The Indiana University football team is off to a 2-0 start after routing Eastern Illinois 52-0 Saturday. The Hoosiers begin Big Ten play on Saturday with a home matchup against sixth-ranked Ohio State.
During Monday’s press conference, Hoosiers coach Tom Allen addressed the offensive line, particularly its two underclassmen, left guard Harry Crider and right tackle Caleb Jones. Crider is a junior from Columbus East and Jones is a redshirt sophomore.
Allen said, “I think Harry and Caleb, we’ve just got to get — just keep getting better. I mean, there’s a level of intensity and toughness and just — it’s every little step you take and working with the guys around you … Harry has played even more than he has. But just being able to go against these defensive ends they’re going to play against on the perimeter is different than the first couple weeks, a lot different. And then the two guys on the inside they’re going to be facing, that Harry will be matched up with is more physical, more explosive, bigger guys. It’s a heightened sense of technical precision you have to have in everything that you do, whether it’s the communication piece or whether it’s the footwork, your hand placement, the line calls, and checks and adjustments, all the stuff that they do.”
Brothers to square off
Zach and Jared Clark were teammates at East, but will face off against each other for the second year in a row.
Zach’s University of Indianapolis squad will square off against Jared’s Hillsdale team on Saturday with a kickoff at 6 p.m. at UIndy. Zach Clark is a redshirt freshman, and Jared Clark is a sophomore.
Jared Clark had one forced fumble in Hillsdale’s 29-14 loss Saturday to Michigan Tech.
Burton carries twice
Miami (Ohio) football won 48-17 over Tennessee Tech Saturday.
Mitchell Burton, a redshirt sophomore from North, ran the ball two times for six yards. David Redding, also a redshirt sophomore from North, started at left guard for the Redhawks.
VOLLEYBALL
More awards for VanLiew
Florida Gulf Coast volleyball player Cortney VanLiew was named Atlantic Sun Player of the Week for the week of Aug. 26.
VanLiew, a junior outside hitter from Columbus East, racked up 52 kills, 22 digs and four aces over three matches at the Fort Myers Classic Aug. 30-31. She earned a spot on the Homewood Suites Fort Myers All-Classic team.
This is the fourth career ASUN player of the week selection for VanLiew.
FGCU remained perfect with a 6-0 record after sweeping the Hurricane Invitational by defeating its three opponents by 3-0 scores Friday and Saturday.
VanLiew finished with 13 kills, six digs, two aces and two blocks in a 25-13, 25-17, 25-14 win over South Florida. She had 18 kills, four digs and an ace in the 25-22. 25-19, 25-14 win over Auburn. She added 13 kills, 10 digs, two blocks and an ace in a 25-20, 25-15, 25-16 win over George Washington.
The win over Auburn marked the first time FGCU won against an SEC opponent and the first time beating a Power 5 Conference on a neutral court. In terms of wins overall against Power 5 schools, this is the third victory after winning against Miami in straight sets last year on the road and Indiana at home in five sets in 2016.
Western powers Norse
Northern Kentucky finished 1-1 in the Bulldog Invitational Friday and Saturday.
Bailey Western, a junior from East, finished with nine kills, two aces, six blocks and three digs in a 29-27, 25-9, 25-17 victory over Stony Brook. She had seven kills, six blocks and an ace in a 24-26, 25-16, 25-14, 25-22 win over Georgetown University. She added six kills, two blocks and a dig in a 25-14, 25-17, 25-18 loss to Marshall.
The Norse are 4-2.
IU-Kokomo goes 1-3
IU-Kokomo volleyball finished 1-3 in the Cornerstone/Aquinas Tournament Friday and Saturday.
Kendal Williams, a sophomore from East, recorded 20 assists, 18 digs and two kills in a 25-21, 23-25, 25-21, 18-25, 15-13 win over Cornerstone. She notched 19 assists and two digs in a 25-23, 25-16, 25-15 loss to Marian. She had 15 assists and four digs in a 25-21, 25-15, 21-25, 25-15 defeat to Indiana Wesleyan University. She added 18 assists and five digs in a 25-22, 25-23, 19-25, 16-25, 15-12 loss to Aquinas.
The Cougars are 9-5.
Metz helps Foresters
Huntington lost its volleyball match 21-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-22 Wednesday against Taylor University to drop to 5-2. Brea Metz, a junior from Hauser, recorded 14 kills and one block.
The Foresters went 1-3 in the Fisk University Invitational Saturday. Metz added a combined 16 kills and five digs for the tournament.
Huntington goes to 6-5 on the season.
Rooks notches digs
Manchester went 1-1 in the North Park tri-match Saturday.
Mackenzie Rooks, a junior from North, had nine digs in a 22-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-20 win over Blackburn, and added one dig in a 27-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-18 loss to North Park.
The Saprtans lost to Kalamazoo 26-24, 25-16, 25-13 Wednesday. Rooks recorded seven digs.
Manchester falls to 2-4.
CROSS-COUNTRY
Tong wins invitational
Hanover women’s cross-country runner Arig Tong won the Hanover Invitational Saturday.
Tong, a sophomore from Columbus North, clocked in at 19 minutes, 52 seconds for 6,000 meters (3.8 miles).
Rankin finishes 66th
Grace College men’s cross-country runner Ben Rankin came in 66th in the Indiana Wesleyan Invitational on Friday.
Rankin, a senior from North, finished in 27:41 for 8,000 meters (5 miles).
SOCCER
Smith scores twice
Thomas More forward and North grad Ethan Smith scored two goals, both in the first half, in a 3-0 men’s soccer victory over Asbury on Thursday.
The Saints fell to 2-2 after dropping a 3-2 contest to Grace College Sunday. Smith took three shots in that game.
Bentham posts saves
Fredonia State goalkeeper Ty Bentham recorded 11 saves in two games in the Blue Devil Soccer Classic Friday and Saturday.
Bentham, a senior from North, posted five saves in a 2-2 draw to Houghton College, and six saves in 2-1 loss to Westminster (Pa.). The Blue Devils sit at 1-1-2 on the season.
Knights win two
Bellarmine’s women’s soccer started the season 2-0 by defeating Carson-Newman Thursday and Tusculum Saturday and , both by 1-0 scores.
Natalie Teo, a junior from North, recorded two shots on goal against Carson-Newman and four shots with two on goal in the win over Tusculum.
Cougars play to draw
The Saint Francis women’s soccer team that features North grad Marina Hughes and East grad Sarah Park played to a 1-1 draw against St. Xavier University Wednesday.
Hughes, a junior, recorded one shot on goal, while Park, a freshman, recorded one shot.
TENNIS
Smith reaches semis
Bellarmine women’s tennis opened the season at the DePauw Invitational Saturday. There was no team scores, but was more of an individual tournament among the participating school.
Aubrey Smith, a junior from North, played at No. 2 singles and defeated Erin Friedrich of DePauw 6-4, 7-5 in the quarterfinals before falling to Amanda Taberna of Valparaiso 7-5, 6-3 in the semifinals.
James Pence is a sports writer for The Republic. He can be reached at jpence@therepublic.com or 812-379-5632.
