Following its win over then-No. 19 Penn State on Nov. 2, No. 18 Indiana volleyball is slated to take on two more Big Ten opponents over the weekend, one of which is ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association top 25.
The Hoosiers will host Iowa Friday night at Wilkinson Hall in Bloomington before traveling to Madison, Wisconsin, for a match against No. 11 Wisconsin on Sunday.
Indiana reached its highest ranking in program history in the AVCA poll released Monday after sweeping the Nittany Lions and Maryland last weekend. The Hoosiers rose six spots from No. 24 to No. 18. Their previous program record was No. 20, which the Hoosiers set this season after recording wins over USC on Oct. 3 and UCLA on Oct. 4.
The biggest factor in Indiana’s success this season has been its trio of pin hitters, seniors Candela Alonso-Corcelles and Avry Tatum alongside freshman Jaidyn Jager.
All three attackers rank in the top 20 in the Big Ten in kills per set. Alonso-Corcelles averages 3.53 kills per set this season, while Jager and Tatum have 3.42 and 3.34 kills per set, respectively.
Not only are the three recording points at a high rate, but they are also doing it with an efficient hitting percentage. Alonso-Corcelles, Jager and Tatum all hold attack rates at or above .240. Tatum leads the way for the trio with a .347 hitting percentage.
The attackers’ success has largely benefited from freshman setter Teodora Kričković. Throughout the Hoosiers’ 22 matches this season, eighth-year head coach Steve Aird and Kričković’s teammates have continued to credit her for Indiana’s offensive efficiency. She ranks fifth in the NCAA Division I in assists per set, and her mark of 10.80 assists per set is the highest among freshmen.
The pair of weekend matches gives Indiana the opportunity to build on its already historic season. Against Wisconsin, the Hoosiers could record their fourth road win over a ranked opponent. Their three ranked road victories — over USC, UCLA and Penn State — already mark a single-season program record.
Meet the Hawkeyes
Iowa enters the contest winning three of its last four matches; however, the Hawkeyes still rank in the bottom five of the Big Ten standings. With head coach Jim Barnes at the helm, Iowa holds a 13-11 overall record, but just a 4-8 mark in conference play.
The Hawkeyes picked up a notable win over Michigan State — which Indiana lost to — on Oct. 24. The Hawkeyes fell in the first matchup between the two programs on Oct. 10, but flipped the script in the second contest. Iowa took the first, second and fourth sets to defeat Michigan State for the first time since 2022.
The Hoosiers will be tasked with slowing down graduate student outside hitter Chard’e Vanzandt. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga transfer has a team-high 3.02 kills per set this season with a hitting percentage of .221.
Defensively, junior middle blocker Hannah Whittingstall leads the Hawkeyes with 105 total blocks this season. The mark ranks fourth in the Big Ten.
Meet the Badgers
Wisconsin sits just one spot ahead of Indiana in the current Big Ten standings. The Badgers boast a 17-4 overall record with a 10-3 conference mark.
Nine of Wisconsin’s 21 total contests have been ranked matches, and the Badgers have won five of those. Most recently, Wisconsin defeated No. 22 Minnesota in four sets Wednesday.
Wisconsin senior outside hitter Mimi Colyer has been a dominant offensive force in collegiate volleyball this season. Her 5.20 kills per set ranks fifth in Division I volleyball and second in the Big Ten behind Penn State junior right side hitter Kennedy Martin.
The Badgers’ defensive efforts are led by senior middle blocker Carter Booth and redshirt senior middle blocker Alicia Andrew. Booth and Andrew have 85 and 82 total blocks, respectively, on the season.
The contest between Indiana and Iowa is slated for 6 p.m. Friday at Wilkinson Hall in Bloomington. The match between the Hoosiers and the Badgers is set for 2 p.m. Sunday in Madison, Wisconsin. Both contests 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.
