Ava Vickers didn’t play in Indiana volleyball’s first 12 matches of the season. The junior middle blocker has been recovering from offseason surgery.
Vickers played through her injury last year and started all 20 of the Hoosiers’ Big Ten matches, but the injury has sidelined her for the beginning parts of this season. In her absence, the Hoosiers went 11-1 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play, which marked their best conference start since 2003.
While Vickers didn’t start the match and didn't make an appearance until the end of the first set, she immediately left her mark on the contest as the Hoosiers defeated No. 17 USC in four sets Friday night at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.
The Hoosiers were down 14-22 to the Trojans when Vickers entered the first game and subbed out sophomore middle blocker Ella Boersema. USC's set lead was insurmountable for Indiana, but the Hoosiers went on to win the next three sets in dominant fashion.
But when Vickers entered the second set with the Hoosiers holding a 16-15 advantage over the Trojans, she made her presence known.
After she took to the court, Indiana went on a 3-1 scoring run and Vickers played a role in each of those points for the Hoosiers.
Vickers' first point came as a block assist with senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum. The duo deniedUSC’s redshirt sophomore outside hitter London Wijay, who collected nine kills throughout the night.
Then, freshman setter Teodora Kričković passed the ball to Vickers, who pushed it over the net to a spot where no Trojan could reach. Vickers followed up the kill with another block assist. This time, she and senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles rejected the match's leading point getter — sophomore middle blocker Mia Tvrdy.
Indiana’s run — powered by Vickers — gave the Hoosiers a 3-point lead and forced sixth-year USC head coach Brad Keller to use a timeout.
At the timeout, Vickers was showered with love from some of her teammates. Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray and junior setter Luca Fickell ran to Vickers, while others came and gave Vickers high fives.
The celebration of Vickers continued throughout much of the night — especially when she recorded one of the five blocks or four kills she collected throughout the match.
In the Hoosiers’ early matches, eighth-year head coach Steve Aird highlighted Vickers and the contributions she can make when available and healthy for Indiana, and the added depth she brings to the middle blocker position.
Vickers isn’t the only middle blocker to struggle with injury so far this season. Boersema was limited to begin the season as she recovered from an injury, but she’s played an increased role with senior middle blocker Madi Sell also dealing with an injury. Gray has played in the most sets for Indiana this season at the middle blocker position.
The Hoosiers have been able to rely on Boersema as of late, like in their win over Washington on Sept. 27. However, Boersema played in just two of Indiana’s four sets Friday night and only recorded 1 point — a service ace in the first set.
Along with Vickers, Gray also stepped up with Boersema struggling Friday night. She tallied two kills and seven total blocks. Her performance against USC brought her to 46 total blocks this season, which marks a team high for Indiana.
While Vickers’ minutes were limited Friday night, it was a sign of getting the middle blockers healthy again and shows what they can bring to the court when they are. Getting the middle blockers available to play again will be crucial for Indiana, especially as Big Ten play ramps up against high-powered offensive teams. In those situations, the Hoosiers will have to rely on their middle blockers to stop opposing teams’ attacks.
That challenge will start Saturday against another top ranked Big Ten opponent in No. 24 UCLA. Indiana will be tasked with stopping senior outside hitter Cheridyn Leverette, who averages 3.47 kills per set.
The match between the Hoosiers and the Bruins is slated for 10 p.m. EDT Saturday at the Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial in Los Angeles and will stream 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.
