Indiana University Athletics
Connected Squad Ready for Next Step
8/3/2026 3:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
CHICAGO – Before fall camp gets underway tomorrow afternoon, the Indiana volleyball program sent head coach Steve Aird, junior setter Sade Ilawole and sophomore outside hitter Jaidyn Jager to Chicago as its representatives for the fifth-annual Big Ten Volleyball Media Day.
The trio of Hoosiers spent the day talking about the upcoming season in a press conference, live studio hits and various social media stations. Their time in the Windy City featured conversations about this year's Big Ten Tournament, IU's talented newcomers to the roster and the excitement level about volleyball in Bloomington.
Following a season that saw the program break NCAA-era records for wins (25) and Big Ten wins (14), IU returns a large core of its team to the court at Wilkinson Hall. Along with Jager, sophomore setter Teodora Krickovic, sophomore middle blocker Victoria Gray and sophomore defensive specialist Audrey Jackson each started at least 30 matches a season ago.
Here are takeaways from the Hoosiers' annual trip to the Big Ten Network Studios.
The Next Step Ahead
IU played four spring matches and six matches on its Foreign Tour
It was a record season during the 2025 campaign but IU's players and coaches will be quick to say that the past is the past. With a roster that includes preseason All-Big Ten selections in setter Teodora Krickovic and outside hitter Jaidyn Jager, the Hoosiers have a group of players that are ready to keep building.
IU added graduate student middle blocker Kiki Granberry and junior outside hitter Izzy Clark to the mix out of the transfer portal while freshman outside hitter Sara Snowbarger and freshman defensive specialist Ellie Hepler provide depth in key positions. 12 of 17 players from last year's roster will return with experience under their belt.
"Right now, I just feel like the staff has done a great job." Aird said. "We've got really good student-athletes. We've got some traction. Recruiting classes over the next few years are exceptional. I just think the pinwheel is starting to spin. Pushing the rock up the hill is the hardest part and getting people to buy into you from the beginning is the hardest part."
Competition in the gym during the preseason will be at an all-time high as head coach Steve Aird preps for his ninth season at the helm in Bloomington. As it stands, all but two players on this year's roster began their collegiate career with the Hoosiers.
Tough Opponents on the Horizon
The Hoosiers will play nine teams from last year's final AVCA top-25 poll
Head coach Steve Aird wanted to design a schedule that would put his team in big environments against great opponents. Off the bat, the Hoosiers will face four SEC and ACC opponents in a 10-day span. Two of those (Georgia, Texas A&M) will come in the inaugural Big Ten-SEC Challenge, hosted by Purdue at Mackey Arena.
Purdue, Cal Poly, USC, Penn State and Nebraska will all make the trip to Wilkinson Hall as IU puts its incredible home environment to the test on a national state. During the last four seasons, the Hoosiers are 40-15 on their home court and have won 23-consecutive matches at Wilkinson Hall against unranked teams.
In total, 22 of IU's 26 regular season matches will come against power conference opponents. That will set the program up as it prepares for a potential postseason run through the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments this fall.
"We've got a very daunting slate of matches to start the year," Aird said. "We've gone up a weight class we think in quality and caliber of opponent. We're not afraid to go and test the waters, so to speak."
Sophomore Class Ready for Big Season
IU's deep six-player sophomore class will handle a big load in Bloomington
IU needed a big season from its talented young players last year and they delivered. With a season of college volleyball under their belt, the second-year Hoosiers will be asked to carry a big load across key positions. Among those important contributors are outside hitter Jaidyn Jager and setter Teodora Krickovic, both selections to the Big Ten All-Preseason team.
Last year's freshman class was the only in the country to have a different player with at least 1,000+ assists, 380+ kills, 100+ blocks. On top of that, four different players had at least 15 aces and four had at least 100 digs as IU continued to get great play from all over its lineup. Middle blocker Victoria Gray and defensive specialists Audrey Jackson, Avery Freeman and Hannah Leftridge all got valuable time on the court last year.
In total, IU's six returning second-year players combined to play in 186 matches this season and will be crucial to success as the team marches forward in 2026.
"We've got good balance, good depth. I feel it's the -- will-over-skill thing for us is really important," Aird said. "That's something I've always taken from Coach [Russ] Rose. I don't know if we have the top-end talent. I'm not sure if I'm the best coach in the conference, but we want to fight you from the beginning to the end. We don't care where and how. I think that's something the locker room is really locked into."
The trio of Hoosiers spent the day talking about the upcoming season in a press conference, live studio hits and various social media stations. Their time in the Windy City featured conversations about this year's Big Ten Tournament, IU's talented newcomers to the roster and the excitement level about volleyball in Bloomington.
Following a season that saw the program break NCAA-era records for wins (25) and Big Ten wins (14), IU returns a large core of its team to the court at Wilkinson Hall. Along with Jager, sophomore setter Teodora Krickovic, sophomore middle blocker Victoria Gray and sophomore defensive specialist Audrey Jackson each started at least 30 matches a season ago.
Here are takeaways from the Hoosiers' annual trip to the Big Ten Network Studios.
The Next Step Ahead
IU played four spring matches and six matches on its Foreign Tour
It was a record season during the 2025 campaign but IU's players and coaches will be quick to say that the past is the past. With a roster that includes preseason All-Big Ten selections in setter Teodora Krickovic and outside hitter Jaidyn Jager, the Hoosiers have a group of players that are ready to keep building.
IU added graduate student middle blocker Kiki Granberry and junior outside hitter Izzy Clark to the mix out of the transfer portal while freshman outside hitter Sara Snowbarger and freshman defensive specialist Ellie Hepler provide depth in key positions. 12 of 17 players from last year's roster will return with experience under their belt.
"Right now, I just feel like the staff has done a great job." Aird said. "We've got really good student-athletes. We've got some traction. Recruiting classes over the next few years are exceptional. I just think the pinwheel is starting to spin. Pushing the rock up the hill is the hardest part and getting people to buy into you from the beginning is the hardest part."
Competition in the gym during the preseason will be at an all-time high as head coach Steve Aird preps for his ninth season at the helm in Bloomington. As it stands, all but two players on this year's roster began their collegiate career with the Hoosiers.
Tough Opponents on the Horizon
The Hoosiers will play nine teams from last year's final AVCA top-25 poll
Head coach Steve Aird wanted to design a schedule that would put his team in big environments against great opponents. Off the bat, the Hoosiers will face four SEC and ACC opponents in a 10-day span. Two of those (Georgia, Texas A&M) will come in the inaugural Big Ten-SEC Challenge, hosted by Purdue at Mackey Arena.
Purdue, Cal Poly, USC, Penn State and Nebraska will all make the trip to Wilkinson Hall as IU puts its incredible home environment to the test on a national state. During the last four seasons, the Hoosiers are 40-15 on their home court and have won 23-consecutive matches at Wilkinson Hall against unranked teams.
In total, 22 of IU's 26 regular season matches will come against power conference opponents. That will set the program up as it prepares for a potential postseason run through the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments this fall.
"We've got a very daunting slate of matches to start the year," Aird said. "We've gone up a weight class we think in quality and caliber of opponent. We're not afraid to go and test the waters, so to speak."
Sophomore Class Ready for Big Season
IU's deep six-player sophomore class will handle a big load in Bloomington
IU needed a big season from its talented young players last year and they delivered. With a season of college volleyball under their belt, the second-year Hoosiers will be asked to carry a big load across key positions. Among those important contributors are outside hitter Jaidyn Jager and setter Teodora Krickovic, both selections to the Big Ten All-Preseason team.
Last year's freshman class was the only in the country to have a different player with at least 1,000+ assists, 380+ kills, 100+ blocks. On top of that, four different players had at least 15 aces and four had at least 100 digs as IU continued to get great play from all over its lineup. Middle blocker Victoria Gray and defensive specialists Audrey Jackson, Avery Freeman and Hannah Leftridge all got valuable time on the court last year.
In total, IU's six returning second-year players combined to play in 186 matches this season and will be crucial to success as the team marches forward in 2026.
"We've got good balance, good depth. I feel it's the -- will-over-skill thing for us is really important," Aird said. "That's something I've always taken from Coach [Russ] Rose. I don't know if we have the top-end talent. I'm not sure if I'm the best coach in the conference, but we want to fight you from the beginning to the end. We don't care where and how. I think that's something the locker room is really locked into."
Players Mentioned
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