Volleyball travels to New York for weekend tourney

The IU volleyball team (6-0) is off to its best start since 2000 and will have an opportunity to extend the streak with four games this weekend.

The Hoosiers will compete in the Niagara/Canisius tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., and will face Robert Morris and Colgate on Friday and Niagara and Bucknell on Saturday.

“Going into the tournament, we definitely need to keep our momentum up, and we have done really well at finishing,” sophomore middle blocker Samantha Thrower said.

Coming off of an illness, Thrower will be a key addition to the Hoosiers this weekend. Last year, Thrower posted 95 kills and 11 digs in the 59 sets she played.

Another player who is expected to return from injury this weekend is freshman outside hitter Jade Henderson, who has had difficulties with her hitting arm. In the two sets Henderson played, she recorded three kills.

None of the four teams IU is facing this weekend has a winning record.

The two toughest players on the offensive front will come from Niagara, who has outside hitter Hannah Hedrick with 94 kills and middle blocker Amanda Wilken with 70 kills.

Thrower’s presence will provide the Hoosiers an important addition if they hope to add four more wins to the record.

“It’s been a slow process getting me back to where I used to be,” Thrower said. “But I just want to get back in the lineup and help my team out.”