At full strength, Indiana volleyball would have four middle blockers. However, the current roster is down to just two.
Junior middle blocker Ava Vickers has been dealing with an offseason surgery that has sidelined her all season with the exception of two matches. Sophomore middle blocker Ella Boersema went down with a leg injury in the Hoosiers’ loss to Purdue on Oct. 16.
The injuries leave just freshman Victoria Gray and senior Madi Sell as the lone available middle blockers.
Through the injuries, Indiana displayed resilience in its 3-1 victory over Ohio State at Wilkinson Hall on Sunday.
In the absence of Vickers and Boersema, Gray and Sell’s role on the court has increased, and the two have not shied away from the challenge.
Against Ohio State on Sunday, Sell made an appearance in the starting lineup and finished the night with eight kills, three blocks and an overall average hitting percentage of .462.
In her last game against Purdue after the second set injury to Boersema, Sell accumulated a block and five kills in her time on the floor.
The middle blocker position has been a tough spot to get significant playing time due to the depth of the roster, but Sell is no stranger to the court.
“Yeah, I mean, she started most of last year. She’s been in matches early this year. We went from being really, really deep at that position to very, very not deep,” head coach Steve Aird said postgame. “So, I have total faith in her. She’s a pro. She’s a really good player.
In addition to the contributions from Sell, Gray has made her presence on the court known as well.
Gray had a career high 10-kill performance against Purdue and followed that up with four kills and four blocks against Ohio State.
“Vic Gray’s been really, really good. I mean, I knew she was going to be a great player,” Aird said. “I think she’s got a lot to learn, but with those two in the middle, we keep them healthy and they keep getting better, I feel very comfortable with both.”
While the Hoosiers struggled at times throughout the night, Indiana found a way to win in the end. A theme that has recurred throughout the season.
As a team, the Hoosiers finished the contest with 47 kills, nine blocks and an average attacking percentage of .221. The win moved Indiana’s record to 15-3 overall and 6-2 in the conference. Indiana has already matched its season win total from last year’s 15 wins, with 12 matches remaining.
The Hoosiers will have some time to rest before their next game scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday against Minnesota at Wilkinson Hall.
Follow reporters Savannah Slone (@savrivers06 and srslone@iu.edu) and Kasey Watkins (@KaseyWatki8773 and kaslwatk@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana volleyball season.
