Volleyball team to close season with 4 home matches

To close a season that has not produced as many wins as the coaching staff and team wanted, the IU volleyball team will face Iowa, No. 6 Nebraska, No. 25 Purdue and No. 18 Michigan during the next week.

“After the Northwestern match, we looked around the room and looked at how many freshmen and sophomores there are on the team,” IU Assistant Coach Paul Koncir said. “They have to learn how to get to this point. They have to keep getting the mindset. They have to keep getting in position to win games and matches. The more we do that, the more they’ll become comfortable and the more they get to that level we need.”

The Hoosiers (9-18, 1-15), who are on a six-match losing streak, are led by junior middle blocker Morgan Leach, who has a team high 270 kills. She is followed by senior outside hitter Jordan Haverly, who has 238 kills and 186 digs. She became the first player in school history to have 1,500 kills and 1,000 digs in her career Sunday.

Sophomore middle blocker Awele Nwaeze has 225 kills, and sophomore outside hitter Amelia Anderson has 224. Senior captain and libero Caitlin Hansen leads the team in digs with 370, and freshman setter Megan Tallman leads the Hoosiers in assists with 593.

“I think we’ll go out there and play with heart,” Hansen said. “We have only four games left and five practices. There’s nothing to lose at this point. It’s not even so much your record. It’s playing for pride and playing for each other. It’s one of the last few times we’re all on the court together.”

Iowa (10-18, 1-15), comes to town Friday led by junior Alex Lovell, who has 362 kills. They have lost eight straight matches dating back to their last match against the Hoosiers when they won in five sets.

“I think we are definitely due in a five setter,” Hansen said. “We’ve been fighting so hard. It has just been coming down to the last few points.”

On Saturday, IU plays host to No. 6 Nebraska (21-4, 14-2) who is riding an eight-match win streak. Senior Kelsey Robinson leads the Cornhuskers in both kills and digs with 428 and 322, respectively.

“Nebraska has been a tough matchup for everyone right now,” Koncir said. “I kind of expect them to play very well. That will be very difficult. We are going to give them a fight. We’ll play hard, and I think the good thing about our league is that on any given night, anything can happen.”

Wednesday is senior night, and rival No. 25 Purdue (16-11, 7-9) will be here. They are on a four-match losing streak and are led by junior Val Nichol, who has 272 kills and 184 digs.

Friday will be the last match of the season for IU when they take on No. 18 Michigan (17-10, 7-9). The Wolverines are led by senior Lexi Erwin, who has 324 kills and 226 digs.

“It’s going to be my last time of being able to put my jersey on,” Hansen said. “(I’m looking forward to) being next to some girls I’ve been through so much together with, and they’ve had my back, and the support system I’ll never experience again, but I’ll just go out there on my home court, right where I started and put so much work in. All the girls have. But just to go out there and put the Hoosier uniform on one last time and play with everything I have.”

Follow volleyball reporter Andrew Vailliencourt on Twitter @AndrewVcourt.