Indiana volleyball traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina, to play in the NC State Classic against Western Carolina University, North Carolina State and Texas Christian University. The Hoosiers entered William Neal Reynolds Coliseum Thursday and Friday with hopes of extending their two-match winning streak but were unable to beat all three opponents.
In Indiana’s first match against WCU, sophomore outside hitter Maddy Saris, junior middle blocker Savannah Kjolhede and sophomore setter Camryn Haworth delivered a series of kills allowing the Hoosiers to take a 21-20 lead in the first set. Saris ended the game with a kill, closing out the first set 25-22.
The Hoosiers looked sharp in the start of the second set, as they led 6–1 with the help of back-to-back kills from freshman outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles. The Catamounts evened the score at 17 apiece, but Indiana put together a 6-0 run. Indiana senior middle blocker Kaley Rammelsberg supplied a final kill on an assist from Haworth to win the second set 25-20.
Despite the team’s best efforts, the Hoosiers lost the third set 25-22. The fourth set was a battle, as the two teams were tied at 24, but Alonso-Corcelles and junior outside hitter Morgan Geddes contributed the final two points with back-to-back kills. Indiana won the fourth set 26-24 and the match 3-1. Haworth, Saris and Alonso-Corcelles had an impressive first match, each collecting a double-double.
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In their second match against NC State, Saris and Rammelsberg provided early kills to aid the Hoosiers to a 14-12 lead. The Wolfpack was forced to take a timeout after Geddes had back-to-back kills and a block, and Indiana held the lead 17-14. However, Indiana could not keep control of the set and lost 25-23.
With a kill from Haworth in the second set, Indiana managed to tie the game at 23. The Wolfpack responded with a 2-0 run, and the Hoosiers lost the second set 25-23.
In the final set of the match, Indiana was within four points of NC State thanks to junior outside hitter Grae Gosnell’s serves but could not clench the lead. The Wolfpack won the third set 25-18 and Indiana lost the match in straight sets.
Indiana played its final match Friday morning against Texas Christian University. The Hoosiers fell short to the Horned Frogs in the first two sets 24-26 and 20-25.
A service ace and kill from Saris gave Indiana a 10-7 lead in the third set. With aid from unforced errors on TCU’s part, Indiana extended the lead to 18-14. The Hoosiers won the third set 27-25 and kept the match alive.
Haworth recorded a pair of kills, contributing to a 16-11 Indiana lead in the fourth set. The Hoosiers won 25-18 and tied the set score 2-2 after a service ace by Saris.
Indiana was up 6–3 in the shortened fifth set, but a TCU run was too much to bounce back from. The Hoosiers fell short to the Horned Frogs and lost the final set 13-15.
The Hoosiers will wrap up their non-conference play in Bowling Green, Kentucky, next weekend in the Western Kentucky Invitational. Indiana will face Texas A&M University at 2 p.m. ET Friday.
Follow reporter Marnie Sara (@marns45) for updates throughout the game and the rest of the Indiana volleyball season.
