By KELLY TERPSTRA, Courier sports writer
August 27, 2008 12:58 pm
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OTTUMWA — When its plane touches down at Salt Lake International Airport this week, the 12th-ranked Indian Hills volleyball squad plans on having a good time.
And of course winning as many matches as possible on their trip out west.
Bobsledding probably won’t be high on the itinerary.
Indian Hills and head coach Tori Fowler-Sorenson opened up the home portion of their season on Tuesday evening at the Tom Arnold Net Center in Ottumwa. The result was a three-game sweep of the Southeastern Blackhawks, which improved the Warriors’ record to 3-5 on the year.
It’s a quick turnaround for the talented bunch, as they’ll board a plane at 8:30 this morning, headed for Salt Lake City, the largest city in northern Utah and former host of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
“I’m real excited. It’s only my second time on a plane,” said Karie Downing, the Warriors’ hometown Ottumwa standout.
Downing knocked down 10 kills on the night and was named to the all-tournament team last week in the very difficult Molten Classic, hosted by fourth-ranked Iowa Western in Council Bluffs.
Indian Hills will have a day off to sight-see and bond as a team in Utah before the volleyball action gets under way. The Utah Olympic Park is one of the key sights in the city surrounded by the Wasatch and Oquirrh Mountains.
“The first year we went out there we went to where they held the Olympics. In fact we did the bobsledding, which is a little taxing on the body. We may visit the park, but we don’t be doing any bobsledding,” said Fowler-Sorenson, in her fourth year of guiding IHCC.
Fowler-Sorenson also mentioned the trip will be a key memory for her girls, obviously in addition to the numerous wins her squad should rack up in 2008.
“It’s an educational experience without being in a classroom,” said the IHCC head coach.
The Warriors played four ranked teams at the Molten Classic and will again play top-notch competition at the Salt Lake Community College Classic this week. The Warriors will again face the 2007 NJCAA Div. I national champion in Western Nebraska. The Warriors lost 25-12, 25-12 to them in Council Bluffs. Also in attendance will be top-ranked Miami-Dade.
On Tuesday, the Warriors started out slow but put the first game away on a Allison Uceda kill. The sophomore from Lima, Peru notched seven kills and was 15-16 serving with three aces.
Indian Hills responded in the second game by stretching its lead to 21-11 and maintained that 10-point advantage. Downing slammed down one of her familiar power kills to end game two.
Her triplet sister Erin, who along with sophomore libero Caitlin Davis, represent Ottumwa well, as all three were key members of Bonnie Cobler’s Ottumwa Bulldogs. Erin managed three aces and six kills on the evening. Erin talked about playing in front of the hometown crowd for the first time this season.
“I love being here. It’s an awesome feeling of playing at home. We have to protect our home floor. The first game was not pretty but we picked it up at the end. We’ll do fine,” said Erin.
The Warriors also used the talent of another Peruvian, of course that’s sophomore hitter Ana Maira Charun, who also hails from Lima. Charun led all spikers with 14 kills and was 24-28 hitting.
Indian Hills overcame an early 4-2 deficit in the last game but stretched its lead to four late at 20-16. SCC’s Amanda Darbyshire’s shot that went long ended the match.
“We’ve had high expectations for this season. We have a number of talented sophomores back. Our freshman have to step in and do the job as well,” said Fowler-Sorenson.
Indian Hills 25-25-25
Southeastern 21-14-19
Indian Hills Statistics
Serving — Allison Uceda 15-16, Ana Maira Charun 11-11, Erin Downing 10-11. Aces — Uceda 3, E. Downing 3.
Hitting — Karie Downing 22-23, Charun 24-28, Uceda 14-17, E. Downing 13-16. Kills — Charun 14, K. Downing 10, Uceda 7, E. Downing 6.
Setting — Natalia Oliveira 33 assists.
Serve receive — Caitlin Davis 11-13.
Digs — K. Downing 14, Davis 8.
Molten Classic
At Council Bluffs
Aug. 22-23, 2008
Results — Western Nebraska def. IHCC 25-12, 25-12; IHCC def. Southwestern 25-13, 25-19; Missouri State-West Plains def. IHCC 25-17, 25-19; IHCC def. Central Nebraska 25-19, 25-19; Kishwaukee (Ill.) def. IHCC 20-25, 25-22, 15-13; Jefferson (Mo.) def. IHCC 23-25, 25-14, 15-12; Barton County (Kan.) def. IHCC 22-25, 25-16, 15-8.
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