Friday night in Los Angeles had all the makings of something special. The Indiana Hoosiers rolled into town for a daunting West Coast weekend against No. 17 USC and No. 24 UCLA — and they wasted no time making noise. Opening the trip with a late-night showdown against the Trojans, Indiana showed grit, poise, and plenty of firepower in a stunning four-set victory.
After a sluggish first set, the Hoosiers regrouped and completely flipped the match’s momentum, taking the next three sets (15–25, 25–22, 25–19, 25–20) in commanding fashion. Their win over No. 17 USC not only moved them to 12–1 on the season (3–0 Big Ten) but also showcased the kind of composure and chemistry that’s turning heads across the country.
Senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum and freshman outside Jaidyn Jager led the charge — and fittingly, both did it on home soil. The Southern California natives were electric, combining for 26 kills while pacing Indiana’s attack with rhythm and confidence. Tatum was nearly unstoppable on the right side, posting a blistering .357 hitting percentage, while Jager’s six-rotation steadiness and fearless swings from the pin helped steady the Hoosiers after the shaky start.
Indiana’s turnaround wasn’t just about offense, though. The Hoosiers cleaned up their first-contact game, served more aggressively, and began to dictate the tempo in transition — a formula that rattled USC and silenced the Galen Center crowd.
Their offensive firepower was vital in shifting the momentum, but defense was where Indiana truly dug in — literally. Tatum wasn’t just scoring; she was all over the net and floor, adding three blocks and three digs to her stat line. Jager’s back-row effort was equally impressive, tallying nine digs and a block, continuing to prove that her competitiveness and athleticism extend far beyond her attacking role. The Hoosiers’ defensive intensity became contagious, feeding their confidence point by point.
Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray anchored the front line with a career-high seven blocks, timing her reads perfectly to shut down USC’s outside hitters. But the biggest emotional jolt of the night came from junior middle blocker Ava Vickers, who made her season debut after missing the first 12 matches recovering from offseason surgery. Vickers wasted no time making her presence felt, notching four kills and contributing to five blocks in a comeback performance that clearly lifted the team’s energy.
At the heart of it all was freshman setter Teodora Kričković, who once again showcased her composure and creativity. Kričković dished out 33 assists, added six kills, six digs, and even a block — a stat line that reflects her growing command of Indiana’s offense and her ability to keep opponents guessing.
The Hoosiers’ collective effort down the stretch sealed the upset in emphatic fashion, marking another step forward in a season that’s quickly turning heads nationally. In the most recent AVCA rankings, Indiana sat just outside the Top 25 with 50 votes (trailing only Colorado’s 77). But with a win against No. 24 UCLA on Saturday night (10 p.m. EST), the Hoosiers could very well crash the Top 20 — and make an even louder statement that Indiana volleyball has officially arrived.