At 24-24 in the fourth set, Indiana volleyball rallied to push No. 20 USC into deuce. During a timeout Sunday at Wilkinson Hall, the crowd’s excitement was palpable, clapping along to Queen’s “We Will Rock You.”
But in two long rallies during deuce with both teams diving to keep the ball in the air, USC graduate outside hitter Ally Batenhorst took control with a block and kill, quickly ending Indiana’s chance to force a fifth set.
With the loss, the Hoosiers fell in four sets (24-26, 25-17, 15-25, 24-26), remaining winless against top 25 opponents.
Indiana held off most of the Trojans at the net, with only Batenhorst and redshirt junior middle blocker Tyrah Arail making recording double digit kills. For head coach Steve Aird, it felt like déjà vu as Batenhorst commanded both sides of the court with 20 kills and 18 digs — recalling Friday's match against Purdue when junior outside hitter Eva Hudson delivered 26 kills for the Boilermakers.
“Again, 14 for them with 20 kills kind of was the difference,” Aird said postgame about Batenhorst. “Didn't have an answer for her. I felt the same way against Purdue, it was just one player we didn't have an answer for.”
Behind the service line, USC struggled as it recorded 18 errors across the four sets, with half of them coming in the first set. On the other side, Indiana shined, tallying nine aces and only eight errors. Senior setter Camryn Haworth earned three aces in a row during the second set after aiming her serves at the Trojan libero.
Despite winning the first and third sets, the Trojans appeared rattled by the energy from Hoosier fans and a small but lively student section. Senior setter Mia Tuaniga, who usually looks up at the ceiling during her serving routine, seemed frustrated, glancing toward the student section as they heckled her and even responding to a group of students in roach costumes.
USC’s offensive strength centered around its fast-paced approach, keeping Indiana on its toes and forcing quick adjustments at the net. While Aird mentioned that the team identified the Trojans “unique” style of play, the Hoosiers didn’t execute.
A key element of USC’s attack was its tip coverage, which Aird felt the referees didn’t call often, as only one lift was called on Batenhorst in the second set. Aird said this tactic, while effective, is uncommon and more characteristic of specific regional playstyles out west.
“It's just something we don't see in our gym a lot, we don't do a lot,” Aird said. “And sometimes those get called for lifts and throws. Not many of those got called tonight. It was kind of, they let the kids play, so to speak, which is fine.”
Even with the loss, Aird is proud of his teams’ efforts to consistently compete with some of the toughest teams in the Big Ten at Wilkinson Hall, but he also wants to raise the standards for his group so the Hoosiers can get over the hump.
“I think we know we're a pretty good team,” Aird said. “I think we're disappointed we haven't gotten over the hump, and when you're disappointed you didn't beat No. 9 and No. 20, we're hoping the standards are higher.”
Indiana will take a break from Wilkinson Hall as it travels to take on Iowa at 7 p.m. Thursday in Iowa City, followed by another top 25 team in No. 2 Nebraska at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in Lincoln.
Follow reporter Parker Rodgers (@parrod153) for updates throughout the Indiana volleyball season.
