Indiana Volleyball’s red-hot start to the season rolled on Wednesday night with a 3–1 victory (25-22, 16-25, 25-19, 25-18) over Northwestern in the Hoosiers’ Big Ten opener. Road wins in conference play never come easy, but Indiana proved up to the task, improving to 10–1 overall and 1–0 in conference play.
The Hoosiers traveled to Evanston, Illinois, where success has been rare in recent memory. In fact, this marked Indiana’s first road win over Northwestern in nearly a decade. Behind an explosive offensive performance, IU broke through, powered by freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager, who notched a team-high 17 kills. Jager continues to impress in her debut season, blending quickness, athleticism, and a heavy swing that makes her one of the Big Ten’s most intriguing young talents.
She wasn’t the only Hoosier making noise. Senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum turned in a standout performance, delivering timely kills and sparking momentum with a strong service run early in the match.
“That’s what she (Tatum) is,” head coach Steve Aird said postgame. “The biggest jump in the last couple years to now is her maturity [and] her ability to take over a match. She had a great service run early and she has a world class arm. She wants to be a pro. When she plays like that, she is a pro. I thought she did a really nice job.”
Tatum’s impact stretched beyond leadership. The senior opposite hitter finished the night with 14 kills on an impressive .360 hitting percentage, a testament to her efficiency and poise under pressure. Her determination and drive toward a professional career were on full display in Evanston.
Both squads brought plenty of offensive firepower, but Indiana’s resilience proved decisive. After stumbling in the second set, the Hoosiers regrouped, leaned on each other, and refused to let momentum slip away.
“I told them that we just need to play Indiana Volleyball,” Tatum said following the game. “[That] second set just wasn’t who we are. So, I looked at everyone and was like, ‘Indiana Volleyball. Look at each other, lean on each other.’ And I feel like that’s what we did. We just made the switch. We just have to play. We just got to go. I think the second set was just a little bit shaky. Granted Northwestern is amazing, but we just had to pick it up.”
That switch made all the difference, as Indiana controlled the final two sets to close out the match. Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles turned in a balanced performance with 13 kills and 12 digs, while freshman setter Teodora Kričković directed the offense with 47 assists and added 10 digs of her own. Sophomore middle blocker Ella Boersema continued her efficient play, hitting .538 with eight kills and contributing four blocks.
The win not only strengthens Indiana’s Big Ten start, but it could also help boost their standing in the AVCA Top 25. The Hoosiers are already receiving votes (22), with only UCLA (57), Georgia Tech (49), and Oregon (33) sitting ahead of them outside the rankings. With Miami — whom Indiana defeated earlier this season — now slotted at No. 24, a breakthrough into the poll feels imminent.
For now, the Hoosiers turn their focus back home. They’ll return to Bloomington for their second Big Ten matchup this weekend, hosting the Washington Huskies on Saturday, September 27 at 7 p.m. ET on B1G+.