Hoosiers Fall in Top-10 Road Test

Friday, August 28

Louisville, Ky.

7 p.m.

Indiana University

0-1,0-0Big Ten

#7 Louisville

2-1,0-0ACC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Indiana	20	12	11	0
Louisville	25	25	25	3

8/28/2026 9:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the first time in program history, the Indiana volleyball team (0-1, 0-0 B1G) opened the season with a true road game against a top-10 team. Seventh-ranked Louisville (2-1, 0-0 ACC) bounced back from last week's loss in a big way in front of its home crowd. A commanding sweep for the Cardinals (25-20, 25-12, 25-11) on Friday (Aug. 28) evening at L&N Federal Credit Union Arena gave the Hoosiers their first defeat of the year.

A battle of two nationally-ranked programs to begin the year was a tight battle in the opening set. Even with new pieces along the front lines, IU's offense hummed to the tune of a .412 (16-2-34) hitting percentage in the opening frame. From there, the Hoosiers would record just 10 kills as Louisville turned up its service and defensive pressure.

Third-year opposite hitter Ella Boersema and second-year outside hitter Jaidyn Jager shared the team lead with seven kills but each hit negative on the evening. Second-year middle blocker Victoria Gray added five kills. First-year outside hitter Sara Snowbarger had two kills in her collegiate debut. IU hit just .043 (26-22-92) on the night against Louisville's potent block.

Louisville found success by feeding outside hitters Chloe Meester and Chloe Chicoine. The duo combined for 21 kills and just five attacking errors. IU recorded seven blocks in the proceedings, led by three from fifth-year middle blocker Kiki Granberry. Second-year libero Hannah Leftridge provided five digs.

The Hoosiers will look to put the opener behind them by heading to West Lafayette for contests against Georgia and No. 8 Texas A&M next week. Purdue will host a quadrant of the first Big Ten-SEC Challenge Week presented by All-State. IU and Georgia will play at Mackey Arena on Tuesday (Sept. 1) evening at 6 p.m. on FS1.

How it Happened
• Serving and defense made the difference for Louisville in its home opener on Friday. The Cardinals led the way in aces (7-0), digs (36-26) and blocks (10.0-7.0). IU, a normally great serving team, could do little to affect Louisville's reception patterns in the loss.

• After opening the first set with 16 kills, IU provided just 10 the rest of the way. The Hoosiers hit .412 in the first frame but under zero in the final two games. Louisville's offense never dipped under .200 through the course of the entire match.

Top Hoosier Performers
#77 Granberry, Kiki
3 kills, 3 blocks, 4 digs

#10 Krickovic, Teodora
22 assists, 4 digs, 2 blocks

#23 Gray, Victoria
5 kills, 1 dig, 2 blocks

Notes to Know
• First-year outside hitter Sara Snowbarger made her collegiate debut. She had two kills, one dig and two blocks while playing as one of IU's starting outside hitters. It's the 12th-straight year that IU has started a freshman in the season opener. Head coach Steve Aird has started 18 in a season opener during his time on the bench in Bloomington.

• The Hoosiers are now 2-5 against ranked non-conference opponents under the guidance of Aird. He will have two additional chances to improve on that mark with contests against Texas A&M and Tennessee next week. IU falls to 0-14 against the AVCA seventh-ranked team in program history.