NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kiki Granberry spent the last four seasons at Tennessee, where she was one of the nation's most efficient offensive players. The Indiana Hoosiers faced the Lady Vols in a quick match that lasted only three sets, and the Lady Vols swept the Hoosiers 25-23, 25-23 and 25-16.
“It’s not Kiki versus Tennessee, it’s Indiana versus Tennessee,” Indiana head coach Steve Aird said after the matchup.
Facing an opponent and former teammates for anyone is emotionally tough. Granberry, who had six kills and two blocks Sunday against her former team, has worked hard from the start, which made her a valuable addition to the Hoosier team. During her time on Rocky Top, Granberry was a career .376 hitter. In her junior season in 2024, she hit .455 with 189 kills and only 36 attacking errors, ranking second in the country in hitting percentage. Granberry’s energy energizes her teammates. Her stats and records are impressive, but on the court, she is a true leader who puts her team first.
“I think she wanted to have a lot of success today, so I think that’s a part of life,” Aird said. “The team is hurting a little right now because they wanted to be better for her.”
It starts and ends with the Hoosiers' team. Granberry is an athlete who can handle the chaos. She’s been able to handle the transition from The Lady Vols to Indiana while also coming off an injury and carrying her electric voice on the court. Granberry played only three matches her senior season before missing the rest of the season due to injury at Tennessee. Despite her season being cut short, she finished her Tennessee career with the second-highest career hitting percentage at .372 and ranks eighth in program history in career blocks per set at 1.00. She finished the season with nine kills, 12 blocks and 16 points. She recorded seven blocks and four kills in the season opener against South Florida and added five kills and two blocks in a match against No. 15 Purdue.
“I think Kiki is an amazing young woman,” Aird said. “I told her I've been in this situation where you move on from a program and play against them.”
Granberry is a great player, and she's already proved that this season with the Indiana Hoosiers. Granberry's toughness boosts her teammates’ energy, and Indiana's integrity grows as the season progresses. She has led the Hoosiers in kills alongside Jaidyn Jager and has made huge blocks in every match alongside Victoria Gray and Ella Boresema. Granberry has, and will continue to, thrive this season with her team. She and her teammates carry her name and the Hoosiers' name loudly with pride.
“Kiki is an amazing person,” Gray said. “She would do anything for us. She’s clearly an excellent teammate, so it stings a little in the locker room not to have her on this one.”
Indiana will continue to grow this season because of their dedication to each other. Tennessee is a strong team, and their communication helped them come out on top. As these players develop in the sport, they will move on to new teams and opportunities to grow as female athletes and young women. What lies ahead for Indiana will only boost their confidence as they face challenges and adversity together.
“I don’t think Kiki has anything to be ashamed of,” Aird said. “She’s a phenomenal player and competes hard. We play match five tomorrow.”
The season's chemistry is building for the Hoosiers. This loss is just part of the journey; they will keep pushing forward. This week, the Hoosiers will face USI on Monday, Cal Poly on Sept. 10, and Eastern Illinois on Sept. 11.
