排球队在昨晚对阵辛辛那提队之前，发现自己不得不适应新的环境。就在训练前几个小时，印第安人发现他们不是在通常举行比赛的大学体育馆打球，而是在明显大得多的大会堂打球。改变场地的原因是大会堂有空调，而大学体育馆没有。体育馆的温度又热又湿，不适合在那里进行比赛。这个变化对球队来说会有明显的不同。虽然这支球队有主场优势，但由于体型的差异，球迷的支持似乎比实际要少。“我既兴奋又紧张，”新赛狗贝丝·海曼说。“我很兴奋能跑出隧道，而且会更好，因为它就在这里(大会堂)。”不管气氛如何变化，这个团队都很放松。运动员们坚持进行常规的热身，尽管教练们在他们周围工作，为比赛在地板上铺设胶带。印第安人队将于周五晚上8点迎战辛辛那提队，这是本周末三场比赛中的第一场。辛辛那提队和印第安人队一样，在去年的NCAA锦标赛中结束了赛季，这对印第安纳大学来说将是一个严峻的考验。辛辛那提有三名先发球员重返首发阵容，其中包括曾入选季前赛全美最佳阵容的资深中场盖帽斯蒂芬妮·梅宁。“辛辛那提有年轻的二传，但他们也有经验丰富的球员在关键位置，”国际联盟教练凯蒂·维斯米勒说。“这对我们来说将是一场战斗。”\nBowling Green State University and Loyola-Chicago each finished with 20-plus wins last season, and will be difficult foes for IU, when the Hoosiers face them at noon and 7 p.m. Saturday.\nThese preseason matches are important for the Hoosiers. In past preseasons, IU has gone undefeated, which led to their appearance in last year's NCAA tournament.\nIU has a couple of obstacles to overcome before tomorrow. Although the lineup is pretty much set, there have been a few minor injuries, which could change the lineup. These injuries, including a sprained ankle and a back spasm, were expected to be cleared up at their practice Thursday night.\nThe offense is almost set for the tournament. Junior Laurie Gardner will be their setter. Senior Amanda Welter starts as their right outside hitter. Senior Laura Dewitz will be in the middle as a blocker, and sophomore Hillary Toivonen as the back outside hitter. The rest of the spots are anticipated to be filled by freshmen.\nToday will be a new experience for the freshmen players. The day includes a light practice in which the team members will work on serving and passing. The team joins for a pre-game meal, then meets with the coaches to prepare for the game.\nThe team will then make its debut, and despite the expected battle it faces from Cincinnati, the Hoosiers hope to come away with a victory.\n"A win will give us confidence," Toivonen said. "We're a young team, and we are ready to play, we just don't know what to expect"
