Over the weekend, the previously No. 20 Indiana Women’s Volleyball team hit the road for a two-match swing through Michigan — and both contests ended in sweeps. Unfortunately for the Hoosiers, only one went their way. After climbing into the AVCA Top 25 for the first time this season, Indiana entered the weekend with momentum and a growing national reputation, eager to prove they belong among the elite, which has been a common theme across Indiana athletics.
Their first stop came Friday night (Oct. 10) in Ann Arbor, where the Hoosiers set the tone early and never looked back, sweeping the Wolverines 3-0 (25–23, 25–17, 25–19). The victory marked another statement performance from an IU squad that continues to play with confidence and chemistry.
Indiana’s dynamic outside hitters — freshman Jaidyn Jager and senior Candela Alonso-Corcelles — powered the offense once again, combining for 30 kills (15 apiece) and keeping Michigan’s defense on its heels all night. Freshman setter Teodora Kričković was the glue holding it all together, dishing out 35 assists to orchestrate the attack while chipping in four kills of her own.
The Wolverines came out swinging behind graduate outside hitter Allison Jacobs, taking an early 21–19 lead in the opening set. But the Hoosiers responded with poise and fire, closing the frame on a 6–2 run — and from there, the momentum belonged entirely to Indiana.
Defensively, IU’s presence at the net grew stronger as the night went on. Sophomore middle blocker Ella Boersema led the charge with five of the team’s eight blocks, while Kričković showed her grit on the back line with eight digs. Alonso-Corcelles and Jager each added seven, rounding out a complete team effort on both ends of the floor.
Indiana’s win in Ann Arbor pushed them to 5–0 in Big Ten play (14–1 overall), marking the best conference start in program history. Under head coach Steve Aird, the Hoosiers have continued to raise the bar, building a culture of consistency, confidence, and competitive fire. But as the weekend wore on, Indiana’s hot streak came to an abrupt halt in East Lansing.
Sunday afternoon (Oct. 12), the No. 20 (now ranked #22) Hoosiers faced off against a tough Michigan State squad — and the Spartans handed them their first Big Ten loss of the season in straight sets (25–21, 25–19, 25–18). Playing on the road in the Big Ten is never easy, and Spartan Nation made sure to remind IU of that.
It was one of those matches where little seemed to go right for the Hoosiers. Michigan State’s defense swarmed the net, forcing Indiana into uncomfortable swings and holding them to their lowest hitting percentage of the season (.067). The Hoosiers committed 28 attacking errors and were blocked nine times — uncharacteristic numbers for a team that’s been so clean and composed offensively.
Despite the struggles, senior opposite Avry Tatum continued to battle, tallying eight kills to lead the team. Ella Boersema was one of the few bright spots on the stat sheet, posting a .462 hitting percentage with eight kills of her own. Freshman standout Jaidyn Jager added seven kills before being subbed out late in the match for fellow freshman Charlotte Vinson, who made her collegiate debut.
Michigan State didn’t just dominate defensively — their offense came ready to make a statement. The Spartans hit .256 as a team and dictated the tempo from the start, led by freshman outside hitter Bianca Mumcular, who tallied eight kills. Indiana struggled to find its rhythm defensively, with Boersema and Tatum each recording two blocks in an effort to slow down the Spartans’ balanced attack.
It was a tough setback for Coach Steve Aird’s squad, marking their first Big Ten loss of the season. With the defeat, Indiana drops to 5–1 in conference play, while Nebraska (16–0, 6–0 B1G) remains the league’s lone unbeaten team. But there’s no time to dwell — the Hoosiers have a marquee rivalry matchup on deck.
Indiana has now fallen to No. 22 and will look to bounce back on Thursday (Oct. 16) when they face Purdue (13-3, 4-2 B1G) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis at 7 p.m. ET. The in-state rivalry always carries extra weight, and this year’s clash adds even more intrigue with both programs fighting for position in a stacked Big Ten race. After the showdown, IU returns home for a three-match stretch in Bloomington — but for now, all eyes are on the Boilermakers.