On a cold Friday night, Indiana volleyball took on UCLA, a West Coast team it had only faced one other time in school history. Still, the Hoosiers had yet to secure a win against any of the Big Ten’s four new conference additions.
With students trickling off campus for Thanksgiving break, Wilkinson Hall lacked its usual energy — often a key advantage for Indiana.
Even without the Crimson Guard, the Hoosiers powered through and swept UCLA, snapping a four-match losing streak. Their last victory came against Maryland on Nov. 2.
With the losing streak behind them, junior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles said postgame she wanted to win the match for the seniors set to leave the program at the end of the season. She also credited head coach Steve Aird for delivering a message that instilled a new mentality in the team.
“He talked to us before the game and (said), ‘I feel like we have nothing to lose,’” Alonso-Corcelles said. “So, we have four more matches. We just need to give everything.”
The Hoosiers found success offensively at the net, capitalizing on the absence of UCLA’s graduate student middle blocker Anna Dodson, who leads the Bruins with 94 blocks this season. With Dodson sidelined, UCLA — which already ranks last in the Big Ten in blocks — was out blocked by Indiana 7-5.
Sophomore middle blocker Ava Vickers led the Hoosiers with three blocks, two of which came in the first and second sets. On both occurrences, the blocks were so dominant that junior outside hitter Avry Tatum covered her mouth in disbelief.
Alonso-Corcelles specifically found success at the net offensively, as she tallied 20 kills – 10 of which came in the second set. Tatum also found success as well, as she also tallied 11 kills.
One thing head coach Steve Aird wanted to emphasize was utilizing the middle more, a strategy he previously said was aimed to create more opportunities for Vickers. On Friday, however, he also turned to freshman middle blocker Ella Boersema.
Boersema has seen limited action during Big Ten play, appearing in just her fourth match of the season, but she impressed Aird with her performance, recording four kills and six blocks.
“It was good to see Boersema play,” Aird said. “I mean, you guys haven't seen a lot of her, but she's a really good player and I think she gets more comfortable.”
The match against UCLA was one of Indiana's final three home games at Wilkinson Hall. While Aird acknowledged the impact of students leaving for break, he and his players understand the importance of finishing the season strong at home to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
“I think at the end of the year, what you do and how hard you play says a lot about the culture of your team,” Aird said. “And if you have a shot at postseason or not, if you compete like crazy, it shows you that people are invested, and they care.”
Indiana will face Ohio State at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio. The Hoosiers' final road contest of the season will air on the Big Ten Network.
Follow reporter Parker Rodgers (@parrod153) for updates throughout the Indiana volleyball season.
