Indiana found themselves down 3-0 early in the third set.
In a sport that feeds off momentum and energy, the Hoosiers needed a spark quick to keep the lead from getting too far out of reach. On Friday, Indiana found that spark in freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager.
Jager tallied a kill to get the Hoosiers’ first point of the set and initiate a 6-2 scoring run, giving the lead back to Indiana. While it may just be one kill, the point signified Jager’s ability to give the Hoosiers a point when they need one the most. In a time when the offense was unable to execute a point, it’s crucial to have a player that can deliver in those moments.
Jager has shown her ability to be that player throughout the season, including during Indiana’s match against Loyola Chicago University on Sept. 12 where Jager tallied two service aces to spark an Indiana scoring run. She displayed those attributes once again in the Hoosiers three set victory over Michigan on Friday night at Cliff Keen Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Jager finished the night with an average hitting percentage of .440, 15 kills and seven digs. In addition to Jager’s performance, other Hoosiers pitched in to give Indiana an overall balanced offensive and defensive match.
Freshman setter Teodora Kričković tallied 35 assists, contributing to the team’s overall hitting percentage of .368 in the match. Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles had a strong showing as well with 15 kills and an attacking percentage of .333.
As a team, the Hoosiers accumulated 50 kills in just three sets, becoming the third time this season to go for at least 50 kills in a three-set contest. The other two times came in matches against Southeast Missouri State University and Northern Kentucky University.
While Jager ultimately led the team in errors, mistakes from freshmen are often expected and show how much room is still to grow.
So far this season, Jager has tallied at least 10 kills in 12 matches, including a career high 20 kills in the Hoosiers victory over SEMO on Sept. 4.
With seven freshmen on the Indiana roster, mistakes and errors have shown through at times this season. However, with the Hoosiers already off to their best start in conference play in program history and an overall record of 14-1, the freshmen will continue to improve and progress.
The Hoosiers are currently ranked 20th in the AVCA rankings, marking the highest rank in program history and the first time the program has entered the poll since 2010. Indiana is tied with No.1 ranked Nebraska for first place in the competitive conference standings. Seven Big Ten teams boast a top 25 rank, with two others, Illinois and UCLA, receiving votes in the poll.
The Hoosiers will need to keep getting contributions from all facets of the court as they continue through the season. Indiana will get a short time off before facing Michigan State at 1 p.m. Sunday in East Lansing, Michigan. The game will be streamed on Big Ten +.
Follow reporters Savannah Slone (@savrivers06 and srslone@iu.edu) and Kasey Watkins (@KaseyWatki8773 and kaslwatk@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana volleyball season.
