Friday, August 29
Coral Gables, Fla.
6 p.m.
Indiana University
at
(RV) Miami (Fla.)
Volleyball Central: Canes Classic
8/28/2025 10:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Eighth-year head coach Steve Aird and the Indiana volleyball program will kick off the 2025 campaign this weekend as it heads to Coral Gables for a pair of matches at the Knight Sports Complex on the home floor of Miami (Fla.). It's the third-straight season the Hurricanes and Hoosiers will meet.
IU will take a new-look roster down to Florida on opening weekend. The squad features eight new players – seven of them true freshmen. That freshman class is the highest-ranked (No. 14) group to ever make it to campus in program history.
Among the key newcomers are talented outside hitters Jaidyn Jager (Carlsbad, Calif.) and Charlotte Vinson (Yorktown, Ind.). Freshman setter Teodora Kričković (Novi Sad, Serbia) comes with a ton of international experience. IU also added important pieces at middle blocker and defensive specialist to round out a talented group at each position.
Success for the Hoosiers in 2025 will likely be driven by a talented pair of returning offensive pieces. Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles and opposite hitter Avry Tatum have combined for over 1,600 kills in their collegiate careers. The two veterans will be important cogs in the IU offense and have 20-kill potential on any given night.
Friday's (Aug. 29) contest against Miami (Fla.) will be broadcasted on ACC Network Extra at 6 p.m. Saturday's (Aug. 30) meeting against VCU won't be streamed but live stats and social media updates will be available. Following this weekend, IU opens its home slate on Thursday (Sept. 4) against SEMO.
Gameday Info
at Miami (Fla.) (Friday, August 29th – 6:00 PM)
Live Video: bit.ly/3J5nIdu
Live Stats: bit.ly/4fzbfeo
vs. VCU (Saturday, August 30th – 2:00 PM)
Live Video: No Stream
Live Stats: bit.ly/3HLvOaJ
Stat and Trends
• Of any returning Big Ten player with at least 340 kills last season, no one had a better hitting percentage than senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum (.282). She's the only returning right side attacker that had at least 3.30 kills per set during the 2024 campaign.
• Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles closed her junior campaign with three 20-kill matches in the last four outings of the year. In total, she's got six 20-kill efforts during her time in Bloomington. However, none of those have come during non-conference play.
Notable
TATUM TAKEOVER: Senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum has enjoyed great success against Miami (Fla.) during her time at Indiana. Over the last two seasons, she's averaging 3.22 kills per set against the Hurricanes. She had 17 massive kills in a five-set win in Coral Gables in 2023.
CLOSING IN ON 1K: Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles is on the verge of reaching 1,000 kills in her collegiate career. She needs just 16 more to become the 21st member of the 1,000-kill club at Indiana. With two matches on opening weekend, the veteran hitter should reach that mark in Coral Gables.
FRESHMEN GALORE: IU has started at least one true freshman in 10-straight season openers. That streak will likely extend to 11 years with a talented first-year class. The Hoosiers started four true freshmen in the 2020-21 opener against a Nebraska, a number they could match again in 2025.
DEPTH IN THE MIDDLE: The Hoosiers return all three middle blockers from last season and are set to add more talent with the addition of fantastic freshman Victoria Gray. IU could roll out any combination of players to man the net, but senior middle blocker Madi Sell (team-high 94.0 blocks in 2024) is a likely starter.
SEASON OPENERS: IU has won four-straight season openers since the COVID-shortened season in the spring of 2021. This will be the stiffest test in that stretch, facing a Miami (Fla.) team that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. IU has split the last two meetings in 2023 and 2024 with the Hurricanes.
TAKE YOUR PICK: On top of the Big Ten's best returning offensive duos (kills per set) in Tatum and Alonso-Corcelles, IU also adds two of the highest-ranked recruits in program history on the pins. Freshmen Charlotte Vinson and Jaidyn Jager will potentially get some run on opening weekend and each possess six-rotation potential.
CLOSE CALLS: In the last two seasons, IU and Miami (Fla.) have played nine sets over two matches. Six of those nine sets have been decided by three-or-fewer points. The margin for error has been tight between the two sides. The Hoosiers will look to win the serve and pass battle to open up the 2025 campaign.
RACK 'EM UP: The Hoosiers have racked up 604 service aces over the last three seasons. While IU won't possess the same level of jump servers as in previous years, it can still beat you in a number of ways from the end line. Expect the young Hoosiers to serve tough to different zones throughout the season.
Scouting the Opponent
Miami (Fla.) (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
• Miami received a big boost to its lineup when All-American outside hitter Flomarie Heredia Colon announced her return following the spring season at Florida. The Hurricanes did suffer a big blow when opposite hitter Grace Lopez transferred to Wisconsin.
• The Hurricanes return their starting setter Ariana Rodriguez. She spent most of the summer playing with the Dominican national team in the Volleyball Nations League. After the graduation of their libero, Yaidaliz Rosado, they will look for some new back row help.
• Other contributors from a season ago include middle blocker Dalia Wilson and outside hitter Ava Carney. It will have to replace production in the middle, the back row and on its pins. Miami will play IU's fellow Big Ten opponent, Ohio State, on opening weekend.
VCU (0-0, 0-0 Atlantic 10)
• The Rams will take on two Big Ten opponents on opening weekend. They'll play Ohio State on Friday evening before meeting Indiana on Saturday afternoon. VCU is led by the return of All-Atlantic 10 opposite hitter Julia Rienks. Much like IU, VCU saw its starting libero transfer to Texas.
• Most of VCU's pin hitters return from a season ago. On top of Rienks, the Rams bring back Lara Del Core, Kalina Pylinska and Alicja Jaryszek. The rest of their roster will be new look after losing the top setter, libero and middle blocker from last year's roster.
• VCU went 18-9 a season ago before losing to Loyola (Chicago) in the Atlantic 10 tournament. In total, the Rams will play four power four programs this year. They will host their conference tournament at the end of the season. They finished 89th in the RPI last season.
Inside the Series
Miami (Fla.)
• These two teams have played eight times in program history with four of those matchups coming in the 1980's. It has become a regular occurrence on the schedule in recent years with 2025 marking the third-straight year they've played.
• IU won a hard-fought, five-set contest in Coral Gables in 2023. Avry Tatum had a team best 17 kills while Candela Alonso-Corcelles supplied 10 of her own. IU had 12 aces in the match and got big points from Tatum down the stretch to secure the win.
• The Hurricanes got the better of the Hoosiers last year in a neutral site match in Texas. Tatum and Alonso-Corcelles combined on 25 kills, but IU had a hard time slowing down the Miami offense.
VCU
• These two teams have never played. It is one of two Atlantic 10 (Loyola) teams that IU will play this season.
IU will take a new-look roster down to Florida on opening weekend. The squad features eight new players – seven of them true freshmen. That freshman class is the highest-ranked (No. 14) group to ever make it to campus in program history.
Among the key newcomers are talented outside hitters Jaidyn Jager (Carlsbad, Calif.) and Charlotte Vinson (Yorktown, Ind.). Freshman setter Teodora Kričković (Novi Sad, Serbia) comes with a ton of international experience. IU also added important pieces at middle blocker and defensive specialist to round out a talented group at each position.
Success for the Hoosiers in 2025 will likely be driven by a talented pair of returning offensive pieces. Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles and opposite hitter Avry Tatum have combined for over 1,600 kills in their collegiate careers. The two veterans will be important cogs in the IU offense and have 20-kill potential on any given night.
Friday's (Aug. 29) contest against Miami (Fla.) will be broadcasted on ACC Network Extra at 6 p.m. Saturday's (Aug. 30) meeting against VCU won't be streamed but live stats and social media updates will be available. Following this weekend, IU opens its home slate on Thursday (Sept. 4) against SEMO.
Gameday Info
at Miami (Fla.) (Friday, August 29th – 6:00 PM)
Live Video: bit.ly/3J5nIdu
Live Stats: bit.ly/4fzbfeo
vs. VCU (Saturday, August 30th – 2:00 PM)
Live Video: No Stream
Live Stats: bit.ly/3HLvOaJ
Stat and Trends
• Of any returning Big Ten player with at least 340 kills last season, no one had a better hitting percentage than senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum (.282). She's the only returning right side attacker that had at least 3.30 kills per set during the 2024 campaign.
• Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles closed her junior campaign with three 20-kill matches in the last four outings of the year. In total, she's got six 20-kill efforts during her time in Bloomington. However, none of those have come during non-conference play.
Notable
TATUM TAKEOVER: Senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum has enjoyed great success against Miami (Fla.) during her time at Indiana. Over the last two seasons, she's averaging 3.22 kills per set against the Hurricanes. She had 17 massive kills in a five-set win in Coral Gables in 2023.
CLOSING IN ON 1K: Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles is on the verge of reaching 1,000 kills in her collegiate career. She needs just 16 more to become the 21st member of the 1,000-kill club at Indiana. With two matches on opening weekend, the veteran hitter should reach that mark in Coral Gables.
FRESHMEN GALORE: IU has started at least one true freshman in 10-straight season openers. That streak will likely extend to 11 years with a talented first-year class. The Hoosiers started four true freshmen in the 2020-21 opener against a Nebraska, a number they could match again in 2025.
DEPTH IN THE MIDDLE: The Hoosiers return all three middle blockers from last season and are set to add more talent with the addition of fantastic freshman Victoria Gray. IU could roll out any combination of players to man the net, but senior middle blocker Madi Sell (team-high 94.0 blocks in 2024) is a likely starter.
SEASON OPENERS: IU has won four-straight season openers since the COVID-shortened season in the spring of 2021. This will be the stiffest test in that stretch, facing a Miami (Fla.) team that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. IU has split the last two meetings in 2023 and 2024 with the Hurricanes.
TAKE YOUR PICK: On top of the Big Ten's best returning offensive duos (kills per set) in Tatum and Alonso-Corcelles, IU also adds two of the highest-ranked recruits in program history on the pins. Freshmen Charlotte Vinson and Jaidyn Jager will potentially get some run on opening weekend and each possess six-rotation potential.
CLOSE CALLS: In the last two seasons, IU and Miami (Fla.) have played nine sets over two matches. Six of those nine sets have been decided by three-or-fewer points. The margin for error has been tight between the two sides. The Hoosiers will look to win the serve and pass battle to open up the 2025 campaign.
RACK 'EM UP: The Hoosiers have racked up 604 service aces over the last three seasons. While IU won't possess the same level of jump servers as in previous years, it can still beat you in a number of ways from the end line. Expect the young Hoosiers to serve tough to different zones throughout the season.
Scouting the Opponent
Miami (Fla.) (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
• Miami received a big boost to its lineup when All-American outside hitter Flomarie Heredia Colon announced her return following the spring season at Florida. The Hurricanes did suffer a big blow when opposite hitter Grace Lopez transferred to Wisconsin.
• The Hurricanes return their starting setter Ariana Rodriguez. She spent most of the summer playing with the Dominican national team in the Volleyball Nations League. After the graduation of their libero, Yaidaliz Rosado, they will look for some new back row help.
• Other contributors from a season ago include middle blocker Dalia Wilson and outside hitter Ava Carney. It will have to replace production in the middle, the back row and on its pins. Miami will play IU's fellow Big Ten opponent, Ohio State, on opening weekend.
VCU (0-0, 0-0 Atlantic 10)
• The Rams will take on two Big Ten opponents on opening weekend. They'll play Ohio State on Friday evening before meeting Indiana on Saturday afternoon. VCU is led by the return of All-Atlantic 10 opposite hitter Julia Rienks. Much like IU, VCU saw its starting libero transfer to Texas.
• Most of VCU's pin hitters return from a season ago. On top of Rienks, the Rams bring back Lara Del Core, Kalina Pylinska and Alicja Jaryszek. The rest of their roster will be new look after losing the top setter, libero and middle blocker from last year's roster.
• VCU went 18-9 a season ago before losing to Loyola (Chicago) in the Atlantic 10 tournament. In total, the Rams will play four power four programs this year. They will host their conference tournament at the end of the season. They finished 89th in the RPI last season.
Inside the Series
Miami (Fla.)
• These two teams have played eight times in program history with four of those matchups coming in the 1980's. It has become a regular occurrence on the schedule in recent years with 2025 marking the third-straight year they've played.
• IU won a hard-fought, five-set contest in Coral Gables in 2023. Avry Tatum had a team best 17 kills while Candela Alonso-Corcelles supplied 10 of her own. IU had 12 aces in the match and got big points from Tatum down the stretch to secure the win.
• The Hurricanes got the better of the Hoosiers last year in a neutral site match in Texas. Tatum and Alonso-Corcelles combined on 25 kills, but IU had a hard time slowing down the Miami offense.
VCU
• These two teams have never played. It is one of two Atlantic 10 (Loyola) teams that IU will play this season.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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