Indiana Volleyball Stifles UCLA in a 3-0 Sweep

Within Wilkinson Hall, No. 18 Indiana volleyball made a statement Thursday night against the 9-2 UCLA Bruins. The pressure was high as Big Ten play began, but Indiana rose to the moment, keeping UCLA at arm’s length.  Led by outside hitter Jaidyn Jager, the Hoosiers sent UCLA packing with a 3-0 (27-25, 25-19, 25-21) victory. 

The Hoosiers have improved to 8-2 on the season and 1-0 in Big Ten play. Jager led the team in kills with 13, improving her career-long streak to 9 straight games with at least 10 kills. Her 11 digs gave her a double-double on the day. Outside hitter Sara Snowbarger came off the bench and hit .400, tallying nine kills on just 15 attempts. Her final kill of the game sealed the sweep for the Hoosiers. Setter Teodra Krikovi created opportunities for her teammates with 36 assists, while dominating from behind the service line, recording five of Indiana’s seven aces.

A neck-and-neck battle ensued during the first set between the Bruins and the Hoosiers. UCLA’s Vivian Hickman committed a service error, giving Indiana the first point of the game. Indiana’s Jaidyn Jager followed up with a kill. But UCLA’s Mija Bendziute responded with a kill of her own, bringing the score to 4-1. 

UCLA’s 4-0 run brought them within reach of the Hoosiers. However, with every step UCLA took, Indiana was one step ahead. UCLA’s first lead of the set resulted from an attack error by Sara Snowbarger, bringing the Bruins to 20-19 over the Hoosiers. However, a 3-0 run brought the Hoosiers to set point, 25-24. A kill by Brook Harwood kept UCLA hanging on, but another service error by UCLA and a kill by Ella Boersema allowed Indiana to claim the first set 27-25.

The second set went much more smoothly for the Hoosiers as they secured a 25-19 win over the Bruins. Indiana again opened the set with the first points, resulting from an impressive ace by Krikovi. Krikovi followed her own act and added two more consecutive aces to the scoreboard. Her streak ended with a service error to give UCLA their first point of the set. A kill from Maggie Li brought UCLA to equal Indiana’s score. However, UCLA’s momentum was short-lived as the Hoosiers steadily chipped away, denying the Bruins any chance to lead down the stretch in Set 2. 

The Hoosiers took the third and final set with a 25-21 victory. A kill by Victoria Gray would set the tone for a Hoosier 6-0 run, bringing them 16-8 over UCLA. An attack error by Boersema brought UCLA within reach, 23-20; however, fittingly, an assist from Krikovi set Snowbarger up for a game-sealing kill and a conference win.

Key Takeaways: 

Offensive Efficiency:

As a team, the Hoosiers completely outperformed the Bruins. Indiana hit .238 while the Hoosiers’ floor defense held UCLA to .150. The Hoosiers also capitalized more on opportunities, recording 45 kills, 10 more than the Bruins. The Hoosiers’ setting unit led by Krikovi was also a difference maker, as they tallied 42 assists compared to the Bruins 31. 

Indiana scored on more than half its serves, posting a 53.3% point scoring rate compared to UCLA’s 44.8%. 

Serving Efficiency:

In just three sets, the Hoosiers recorded seven aces and held the Bruins to just three. While the aces propelled the team forward, six service errors held UCLA within reach. The Hoosiers will need to decrease their service errors as they continue through the season. 

Hoosier Defense:

Led by Jager and Hannah Leftridge, Indiana outdug UCLA by 7. With nearly every UCLA attack, Indiana seemed to have an answer due to its fast transition defense. The Hoosiers also won the net battle with 9 total team blocks, six of which came from middle blocker Kiki Granberry. The Hoosiers’ aggressive defense disrupted any hope for UCLA to develop a rhythm. With only one blocking error, Indiana remained in control, ultimately deciding UCLA’s fate.