After successfully completing a reverse sweep against the University of Miami on Friday to claim its first win of the season, Indiana volleyball extended its winning streak Saturday against Virginia Commonwealth University.
The Hoosiers carried momentum from Friday’s match into their contest with the Rams and flew past VCU. In just its second match of the season, and its second match of the Canes Classic, Indiana swept VCU 3-0 at the Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables, Florida.
Freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager recorded match highs with 11 kills and 15 points. Senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum and senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles were close behind with 10 and nine kills, respectively. Freshman setter Teodora Kričković recorded a game-high 30 assists.
Defensively, freshman libero Audrey Jackson tallied eight digs, while Kričković and Alonso-Corcelles had seven and six digs, respectively. Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray had a game-high six blocks, and Jager recorded five blocks.
The Ram’s took the first points of the first set with a kill from senior outside hitter Alicja Jaryszek, which was followed by a service ace from graduate student defensive specialist/libero Haruka Sugimoto. The Hoosiers then went on a 5-0 run that included three straight kills from Alonso-Corcelles.
But Indiana and VCU continued to keep the score close, until Indiana pulled away, winning 5 of the last 7 points. The Hoosiers won the game 25-20 on the back of a strong defensive performance that included six blocks.
To start the second set, the Cream and Crimson found themselves behind 1-4 after a service ace and two kills from VCU and an error from Jager.
Indiana slowly started to dig into VCU’s lead. A kill by senior middle blocker Madi Sell tied the game at 11, and a kill from Tatum — assisted by Kričković — put the Hoosiers ahead 12-11.
And once it had the lead, Indiana did not let it go. The Hoosiers finished the second set 25-20 and entered the third set looking to sweep the Rams in their second match of the season.
At the beginning of the third set, Indiana and VCU remained close. But the Hoosiers’ offense began to heat up with a kill from Jager, which gave Indiana a 10-7 advantage. The Rams continued to fight back, eventually taking a 21-20 lead after a service ace from senior outside hitter Kalina Pylinska.
But Indiana then went on a 5-0 run to end the set and secured its sweep of VCU.
Indiana will return to Bloomington to continue its season with the Indiana Invitational. The Hoosiers will take on Southeast Missouri State University at 7 p.m. Thursday. Then, they will face Nothern Kentucky University at 10 a.m. and Western Michigan University at 7 p.m. Friday. All games will be played in Wilkinson Hall and will be streamed on Big Ten+.
Follow reporters Savannah Slone (@savrivers06) and Kasey Watkins (@KaseyWatki8773) for updates throughout the Indiana volleyball season.
