Volleyball team ends season in NCAA Tourney
Freshmen Buff Crawford (3) and Abby Merritt (7) go up for a block while sophomore Lyndsay Callahan (11) looks on. The Lady ‘Hounds fell in the second game of the NCAA Division II tournament to Grand Valley State University.
By JP Sinclair | Editorial Assistant
The University of Indianapolis volleyball team (29-10, 14-4 GLVC) traveled to Allendale, Mich on Nov. 21 to compete in the field of 64 teams at the 2008 NCAA Division II Women’s Volleyball Championship. The fourth-ranked Lady ‘Hounds beat Northern Michigan University in the first round 3-2, before losing to regionally top-seeded Grand Valley State University, 1-3.
“The level of play at the regions, every match is a battle and you have to bring you’re a game every night and we didn’t do that this weekend,” said assistant coach Kyp Harasymowycz.
UIndy got out to a quick lead in the match against GVSU, winning the first set 25-19. The game was tied at 15 all before the Lady ‘Hounds went on a 10-4 run to take the first set. In the next two sets, the Greyhounds had four service errors and two attack errors, which helped GVSU pull away in the second set.
“They just kept coming,” Harasymowycz said. “I’m glad the kids fought back and played to their highest potential.”
The Greyhounds took advantage in the third set with 16 kills, to lead the set 20-18 before GVSU made a comeback to win the second set. UIndy finally fell 25-23 in the fourth set to lose the match, 1-3.
“It was the best feeling, of accomplishment, our goal was to go has far as we could,” said junior Lyndsay Callahan. “It showed how much our sacrifice and dedication had paid off, and the feeling is indescribable.”
During the 2008 season, the Greyhounds faced off against ranked teams seven different times.
“In the Elite 8, (if GVSU wins) we will have played 3 of the Elite 8 teams and we have beat 2 of them. California University of Pennsylvania is 40-1 right now and we’re they’re only loss.” Harasymowycz said.
UIndy competed in the NCAA Division II tournament last year for the first time. The Lady ‘Hounds brought the university it’s first tournament win for the volleyball program against Hillsdale College. Just like this season, the Greyhounds lost in the second game of the tournament last season.
The Lady ‘Hounds will lose star senior setter Beth Robbins. Robbins, during the course of the season, broke the schools assist record at 1,694 assists on Senior Night against rival St. Joseph’s College. She was also named the 2008 Great Lakes Valley Conference Volleyball Player of the Year.
“We had 110 wins under Beth Robbins, who else can say that in any sport, she’s won over 75% of her matches,” Harasymowycz said.
With the loss of both Robbins and senior Ashley Fallos, the Lady ‘Hound will be forced to rely on a young team next season.
“(Beth and Ashley) were huge contributors for this team, but coming this spring we’re going to have to learn to play without them,” Callahan said. “We have a ton of great young players that we will be extremely successful with.”
