After a back-to-back sweep in Wilkinson Hall, Indiana volleyball is Sweet Sixteen bound for the first time in 15 years. After winning all three sets in its first-round victory against Toledo, Indiana swept Colorado on Friday.
Head coach Steve Aird gave credit to the home crowd’s atmosphere Friday.
“I will say one of the things I'm most proud of is how much volleyball has grown in Bloomington,” Aird said. “How much Indiana has embraced it. The crowds have been amazing. The student section has been amazing.”
Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles earned a team high of 16 kills, while freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager would follow with 15 kills. Both the veteran and rookie are having record breaking seasons and even stronger post season performances.
The freshman acknowledged her teammates and how trusting her coach has gotten them this far.
“We always had high hopes, and I mean, Steve told me from the first day, ‘We'll be here,’” Jager said, “and obviously, I trust him, but we would not be here without every single person on and off the court.”
In set one, Indiana’s offense had a shy start. Serves weren’t falling and the intensity of Colorado’s attacks were similar to top Big Ten teams, Aird said. Indiana still managed to win the set 25-20.
Set two started off neck-and-neck with Colorado but didn’t stay that way for long as Indiana pulled further and further away from Colorado as the set progressed. Indiana managed to pull past the Buffaloes in a 25-17 finish for set two.
Colorado continued to struggle to keep up with Indiana’s fast-paced offense but played set three as their fate depended on it. While Colorado had the lead most of the set, Indiana came through with a few last minute clutch plays the Indiana way — as a team.
Trailing 21-16, Indiana won seven of the next eight points to take the lead from the Buffaloes. Senior middle blocker Madi Sell had two back-to-back blocks that would give IU the lead for the first time ever in the third set 23-22.
With all the pressure being back on Indiana to not force a fourth set, Indiana pulled off solid defense to hold off the fast-paced team from out west. Ultimately, a match point kill from Jager and a missed dig from Colorado’s Ana Burilovic would win the set 25-23 and send the Hoosiers to round three of the NCAA Tournament.
It’s Indiana’s first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 2010, which was the first time in program history that the Hoosiers had made it that far. That team, led by All-American Ashley Benson, lost to USC in the Sweet Sixteen.
Indiana, the four seed in its regional, will look to continue to rewrite the record books by playing either Dec. 11 or 12 in the NCAA Tournament regional semifinals. The Hoosiers will play either top-seeded Texas or No. 8 Penn State.
