After posting an impressive non-conference record of 10-1, the Penn State women's volleyball team now embarks on the part of the schedule that counts: the Big Ten.
Winning 32 of a possible 36 games so far is all well and good, but the vast majority of the competition was inferior (with, of course, the notable exception of the loss to No. 3 Florida last Friday). There will be no such cupcakes in the Big Ten, a conference boasting five ranked teams.
With conference play beginning tomorrow night for the Lions as they host Indiana, the Collegian previews each of Penn State's 10 opponents.
Illinois
The Illini began the season with a No. 20 national ranking in the AVCA/USA Today poll, but have struggled in non-conference play with a record of 6-3, including a somewhat embarrassing loss to Loyola-Chicago. However, like most Big Ten teams, head coach Din Hardin's bunch might be better prepared than Penn State for the rigors of the Big Ten after playing more challenging non-conference teams, including Florida, Utah and Brigham Young.
Hardin is the reigning Big Ten Coach of the Year, leading Illinois to a 21-9 record, third-place Big Ten finish and an NCAA appearance. The Illini return four starters, most notably senior setter Betsy Eiserman and junior middle hitter Lisa Argabright.
Eiserman provides the veteran presence and steadying influence at the setter position, averaging 12.6 assists per game last season, good for fourth in the Big Ten. Argabright was named the Big Ten's most improved player in 2001 and was honored as All-Big Ten. This season, she leads Illinois with a .309 hitting percentage and has tallied 89 kills.
Indiana
When you talk Indiana women's volleyball, you are not talking a tradition on the level of its renowned men's basketball program. No, Hoosier volleyball is more on par with the school's perennial doormat football program.
Indiana is coming off a 8-20 (5-15 Big Ten) season, has not finished higher than fifth in the conference since 1995, and has never been better than fourth in the Big Ten. In addition, the Lions have never lost to the Hoosiers.
However, after a 10-3 non-conference record, including an upset of previously ranked Louisville last Saturday, Indiana is showing some signs of optimism.
Sophomore outside hitter Christina Archibald was just named Big Ten Player of the Week and is leading the Hoosiers and the Big Ten overall with 215 kills.
Senior Hillary Toivonen is proving to be one of the Big Ten's better liberos in the first year of the position, averaging 3.2 digs per game. She recently moved into fourth place on the all-time Indiana digs list with 1,020.
Iowa
Another team that has never beaten Penn State is Iowa. The Hawkeyes are coming off a 6-23 year, and they don't figure to be much better in 2002 after losing three starters (including all-Big Ten and AVCA all-regional middle hitter Sara Meyermann) and standing at only 6-4 playing a less-than-stellar non-conference schedule.
The Hawkeyes are coached by legendary former U.S. national team player Rita Buck-Crockett, but in her fifth season, Iowa has had little success. This year, the Hawkeyes will continue that rebuilding process, with 11 of the 14 players on the roster having only a year or less of Iowa experience.
Junior Renee Hill leads the team in kills with 103, but is hitting only .217 after being forced to play setter last season. Junior transfer from Massachusetts Jitka Stehnova has done admirably filling the setter position this season and is averaging 11.48 assists per game to allow the offense to flow for the Hawkeyes.
Michigan
Projected to be a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team, the Wolverines have performed exactly to expectations so far in the non-conference season.
Michigan is 6-4, defeating all six unranked teams it has played and losing to the four in the preseason top 25, including current No. 5 Nebraska.
Sophomore Jennifer Gandolph leads the attack for head coach Mark Rosen's team with 142 kills, good for a .258 hitting percentage. Junior middle hitter Erin Moore was a preseason All-Big Ten, the first Wolverine honored as such since 1997. She is second on the team in kills. Fifth-year senior middle blocker Katrina Lehman is third in the Big Ten in blocks per game with 1.32.
Michigan State
The No. 21 Spartans tied for fourth in the Big Ten last year and are looking to take the leap to the next level. An 8-2 record thus far is right about where observers expected to see Michigan State as they enter conference play.
Junior setter and two-time team captain Nikki Colson is third in the Big Ten and fifth in the country in assists with 13.69 per game after being honorable mention All-Big Ten last year. Fifth year senior Angela Morley was 10th in the nation last year in blocks and finds herself fourth in the Big Ten in that category this year for veteran head coach Chuck Erbe.
