
Volleyball Season Begins with Big Ten Media Days
7/24/2025 12:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
CHICAGO – Volleyball fans will get their first taste of the 2025 season as the Big Ten Conference hosts the fourth-annual Big Ten Volleyball Media Days at its network studios in Chicago. Each of the 18 member schools will send two select student-athletes and their head coach to speak on the state of the program ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Eighth-year head coach Steve Aird will be joined by senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum and junior middle blocker Ava Vickers for the annual trip to the Windy City. Each player is a returning starter from last season and is a multi-year contributor for the program.
The trio of Hoosiers will work through designated stations next Monday (July 28). The rotation list includes a press conference, live in-studio television time, social media interviews and a student-athlete photoshoot on the roof of the network offices.
Designed to promote the sport and the respective conference teams, the Big Ten has continued to be a major advocate for the growth of college volleyball. This season will continue the rise of nationally-televised matches – including contests on FOX, NBC, FS1 and the Big Ten Network.
The Hoosiers will do their part in taking the game of volleyball to a new level. IU will play its annual Monon Spike match against in-state rival Purdue at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home of the NBA's Indiana Pacers and WNBA's Indiana Fever.
It is believed to be one of the first volleyball matches inside the basketball arena and will precede the November debut of the IHSAA Girls State Volleyball finals in the same venue. The contest against Purdue on Thursday, October 16th will likely make an appearance on national television.
IU will begin fall practice on Wednesday, August 6th with the team arriving back to campus on the Monday prior. The Hoosiers open the 2025 campaign with a trip to Coral Gables to face Miami (Fla.) and VCU. It's the third-straight season that IU will play Miami (Fla.) and the second of such matchups in Florida.
Eighth-year head coach Steve Aird will be joined by senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum and junior middle blocker Ava Vickers for the annual trip to the Windy City. Each player is a returning starter from last season and is a multi-year contributor for the program.
The trio of Hoosiers will work through designated stations next Monday (July 28). The rotation list includes a press conference, live in-studio television time, social media interviews and a student-athlete photoshoot on the roof of the network offices.
Designed to promote the sport and the respective conference teams, the Big Ten has continued to be a major advocate for the growth of college volleyball. This season will continue the rise of nationally-televised matches – including contests on FOX, NBC, FS1 and the Big Ten Network.
The Hoosiers will do their part in taking the game of volleyball to a new level. IU will play its annual Monon Spike match against in-state rival Purdue at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, home of the NBA's Indiana Pacers and WNBA's Indiana Fever.
It is believed to be one of the first volleyball matches inside the basketball arena and will precede the November debut of the IHSAA Girls State Volleyball finals in the same venue. The contest against Purdue on Thursday, October 16th will likely make an appearance on national television.
IU will begin fall practice on Wednesday, August 6th with the team arriving back to campus on the Monday prior. The Hoosiers open the 2025 campaign with a trip to Coral Gables to face Miami (Fla.) and VCU. It's the third-straight season that IU will play Miami (Fla.) and the second of such matchups in Florida.
Players Mentioned
VB: Vickers + Tatum - BTN Studio Set
Monday, July 28
VB: Steve Aird - BTN Studio Set
Monday, July 28
Big Ten Volleyball Media Days: Full Presser
Tuesday, August 01
IUVB at Big Ten Media Day
Monday, August 01