad has resolve and can beat quality opponents. 

“I think especially when you win two five-set matches against two quality opponents who go to the NCAA tournament, it definitely gives you more motivation to come into the gym on Monday and get better,” Dunbar said.

“We learned how to fight this weekend, and that’s what we’ve talked a lot about,” she said. “Just making steps forward, and I think we made a big step forward in that aspect.”

The Hoosiers look to make another big step at their second home tournament this season.

 The team’s first match takes place at 7 p.m. Friday against Western Michigan, who advanced to the Sweet Sixteen last year.

Dunbar said the Broncos (4-7) give IU another quality opponent to play before the Big Ten season.

IU will play two more matches Saturday, the first at 10 a.m. against Alabama A&M and the second at 7 p.m. against North Carolina A&T.

“I think we can do some things to exploit some of the things they do, but they’re very athletic and obviously know how to win, going to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament last year,” Dunbar said.