Indiana Volleyball Perfect in Home Openers

The 21st-ranked Indiana Volleyball (3-2) team hosted an invitational with Cal Poly and Eastern Illinois. All three teams played each other in matches played on Thursday and Friday. Indiana swept the first match against Cal Poly on Thursday night, and then Indiana got their second win of the invitational with a 3-0 win over Eastern Illinois. Indiana picked up their 24th and 25th consecutive wins against unranked opponents at home.

In the first match against Cal Poly, the Hoosiers saw an immediate boost from being back home. Wilkinson Hall was bumping, and the Hoosiers used this to jump out to a hot start. Indiana won the first set 25-11 and never looked back. Indiana won the next two sets with a score of 25-16 and 28-26. The final set was the closest of the three, but IU was still able to secure the sweep.

Indiana’s offense was eager for a statement win heading into this invite, and the team came through. The Hoosiers hit .378 in the three sets, including an absurd .700 in the first set. Second-year outside hitter Jaidyn Jager had 14 kills on a .400 hitting percentage and finished one dig (9) shy of a double-double. Second-year middle blocker Victoria Gray came alive late with nine kills on a .538 clip.

The Hoosiers put pressure on Cal Poly’s passers from the opening serve. It led to a team advantage in aces (8-2), digs (28-26), and blocks (11.0-4.0). Fifth-year middle blocker Kiki Granberry had her best night in an IU uniform with six kills and seven blocks. She and third-year opposite hitter Ella Boersema (5-0-12) were both errorless on 21 combined attempts. 

Second-year setter Teodora Kričković got all of her attackers involved in the team’s offensive effort. All five of them had at least five kills. It’s the ninth time in the last two years that IU has hit .375 or better in a match. Kričković finished the evening with 34 assists, five digs, four blocks, two aces, and two kills.

IU will look to complete the home weekend sweep tomorrow (Sept. 11) evening as Eastern Illinois visits Wilkinson Hall to wrap up this year’s Indiana Invitational. A win against the Panthers would ensure that IU starts with a record of at least 5-2 through seven games for the third consecutive year. 

In the second match of the invitational, Indiana won every set with scores of 25-16, 25-18, and 25-13. The Hoosiers extended their home win streak to 25 games.

Second-year setter Teodora Kričković guided the Hoosiers to a balanced offensive effort in the win. All five primary attackers had at least six kills, led by 14 (.429 hitting percentage) from second-year outside hitter Jaidyn Jager. Third-year opposite hitter Ella Boersema had eight kills and just one attacking error. IU’s .391 team hitting percentage is the highest in a single match since a win over Rutgers (.455 – Nov. 20, 2025) last year.

For the second straight night, IU scored its points in multiple fashions. 63 of its 75 points were earned by the team itself. The Hoosiers had 46 kills and added eight aces and nine total blocks. Six different players had at least one ace, with Jager and fifth-year middle blocker Kiki Granberry each tallying two. Boersema and Granberry both had a hand in a team high-five block.

IU starts the year at least 5-2 for the third consecutive season after Friday’s victory. Three of those wins (Texas A&M, Cal Poly, and Eastern Illinois) are against programs that made the NCAA Tournament last season. A full weekend off will get the team rested before heading to play Coastal Carolina next Friday (Sept. 18) in Conway, S.C.