‘Forward Thinking’ – Hoosiers Rolling into Big Ten Play
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Volleyball practice is over, class looms and Ella Boersema contemplates a spectacular Indiana start to a potentially spectacular Big Ten season, and beyond.
“We’re super optimistic,” the third-year opposite hitter says. “We can have a great year if we keep our eyes forward and go from there.”
Forward thinking has the Hoosiers with a 7-2 record, a five-match winning streak, a No. 18 national ranking and a top-25 RPI, a huge follow up to last season’s Sweet Sixteen run.
Their losses have been to now No. 4 Louisville and now No. 13 Tennessee. They’ve beaten defending national champion Texas A&M as well as Georgia, NC State and Cal Poly.
Adding to the challenge as they open Big Ten play Thursday night at Wilkinson Hall against UCLA (9-2), they’ve only played two home matches.
“By design we made our non-conference schedule very challenging,” head coach Steve Aird says. “Not only did we play really good opponents, but we were on the road a lot.
“I'm really proud of where we where we are. Our RPI is in a great spot. Our ranking is in a great spot. The morale of the program is in a really good spot.”
Because of injury and NCAA eligibility issues, two of IU’s best attackers, Avry Tatum and Izzy Clark, have yet to play.
“There have been times where we've had multiple kids who were all Big Ten good who haven't played,” Aird says. “The rest of the team has stepped up and put us in a great position going into the conference season.”
While returning standouts such as outside hitter Jaidyn Jager (131 kills, 79 digs), setter Teodora Krickovic (347 assists, 13 aces), Ella Boersma (95 kills, 30 blocks), Victoria Gray (61 kills), Audrey Jackson (39 digs), Hannah Leftridge (110 digs) and Avery Freeman have played to their experience, freshman Sara Snowberger (63 kills, 47 digs) has thrived in her Hoosier debut, as has Tennessee transfer Kiki Granberry (56 kills and 33 blocks).
“Sara has played every match, and going into the season, with Izzy being injured, we needed someone to step up,” Aird says. “She's done a great job.
“All of the sophomores have played really well. They’ve all taken a step up to be good enough to win big matches. When the majority of your roster is still freshmen and sophomores, you wonder if they're going to be up to the task. Thus far, they have.”
If Tatum, an honorable mention All-America last season with 359 kills, and Clark, a two-time all-conference player at San Diego with 397 kills last season, return, look out.
“We’re a completely different team with Tatum and Izzy playing,” Aird says. “With the group we have, I feel confident we can have a good (Big Ten showing).
“If the stars align and those two kids are added to the roster, we get deep and good and add veteran presence. Izzy is a really good player, and Tatum is an All-American. To play like we have without them, it shows how far the program's come and how much depth we have.”
That could be crucial given Big Ten firepower. The conference features eight teams ranked in the top-25, led by No. 1 Nebraska (10-0), No. 6 Wisconsin (6-4) and No. 10 Purdue (7-2).
“It’s the Big Ten,” Aird says, “and there’s nowhere to hide. If you don't play well, you'll get whooped. We're going to have to be really sharp and really good early.”
This is the first season with the Big Ten tourney, so teams only play 17 regular-season conference matches. Previously, it was 20. Only 15 of the 18 conference teams qualify for the tournament.
“Now, you're playing to get into the tournament,” Aird says. “You're playing for byes. You're playing for seeding. It's just a very different feel in the conference this year. There are less matches and less room for error.”
Besides UCLA, IU also hosts Maryland (10-1) on Saturday. While neither opponent is ranked, UCLA is top 20 in RPI.
“UCLA is one of the better teams in the Big Ten,” Aird says. “Being at home is nice, but they’ll pose problems because of their length and physicality.
“They're ahead of us in the RPI right now. I look at it as a team we've beaten the last couple of years, but they’re really hard to beat. It’s consistently a storied program.
“With Maryland, it’s the best start they've had in a decade.”
