It has been a long time coming, but Indiana Volleyball is finally back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in fifteen years. Not only did the Hoosiers earn their spot, but they claimed the No. 4 seed in their region and the right to host the first two rounds inside Wilkinson Hall in Bloomington. The first round took place on Thursday, December 4.
In his eighth year at the helm, head coach Steve Aird is overseeing his strongest season with the program. Now 24-7 overall and 14-6 in the Big Ten, Indiana opened the postseason with a confident performance against the Toledo Rockets. Each set turned into a tight, back-and-forth fight until the Hoosiers found their rhythm late and surged ahead. They completed the sweep (25-18, 25-15, 25-17) securing the program’s fifth ever NCAA Tournament victory.
“Super grateful for the opportunity to keep on playing in Wilkinson,” senior opposite Avry Tatum said after the match. “To have that number put next to our name as a four seed was really, really exciting for all of us. [In] the videos, we were more than ecstatic. It was insane. So, I think to have the opportunity to keep on playing for Hoosier nation is really awesome.”
The Hoosiers fed off the energy inside Wilkinson Hall, playing with confidence from the opening serve. Tatum helped set the tone on offense with 9 kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Only two Hoosiers finished with more points, freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager with 11 and senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles with 12. Alonso-Corcelles delivered a standout performance on both ends with 8 digs, while Jager posted 10 digs of her own to earn her sixth double-double of the season.
Indiana backed up its offensive rhythm with one of its strongest defensive outings of the year. The Hoosiers collected 45 digs and rejected nine shots at the net. Senior middle blocker Madi Sell and freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray each contributed to four blocks. Gray also added five kills of her own.
Their complete effort showed up in the serving game as well. Indiana fired in 10 aces, marking the fifth time this season they have reached double digits. Jager paced the team with three aces, continuing her all-around impact. From veterans to freshmen, everyone stepped up in the first round, something head coach Steve Aird was quick to highlight.
“The best part of the program is sitting beside me. It’s having veteran kids who are flat out great, and young kids who are as good as it gets in the country,” Aird said. “And the bookend of it has made the year exceptional and fun and very, very proud of our first tournament win in 15 years.”
Indiana continues to grow each week and is not ready for the journey to end. The seniors are determined to finish their final season on a high note, while the underclassmen are eager to contribute in any way possible to help make that happen.
The Hoosiers will return to Wilkinson Hall on Friday, December 5 for a second round showdown with the No. 5 seed Colorado Buffaloes. Colorado swept American University in its opening match and also swept Toledo earlier in the season. Both teams have evolved significantly since then, which sets the stage for a hard-fought and intense battle as the tournament continues.