Indiana University Athletics
Fall Practice Begins at Wilkinson Hall
8/4/2026 8:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana volleyball program began fall practice on Tuesday (Aug. 4) afternoon as the 2026 campaign gets underway at Wilkinson Hall. IU's roster gathered for a series of meetings before the first team practice in the afternoon.
Fresh off a trip to the NCAA regional semifinals, IU will return a large core of its 2025 team including preseason All-Big Ten outside hitter Jaidyn Jager and setter Teodora Krickovic. Defensive specialist Audrey Jackson and middle blocker Victoria Gray each made over 30 starts a season ago.
Head coach Steve Aird, who is entering his ninth season in Bloomington, has put together a grueling non-conference schedule. It includes a matchup against the defending national champions, Texas A&M, as part of the inaugural Big Ten – SEC Challenge week. Additional marquee non-conference matchups come against Louisville, Georgia, Tennessee and Cal Poly.
All 16 members of IU's current roster were part of its foreign tour to Türkiye, Spain and Portugal back at the beginning of the summer. All but one player spent the entirety of the spring training in Bloomington with each other and the coaching staff.
Below is a list of news and notes to know ahead of the 2026 volleyball campaign.
DATES TO KNOW
• Tuesday, August 4th: First Day of Practice
• Friday, August 14th: Notre Dame Exhibition
• Friday, August 21st: Cream and Crimson Scrimmage
• Friday, August 28th: Season Opener
• Thursday, September 10th: Home Opener
• Thursday, September 24th: Big Ten Opener
• Tuesday, November 17th: Regular Season Finale
PRESEASON BIG TEN NOTES
Indiana was picked to finish sixth in the preseason Big Ten poll by a vote of the league's coaches. Nebraska, Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue and Minnesota were picked to finish in the top five. Sophomore outside hitter Jaidyn Jager and sophomore setter Teodora Krickovic were named to the 19-player Big Ten All-Preseason team.
2025 IN REVIEW
Best Season in Program History
• The Hoosiers went 25-8 last year on their way to just the second regional appearance in program history. IU broke single-season records for wins (25) and Big Ten wins (14) in the NCAA era and hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the second time ever.
All-American Hoosiers
• For the first time ever, IU had two different players named AVCA All-Americans in the same season. Opposite hitter Avry Tatum and setter Teodora Krickovic had their names etched into history at Wilkinson Hall after brilliant 2025 campaigns.
Playing the Kids
• A deep and talented freshman class was one of the big reasons behind a great campaign last year. Outside hitter Jaidyn Jager, setter Teodora Krickovic, libero Audrey Jackson and middle blocker Victoria Gray were all 30-match starters during their debut seasons.
B1G Wins
• IU won four matches against AVCA top-25 opponents last year with three of them coming on the road. That included the first ever victory on the road at Penn State and back-to-back wins in Los Angeles against USC and UCLA. IU also knocked off Colorado in the NCAA Tournament.
2026 QUICK FACTS
Bringing Back Boersema
• Middle blocker Ella Boersema was one of the league's best defensive players before suffering a season-ending injury against Purdue (Oct. 16). After rehabbing through the spring, she is back and ready for a massive junior season alongside IU's deep group of middle blockers. Boersema spent parts of the foreign tour playing in the middle and on the right side. She averaged 1.76 kills per set and 1.40 blocks per set last year.
Fresh Faces
• The Hoosiers added a pair of veteran pieces out of the transfer portal last winter. Graduate student middle blocker Kiki Granberry and junior outside hitter Izzy Clark add veteran experience to an already talented roster. The two transfers bring over 1,200 kills and 400 blocks to Bloomington with six years of combined experience. They have both played in the NCAA Tournament as well.
Big Ten Tournament
• For the first time ever, a Big Ten Tournament will decide a postseason champion for the country's best volleyball league. The top 15 teams in the conference will gather in Fishers, Indiana for a single-elimination tournament the week leading up to Thanksgiving.
Fresh off a trip to the NCAA regional semifinals, IU will return a large core of its 2025 team including preseason All-Big Ten outside hitter Jaidyn Jager and setter Teodora Krickovic. Defensive specialist Audrey Jackson and middle blocker Victoria Gray each made over 30 starts a season ago.
Head coach Steve Aird, who is entering his ninth season in Bloomington, has put together a grueling non-conference schedule. It includes a matchup against the defending national champions, Texas A&M, as part of the inaugural Big Ten – SEC Challenge week. Additional marquee non-conference matchups come against Louisville, Georgia, Tennessee and Cal Poly.
All 16 members of IU's current roster were part of its foreign tour to Türkiye, Spain and Portugal back at the beginning of the summer. All but one player spent the entirety of the spring training in Bloomington with each other and the coaching staff.
Below is a list of news and notes to know ahead of the 2026 volleyball campaign.
DATES TO KNOW
• Tuesday, August 4th: First Day of Practice
• Friday, August 14th: Notre Dame Exhibition
• Friday, August 21st: Cream and Crimson Scrimmage
• Friday, August 28th: Season Opener
• Thursday, September 10th: Home Opener
• Thursday, September 24th: Big Ten Opener
• Tuesday, November 17th: Regular Season Finale
PRESEASON BIG TEN NOTES
Indiana was picked to finish sixth in the preseason Big Ten poll by a vote of the league's coaches. Nebraska, Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue and Minnesota were picked to finish in the top five. Sophomore outside hitter Jaidyn Jager and sophomore setter Teodora Krickovic were named to the 19-player Big Ten All-Preseason team.
2025 IN REVIEW
Best Season in Program History
• The Hoosiers went 25-8 last year on their way to just the second regional appearance in program history. IU broke single-season records for wins (25) and Big Ten wins (14) in the NCAA era and hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the second time ever.
All-American Hoosiers
• For the first time ever, IU had two different players named AVCA All-Americans in the same season. Opposite hitter Avry Tatum and setter Teodora Krickovic had their names etched into history at Wilkinson Hall after brilliant 2025 campaigns.
Playing the Kids
• A deep and talented freshman class was one of the big reasons behind a great campaign last year. Outside hitter Jaidyn Jager, setter Teodora Krickovic, libero Audrey Jackson and middle blocker Victoria Gray were all 30-match starters during their debut seasons.
B1G Wins
• IU won four matches against AVCA top-25 opponents last year with three of them coming on the road. That included the first ever victory on the road at Penn State and back-to-back wins in Los Angeles against USC and UCLA. IU also knocked off Colorado in the NCAA Tournament.
2026 QUICK FACTS
Bringing Back Boersema
• Middle blocker Ella Boersema was one of the league's best defensive players before suffering a season-ending injury against Purdue (Oct. 16). After rehabbing through the spring, she is back and ready for a massive junior season alongside IU's deep group of middle blockers. Boersema spent parts of the foreign tour playing in the middle and on the right side. She averaged 1.76 kills per set and 1.40 blocks per set last year.
Fresh Faces
• The Hoosiers added a pair of veteran pieces out of the transfer portal last winter. Graduate student middle blocker Kiki Granberry and junior outside hitter Izzy Clark add veteran experience to an already talented roster. The two transfers bring over 1,200 kills and 400 blocks to Bloomington with six years of combined experience. They have both played in the NCAA Tournament as well.
Big Ten Tournament
• For the first time ever, a Big Ten Tournament will decide a postseason champion for the country's best volleyball league. The top 15 teams in the conference will gather in Fishers, Indiana for a single-elimination tournament the week leading up to Thanksgiving.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's VolleyballWednesday, August 05
Monday, August 03
Monday, August 03
Monday, August 03