Indiana University Athletics
Thursday, September 24
Bloomington, Ind.
7 p.m.
Indiana University
vs
(RV) UCLA
Volleyball Central: UCLA and Maryland
9/21/2026 3:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The 17-match through conference play begins this week as the Indiana volleyball team (7-2, 0-0 B1G) opens up Big Ten action with visits from UCLA (Thursday) and Maryland (Saturday) to Wilkinson Hall. The Hoosiers have won at least eight conference games in each of the last four seasons. If they can accomplish that again in 2026, it will be the first time IU has had consecutive winning campaigns this century.
Getting off to a fast start in conference play is always an early key to success for this program. Head coach Steve Aird and the Hoosiers have won five-straight Big Ten openers, all against different teams. IU will look to extend that streak to six when UCLA visits on Thursday (Sept. 24) evening. It would also be the third-straight win in the series against the Bruins since they joined the league.
Pressure from the end line was a big component in helping IU to a five-game winning streak at the end of non-conference action. The Hoosiers are on a run of five-straight games with at least eight aces. In that stretch, they are averaging 2.61 aces per set. Third-year defensive specialist Emma Segal has tallied nine aces over her past five games including a career high four against NC State.
Even without seeing third-year outside hitter Izzy Clark on the court yet this year, IU's offense has played at a high level. All five primary attackers are averaging at least 1.85 kills per set. Second-year outside hitter Jaidyn Jager is offering up 3.97 kills per set (fourth in the Big Ten) at a .252 hitting percentage. She matched her career high with 20 kills in the win over NC State and is on a run of eight-straight matches in double figures.
IU hasn't started Big Ten play with a 2-0 record in consecutive years since the 1984 and 1985 seasons. After beginning with a 5-0 clip in 2025, the Hoosiers will look to grab another pair of victories to start the 2026 campaign. First serve for both matches will be at 7 p.m. in Bloomington from Wilkinson Hall.
Gameday Details
#RV UCLA (9-2) at #18 Indiana (7-2)
Thursday, September 24th | 7 p.m. ET | Wilkinson Hall (Bloomington, Ind.)
TV: B1G+ (Noah Boudouris, Brooks White and Grace Jeffer)
Live Video | Live Stats
Maryland (10-1) at #18 Indiana (7-2)
Saturday, September 26th | 7 p.m. ET | Wilkinson Hall (Bloomington, Ind.)
TV: B1G+ (Sam Egan, Nicholas Bobay and Grace Lesher)
Live Video | Live Stats
A Win Would
UCLA: Be the sixth-straight season winning the Big Ten home opener. It would also be a third win in three tries against the Bruins as conference opponents.
MARYLAND: Be the sixth-straight victory over Maryland in the all-time series and even the meetings at 11-all through 22 contests in program history.
BOTH: Be the first time IU starts Big Ten play 2-0 in consecutive seasons since the 1984-1985 campaigns. It would also give IU a seven-match winning streak heading into October.
Stats and Trends
• Big Ten play begins this weekend with a 17-game regular season slate ahead of this year's conference tournament
• IU has won at least eight games in Big Ten action in each of the last four years, including a program record 14 in 2025
• Head coach Steve Aird's group is riding a five-game winning streak into the weekend.
Notable
HOME COURT: Indiana has thrived over the past handful of years when returning home for its first Big Ten game. The Hoosiers have won five-straight Big Ten home openers, all against different teams, dating back to 2021. IU will look to extend that streak to six against UCLA on Thursday evening.
J MONEY: Second-year outside hitter Jaidyn Jager has picked up her play as the season gets rolling in 2026. She's on a run of eight-straight games with at least 10 kills, a new career-long streak. She's averaging 4.33 kills per set on IU's five-match winning streak heading into conference play.
GET HER GOING: Over the past two seasons, second-year outside hitter Jaidyn Jager has been a catalyst in the offense. When she records at least 15 kills, the Hoosiers are 12-0 in those 12 games. That includes a 4-0 mark this year which is highlighted by her 20-kill performance against NC State last weekend.
WILKINSON HALL: In IU's home gym, it has gone 24-2 against unranked Big Ten foes since the beginning of the 2022 campaign. The only defeats in that time came against Maryland (2022) and Minnesota (2023). The ability to continue to thrive in that area will be key in getting IU back into the NCAA Tournament.
SERVING TOUGH: A better weekend from the end line was crucial in getting past Coastal Carolina and NC State. IU averaged 2.75 aces per set (22 total) over those two games. It was the first time the Hoosiers had 10+ aces in consecutive contests since a run of three-straight efforts in 2023.
SPARK PLUG: Third-year defensive specialist Emma Segal has been one of IU's best workers during her time with the team. She's seen an increased role this year and is tied for the team lead in aces (13). That includes a career high four aces in a crucial moment of IU's win over NC State last weekend.
ALL INVOLVED: Second-year setter Teodora Krickovic is doing a great job at getting everyone in touch with the offense. All five primary attackers average at least 1.85 kills per set. The offense in total is at 13.64 kills per set with the Serbian adding nearly a kill per set of her own.
TALLYING WINS: Since the 2022 campaign (four-plus years), Indiana has racked up 84 wins under head coach Steve Aird. That includes at least 15 wins in each full season during that stretch. IU will be looking to reach that plateau again for the fifth-straight year in 2026.
Scouting the Opponent
UCLA (9-2, 0-0 Big Ten)
• The Bruins have navigated a non-conference slate that has taken them to nearly every time zone in the country. They beat Hawaii in Las Vegas to wrap up that portion of the schedule before coming to the Midwest to face IU and Northwestern.
• UCLA brings with them two Indiana natives in outside hitter Ava Utterback (Plainfield) and libero Lola Schumacher (Brebeuf Jesuit). Middle blocker Marianna Singletary leads the team in kills (103) and is producing nearly four points per set. Outside hitter Maggie Li has added 3.41 kills per set.
• While they haven't settled on a true lineup, UCLA has six players averaging at least 2.00 kills per set. Setter Kate Duffey has taken the offense back from transfer Ava Sarafa and is averaging 9.88 assists per set. Singletary leads the Big Ten in blocks (65) and blocks per set (1.71).
Maryland (10-1, 0-0 Big Ten)
• The Terrapins are winners of nine-straight games heading into conference play after a trio of sweeps last weekend. Their only loss of the year came against Vanderbilt in the Big Ten – SEC Challenge. Head coach Adam Hughes, a longtime friend of head coach Steve Aird – is in his ninth season at the helm of the program.
• Maryland spent the non-conference schedule getting valuable reps for all of its hitters. Outside hitter Sydney Bryant leads in total kills (95) while outside hitter Haley Melby (3.74) is leading in kills per set. Georgia Tech transfer setter Sara Toth has found great success running the offense (11.59 assists per set).
• Middle blocker Eva Rohrbach, a former high school teammate of Avry Tatum, has been outstanding in her senior season. She's hitting at a .475 clip with 2.29 kills per set. Three different players are averaging at least a block per set. Maryland opens the Big Ten season at Purdue.
Inside the Series
UCLA
• These two teams have played in each of the past three seasons. IU leads the brief all-time series with a 2-1 record. The first meeting came in 2023, the year before UCLA joined the Big Ten. The Hoosiers have won the last two games and the only contest in Bloomington (2024).
Maryland
• Head coach Steve Aird has long been linked to this series after serving as the leader at Maryland (2014-17) and Indiana (2018-Present). IU has caught up in the all-time series and trails only 10-11 over 21 previous meetings.
• The Hoosiers have won five-straight contests in the series with four of five of those coming as sweeps. IU won both matchups a year ago.
Getting off to a fast start in conference play is always an early key to success for this program. Head coach Steve Aird and the Hoosiers have won five-straight Big Ten openers, all against different teams. IU will look to extend that streak to six when UCLA visits on Thursday (Sept. 24) evening. It would also be the third-straight win in the series against the Bruins since they joined the league.
Pressure from the end line was a big component in helping IU to a five-game winning streak at the end of non-conference action. The Hoosiers are on a run of five-straight games with at least eight aces. In that stretch, they are averaging 2.61 aces per set. Third-year defensive specialist Emma Segal has tallied nine aces over her past five games including a career high four against NC State.
Even without seeing third-year outside hitter Izzy Clark on the court yet this year, IU's offense has played at a high level. All five primary attackers are averaging at least 1.85 kills per set. Second-year outside hitter Jaidyn Jager is offering up 3.97 kills per set (fourth in the Big Ten) at a .252 hitting percentage. She matched her career high with 20 kills in the win over NC State and is on a run of eight-straight matches in double figures.
IU hasn't started Big Ten play with a 2-0 record in consecutive years since the 1984 and 1985 seasons. After beginning with a 5-0 clip in 2025, the Hoosiers will look to grab another pair of victories to start the 2026 campaign. First serve for both matches will be at 7 p.m. in Bloomington from Wilkinson Hall.
Gameday Details
#RV UCLA (9-2) at #18 Indiana (7-2)
Thursday, September 24th | 7 p.m. ET | Wilkinson Hall (Bloomington, Ind.)
TV: B1G+ (Noah Boudouris, Brooks White and Grace Jeffer)
Live Video | Live Stats
Maryland (10-1) at #18 Indiana (7-2)
Saturday, September 26th | 7 p.m. ET | Wilkinson Hall (Bloomington, Ind.)
TV: B1G+ (Sam Egan, Nicholas Bobay and Grace Lesher)
Live Video | Live Stats
A Win Would
UCLA: Be the sixth-straight season winning the Big Ten home opener. It would also be a third win in three tries against the Bruins as conference opponents.
MARYLAND: Be the sixth-straight victory over Maryland in the all-time series and even the meetings at 11-all through 22 contests in program history.
BOTH: Be the first time IU starts Big Ten play 2-0 in consecutive seasons since the 1984-1985 campaigns. It would also give IU a seven-match winning streak heading into October.
Stats and Trends
• Big Ten play begins this weekend with a 17-game regular season slate ahead of this year's conference tournament
• IU has won at least eight games in Big Ten action in each of the last four years, including a program record 14 in 2025
• Head coach Steve Aird's group is riding a five-game winning streak into the weekend.
Notable
HOME COURT: Indiana has thrived over the past handful of years when returning home for its first Big Ten game. The Hoosiers have won five-straight Big Ten home openers, all against different teams, dating back to 2021. IU will look to extend that streak to six against UCLA on Thursday evening.
J MONEY: Second-year outside hitter Jaidyn Jager has picked up her play as the season gets rolling in 2026. She's on a run of eight-straight games with at least 10 kills, a new career-long streak. She's averaging 4.33 kills per set on IU's five-match winning streak heading into conference play.
GET HER GOING: Over the past two seasons, second-year outside hitter Jaidyn Jager has been a catalyst in the offense. When she records at least 15 kills, the Hoosiers are 12-0 in those 12 games. That includes a 4-0 mark this year which is highlighted by her 20-kill performance against NC State last weekend.
WILKINSON HALL: In IU's home gym, it has gone 24-2 against unranked Big Ten foes since the beginning of the 2022 campaign. The only defeats in that time came against Maryland (2022) and Minnesota (2023). The ability to continue to thrive in that area will be key in getting IU back into the NCAA Tournament.
SERVING TOUGH: A better weekend from the end line was crucial in getting past Coastal Carolina and NC State. IU averaged 2.75 aces per set (22 total) over those two games. It was the first time the Hoosiers had 10+ aces in consecutive contests since a run of three-straight efforts in 2023.
SPARK PLUG: Third-year defensive specialist Emma Segal has been one of IU's best workers during her time with the team. She's seen an increased role this year and is tied for the team lead in aces (13). That includes a career high four aces in a crucial moment of IU's win over NC State last weekend.
ALL INVOLVED: Second-year setter Teodora Krickovic is doing a great job at getting everyone in touch with the offense. All five primary attackers average at least 1.85 kills per set. The offense in total is at 13.64 kills per set with the Serbian adding nearly a kill per set of her own.
TALLYING WINS: Since the 2022 campaign (four-plus years), Indiana has racked up 84 wins under head coach Steve Aird. That includes at least 15 wins in each full season during that stretch. IU will be looking to reach that plateau again for the fifth-straight year in 2026.
Scouting the Opponent
UCLA (9-2, 0-0 Big Ten)
• The Bruins have navigated a non-conference slate that has taken them to nearly every time zone in the country. They beat Hawaii in Las Vegas to wrap up that portion of the schedule before coming to the Midwest to face IU and Northwestern.
• UCLA brings with them two Indiana natives in outside hitter Ava Utterback (Plainfield) and libero Lola Schumacher (Brebeuf Jesuit). Middle blocker Marianna Singletary leads the team in kills (103) and is producing nearly four points per set. Outside hitter Maggie Li has added 3.41 kills per set.
• While they haven't settled on a true lineup, UCLA has six players averaging at least 2.00 kills per set. Setter Kate Duffey has taken the offense back from transfer Ava Sarafa and is averaging 9.88 assists per set. Singletary leads the Big Ten in blocks (65) and blocks per set (1.71).
Maryland (10-1, 0-0 Big Ten)
• The Terrapins are winners of nine-straight games heading into conference play after a trio of sweeps last weekend. Their only loss of the year came against Vanderbilt in the Big Ten – SEC Challenge. Head coach Adam Hughes, a longtime friend of head coach Steve Aird – is in his ninth season at the helm of the program.
• Maryland spent the non-conference schedule getting valuable reps for all of its hitters. Outside hitter Sydney Bryant leads in total kills (95) while outside hitter Haley Melby (3.74) is leading in kills per set. Georgia Tech transfer setter Sara Toth has found great success running the offense (11.59 assists per set).
• Middle blocker Eva Rohrbach, a former high school teammate of Avry Tatum, has been outstanding in her senior season. She's hitting at a .475 clip with 2.29 kills per set. Three different players are averaging at least a block per set. Maryland opens the Big Ten season at Purdue.
Inside the Series
UCLA
• These two teams have played in each of the past three seasons. IU leads the brief all-time series with a 2-1 record. The first meeting came in 2023, the year before UCLA joined the Big Ten. The Hoosiers have won the last two games and the only contest in Bloomington (2024).
Maryland
• Head coach Steve Aird has long been linked to this series after serving as the leader at Maryland (2014-17) and Indiana (2018-Present). IU has caught up in the all-time series and trails only 10-11 over 21 previous meetings.
• The Hoosiers have won five-straight contests in the series with four of five of those coming as sweeps. IU won both matchups a year ago.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's VolleyballFriday, September 11
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