After not playing in the first two sets, sophomore middle blocker Ella Boersema was subbed into the game for the first time in the third set when the Hoosiers were down 11-12 to UCLA.
In her short time on the court in the third, Boersema picked up two blocks and two kills. This performance resulted in eighth-year head coach Steve Aird putting her into the starting lineup in the fourth set, when she had key plays that helped propel Indiana over No. 24 UCLA at the Pauley Pavillion presented by Wescom Financial in Los Angeles.
After starting the fourth set down 9-2, the Hoosiers needed a shift in momentum if they wanted to avoid going into a short fifth set that is only played to 15 points.
While Boersema may not have been the leader in kills or hitting percentage, she led the team in blocks, with six in just a set and a half of action. Her points came at critical moments in the set and provided that spark the Hoosiers needed to defeat the Bruins in four sets.
Late in the fourth set, the Hoosiers went on an 8-0 run to pull away from the Bruins. During that run, Boersema tallied a block and a kill to give the Hoosiers a 21-17 lead. The middle blocker continued to make her presence at the net known, picking up two more additional blocks after the run to secure the 25-21 set victory over the Bruins.
While Boersema led the team in blocks, senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum wasn’t far behind with four on the night. The Hoosiers as a team racked up 13 blocks in total, which is the seventh time this season the team has recorded at least 10 blocks in a contest.
With the return of junior middle blocker Ava Vickers to the lineup on Oct. 4 after missing the first 12 games of the season due to an offseason surgery, playing time at the middle blocker position will be a fight considering the depth of talent on the roster. However, having a plentitude of players who can come off the bench and make an impact — like Boersema did — is a good sign for the Hoosiers.
Indiana will need contributions from all players moving forward if it wishes to stay on top of the conference rankings and continue its successful start to the season.
For the first time since 1985, Indiana is off to a 4-0 start in Big Ten play and is just one of three undefeated teams in conference play, alongside No. 1 Nebraska and No. 7 Wisconsin.
After picking up back-to-back wins over top 25 opponents over the weekend, the Hoosiers made a case for their own ranking in the top 25.
Indiana will have a few days to recover before facing Michigan at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at Cliff Kleen Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Follow reporters Savannah Slone (@savrivers06 and srslone@iu.edu) and Kasey Watkins (@KaseyWatki8773 and kaslwatk@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana volleyball season.
