As Indiana volleyball returns to action in 2026, head coach Steve Aird said, “We are proud of what we have done, but it wasn't the Super Bowl.” As Aird enters his ninth season at Indiana, expectations rise, coming off the Hoosiers' breakthrough 2025 season, when they set an NCAA program record with 25 wins and made the program's second Sweet Sixteen appearance.
Continuing that momentum, Indiana freshman setter Teodora Krickovic became the first freshman to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors. As the hunt continues this season, the Big Ten Volleyball Tournament will be taking place in Fishers, Indiana, for the first time ever and will be televised nationally.
"The car windshield is bigger than the rear view," Aird said.
The confidence from the Hoosiers' 2025 season remains after they beat some of the big ten's top competitors such as Purdue in a thrilling match, creating a huge highlight. While also securing some victories against Iowa and Maryland in conference play. This team has embodied that same consistent drive this off season traveling to tournament play in Turkey, Spain and Portugal. There is no one else more confident than Aird.
“We can compete with anyone in the country,” Aird said. “We are a program that develops talent.”
Krickovic and Jaidyn Jager both earned Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors and will be returning this season.
Those returns continue the contributions from the younger players that will help Indiana reach the next level and also transfer to the rest of Indiana's younger talent and returning players to build the team's confidence.
In 2026, Indiana brought four newcomers to the roster, two freshmen and two transfers.
“Our philosophy is real simple: we want to play hard and play fast. It begins and ends with setting,” Aird said.
Instilling this remark, Krickovic, Indiana’s setter, won a silver medal this summer with her national team in Serbia.
Bottom line, this team's talent and unwavering spirit have exactly what it takes to make it to the top. Jager and setter Sade Llawole showcased this confidence at Big Ten Volleyball Media Days, as Jager showed in a response to a question about going from being a hunter to being hunted.
“In this conference,” Jager said, “you always have to be the hunter.”
Ensuring that this team's integrity of last season and team chemistry snowballing into this season will only blossom as female athletes on and off the court.
Aird's mantra, “it's will over skill,” Is perfectly exemplified by Ilawole. She proves this daily, leading by example with her unwavering determination. Her dedication and leadership have rightfully earned her spot this year as one of the three team captains for this season, inspiring her teammates through her relentless efforts.
Ilawole was asked as an undersized setter how she's been able to approach this ultra-physical Big Ten environment and what her mentality is.
“You can't think of yourself as undersized,” Ilawole said, “you have to play bigger than yourself.”
Ilawole emulates playing bigger than she is, which goes past just volleyball. Ilawole has shown persistence as captain on the court with a fast-paced lifestyle, showing interest in sports production off the court.
Jager said the support of Ilawole and others is key to her own development.
“I wouldn’t be able to do any of it without my teammates,” Jager said.
Capitalizing on this team's chemistry, it's more than just volleyball; the connection and mindset of each Indiana Hoosier is bringing to each other as women and athletes and to the community of Indiana. The talent here at Indiana is clear, as this season plans to start hot with some notable matches against UCLA on Sept. 24, Nebraska on Oct. 8, Penn State on Oct. 25 and Purdue on Nov 17.
