Looking to start the regular season on the right track, Indiana volleyball traveled to Coral Gables, Florida, to take on the University of Miami in its first matchup of the Canes Classic.
Although the Hoosiers found themselves trailing after the second set, they defeated the Hurricanes 3-2 on Friday with a late surge in the final three sets of the match. After an offseason with many roster changes, the Hoosiers’ starting lineup consisted of four returning players along with four freshmen — setter Teodora Kričković, middle blocker Victoria Gray, outside hitter Jaidyn Jager and libero Audrey Jackson.
Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles recorded a game-high 20 kills, followed by Jager’s 13 kills. In her regular season debut for the Hoosiers, Jager tallied 16 total points, five blocks and nine digs. With her 20 kills, Alonso-Corcelles now has over 1,000 career kills.
The Hoosiers got off to a hot start in the first set, with Kričković scoring on back-to-back serving aces, which put Indiana ahead 2-0.
However, Miami tied the set at 2-2 after an attack error from Jager. The Hurricanes did not look back.
While Indiana continued to fight and pulled within 1 point of Miami — due to successful attacks on offense and errors from the Hurricanes — the Hoosiers ultimately fell 18-25.
During the remaining four sets, Indiana proved to be a more competitive opponent. Miami started the second set 2-0 after an error from Indiana senior middle blocker Madi Sell and an ace serve from Miami graduate student outside hitter Jazmine Vergara.
The Hoosiers then scored 4 straight points off three kills and an ace. It went back and forth until Miami outscored Indiana 9-3 in the final moments of the set, and the Hoosiers lost the second set 25-17.
Like the second set, Indiana and Miami continued to trade scores for much of the third set, only this time the Hoosiers prevailed. Jager scored off an assist from Kričković to tie the set at 17. The Hoosiers went on to win the next point after a block from Jager and an error by Miami senior middle blocker Dalia Wilson.
Indiana went on to score 7 of the next 9 points in the game off four kills and three Miami errors, and the Hoosiers won 25-19.
Indiana carried its momentum into the next set, when it opened the game with back-to-back kills from Sell and senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum. The Hoosiers extended their lead to 7-3 after an attack error from Wilson, but that is when the Hurricanes began to fight back.
Miami tied the game at 11 with an ace from senior libero Naylani Feliciano and took the lead with an attack error from Tatum. But the Hoosiers remained in control of the match, keeping a tight game until they outscored the Hurricanes 4-1 in the final moments of the game, winning the fourth set 25-20.
Indiana looked to carry the momentum it gained in the second half into the match-deciding set.
And that’s what the Hoosiers did.
Indiana led Miami 4-3 before a kill from Alonso-Corcelles sparked a 6-0 run for the Hoosiers. The run consisted of two aces from graduate student outside hitter Jessica Smith and kills from three different Hoosiers — Alonso-Corcelles, Kričković and Gray — and gave Indiana a 10-3 lead.
The Hoosiers maintained that lead throughout the rest of the set. A kill from Tatum assisted by Kričković capped off a 15-11 set win to secure Indiana’s first match victory of the season.
The Hoosiers will now look to add another win to their record with their second match of the Canes Classic against Virginia Commonwealth University at 2 p.m. Saturday at Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables, Florida. The match will not be available to stream.
Follow reporters Savannah Slone (@savrivers06) and Kasey Watkins for updates throughout the Indiana volleyball season.
