Firing balls around defenders and setting teammates up at the net was something that Indiana missed in the last game.
Junior outside hitter Avry Tatum and senior setter Camryn Haworth were sidelined for the match against Wisconsin on Oct. 24 due to them being “banged up,” according to Indiana head coach Steve Aird.
Sunday against Northwestern, both emerged from the tunnel in full uniform for warmups, rejoining the starting lineup. Their returns didn’t disappoint. Their offensive performances helped Indiana win in a three-set match against the Wildcats on Sunday night inside Wilkinson Hall in Bloomington.
Indiana’s victory snapped a five-game losing streak through a challenging stretch, with four of the losses coming against ranked opponents. Returning home to face an unranked team brought a fresh mindset to the Hoosiers.
“I think we went into practice yesterday knowing we needed that win, and we weren’t going to lose,” sophomore libero Ramsey Gary said postgame.
Tatum returned to the lineup after sporting a boot against Wisconsin, while Haworth showed no visible sign of injury. Aird compared their absences to load management in the NBA. Haworth said it felt great to be back on the floor after not practicing in six days. The setter recorded 39 assists against the Wildcats.
Aird said he was grateful Tatum and Haworth returned, but didn’t know either one of them would play, as they were essentially gametime decisions.
While the Hoosiers’ swept the Wildcats, Northwestern put up a fight in every set, losing each by 5 points or less. Despite holding a 4-14 record, Aird said he was impressed with Northwestern as its record isn’t indicative of its play.
Indiana took control of the game offensively at the net, as it recorded 47 kills. Junior outside hitters Candela Alonso-Corcelles and Tatum led the team with 15 and 14 kills, respectively. The Wildcats couldn’t keep up with the Hoosiers’ fast-paced offense, as they only recorded 34 kills.
While the Hoosiers’ offense was firing on all cylinders, the Wildcats tallied eight blocks. However, Indiana stifled Northwestern up at the net in the third set, allowing one block but making six in the third set.
“I don’t think we’ll be the best blocking team in the Big Ten because of our size,” Aird said. “But we can affect the match certainly.”
Indiana’s victory over Northwestern brings it back to .500 at 10-10 now halfway through conference play. Aiming for their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010, the Hoosiers know they’ll need strong performances in the second half of the Big Ten season.
“We’re going to have to go .500 down the stretch to validate the risk I took in the preseason with the RPI and playing really good teams,” Aird said. “We’re in a good position. The schedule is always hard in the Big Ten.”
Indiana will go on the road for its next two matches, playing Rutgers at 7 p.m. Friday and Maryland at 7 p.m. Saturday. Both games will stream on Big Ten+.
Follow reporter Parker Rodgers (@parrod153) for updates throughout the Indiana volleyball season.
