“We. Are. Texas.”
Those were the chants Indiana volleyball heard as the University of Texas at Austin put the ball away to end the set and game of the 2025 NCAA volleyball regional semifinals. It was the final moment of what was a historic 2025 season for the Cream and Crimson.
And while that point may have ended the record-breaking season, it didn’t end the momentum the volleyball program generated.
To kick off the 2026 season, the now No. 16 ranked Hoosiers will pick right back up where they left off by playing another top opponent. Indiana will head down south to face the preseason American Volleyball Coaches Association’s No.7 ranked University of Louisville at 7 p.m. Friday at L&N Federal Credit Union Arena in Louisville, Kentucky.
The game will be the first battle of the Hoosiers’ gauntlet of a schedule, one that includes 10 preseason ranked opponents, showing Indiana wants to play the best of the best this season.
The match serves as the earliest top 25 matchup the team has ever played and just the third ranked season opener opponent in program history. The Hoosiers also opened against No. 5 Nebraska in 2021 and No. 24 Long Beach State University in 2008.
This year, Indiana received its first ever AVCA preseason ranking, coming in at No. 16 ahead of the matchup. Last season, the Hoosiers finished with a 25-8 overall record and a No. 13 AVCA ranking, marking both their best record and highest ever poll ranking.
However, the Hoosiers lost one of their most valuable pieces from that roster in the graduation of Candela Alonso-Corcelles. The outside hitter became the winningest player in program history last season and ranks top 10 in all-time kills at Indiana. Alonso-Corcelles also led the team in kills and kills per set in 2025.
But, luckily for Indiana head coach Steve Aird, he will return a lot of the talent from last year’s squad, while still bringing in more meaningful pieces. In the offseason, Indiana brought in two transfer portal players, as well as two incoming freshmen.
The Hoosiers will look to take its success from last season into its opening game Friday against the Cardinals.
Meet the Opponent
Louisville opened its season earlier than the Hoosiers, already playing two top-10 road games. On Aug. 21, the Cardinals defeated the reigning National Champions No. 8 Texas A&M University in four sets. Then, on Aug. 22, the Cardinals fell to No. 6 Wisconsin in three sets.
In its limited games so far, Louisville has averaged a hitting percentage of .238, while holding its opponents hitting to an average of .226. Thus far, senior outside hitter Chloe Chicoine leads the Cardinals in total kills and kills per set. Chicoine tallied 29 kills across the two games, averaging 4.14 kills per set. Sophomore outside hitter Chloe Meester is close behind with 20 kills and 2.86 kills per set.
For Indiana, the matchup will be the first of four-consecutive contests against Atlantic Coast Conference or Southeastern Conference opponents to begin the year. In total, the Hoosiers will play 22 of their 26 regular season matches against Power Four schools.
The game against Louisville will set the tone for a season in which Indiana wants to continue growing the momentum.
The Cardinals lead the all-time series 9-7. Indiana and Louisville last met in 2008 in Bloomington, when the Hoosiers came away with a five-set victory. Indiana has won the last two matchups and will look to continue that streak into Friday.
The first serve of Indiana’s season is set for 7 p.m. Friday and can be streamed on the ACCNX.
Follow reporters Savannah Slone (@savrivers06 and srslone@iu.edu) and Kasey Watkins (@KaseyWatki87731 and kaslwatk@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana volleyball season.
