Wilkinson Hall has waited a long time since the Hoosiers' record-setting 2025 season, and you could feel the energy. The Hoosiers faced Cal Poly in their home opener, the first of two games in the Indiana Invitational. The No. 21 Hoosiers went on to sweep the Mustangs in straight sets, 25-11, 25-16 and 28-26.
The Hoosiers (4-2) started strong and remained ahead in the first set. This was the first match where Ella Boersema didn’t start for the Hoosiers, as Audrey Jackson stepped in. Hannah Leftridge did an outstanding job on the floor for the Hoosiers, ensuring the ball stayed up. Boersema, Victoria Gray and Kiki Granberry recorded a total of eight blocks. The Indiana Hoosiers registered 14 kills in this set, leaving Cal Poly (3-3) well behind. The Hoosiers went on to take the set 25-11.
In the second set, the Indiana Hoosiers' student section was still buzzing after their dominant win in the first set. This set started more tightly than the previous one, with Cal Poly tying the score at 9-9. The Mustangs seemed to find momentum with Kendall Beshear and Emma Fredrick combining for nine kills at this point. The Hoosiers responded quickly and went on a 6-0 run to retake the lead and force the first timeout. Indiana maintained their momentum and easily won the set 25-16. Jaidyn Jager was the driving force of the Hoosier offense throughout this set as Teodora Kričković facilitated the attack.
In the third set, switching sides, the Hoosiers built an early but promising lead. Cal Poly later surprised the Hoosier crowd by coming back to take the lead during the middle of the third set. The back-and-forth rally led to the Hoosiers coming back from a 4-point deficit to win 28-26. As Wilkinson Hall roared for the final stretch, Indiana finished strong. Jager concluded the match with 14 kills, followed by Kričković with 34 assists.
The Indiana Hoosiers aim to make a strong run this season, just as they did in their historic 2025 campaign. Wilkinson Hall remains a key ingredient in this team's success, alongside Indiana's passionate community. The Indiana Invitational isn’t over; these Hoosiers plan to wrap it up on Friday against Eastern Illinois, continuing their winning streak. Later next week, Indiana will travel for the Chanticleer Classic, facing Coastal Carolina on Sept. 18 and NC State on Sept. 19.
