Big Crowd Powers Big Ten Sweep

Thursday, September 24

Bloomington, Ind.

7 p.m.

Indiana University

8-2,1-0Big Ten

(RV) UCLA

9-3,0-1Big Ten

Team	1	2	3	Final F
UCLA	25	19	21	0
Indiana	27	25	25	3

Box Score (PDF)

9/24/2026 10:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Watch: Highlights

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Wilkinson Hall has been one of the toughest places to play in the conference over the last five seasons. When Big Ten season opens up, the volume in the building kicks up a notch. The arena was at its finest on Thursday (Sept. 24) evening as the 18th-ranked Indiana volleyball team (8-2, 1-0 B1G) opened league action with a sweep (27-25, 25-19, 25-21) of UCLA (9-3, 0-1 B1G) in Bloomington.

Head coach Steve Aird challenged his defense in practice over the last three days and it stepped up in a big way. The Bruins were held to a season low in hitting percentage (.150) as IU's block and service pressure disrupted their flow the entire night. Fifth-year middle blocker Kiki Granberry had a hand in six of IU's nine blocks. Second-year outside hitter Jaidyn Jager and second-year libero Hannah Leftridge shared the lead with 11 digs.

Even as the offense struggled to find a rhythm against the big UCLA block, IU's attackers found big points when they needed it most. Jager led the team with 13 kills while third-year opposite hitter Ella Boersema chipped in 10 kills of her own. First-year outside hitter Sara Snowbarger had nine kills and hit perfect (4-4) in the final set. IU ended the night with a .238 hitting percentage behind 36 assists from second-year setter Teodora Krickovic.

The Hoosiers will welcome Maryland on Saturday (Sept. 26) evening with the chance to start 2-0 in the Big Ten in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1984-85. First serve from Wilkinson Hall is set for 7 p.m. as IU tries to win its sixth-straight contest in the all-time series against the Terrapins. All fans are encouraged to wear purple as part of IU's Alz Together night in the fight against Alzheimer's.

How it Happened
• IU's defense and service pressure was stifling all night as UCLA tried to find an offensive system that worked. No one had double-digit kills for the Bruins as they mustered just 35 kills in three sets. IU scored big points via the block (9.0) and the serve (7).

• A big run of serve from second-year setter Teodora Krickovic helped turn the momentum in set one as IU faced a pair of set points. A kill and a block from fifth-year middle blocker Kiki Granberry tied the opening frame at 24-all. Third-year opposite hitter Ella Boersema finished things off with a swing off high hands to take the first set in Bloomington.

Top Hoosier Performers
#77 Granberry, Kiki
6 kills, 6 blocks

#1 Snowbarger, Sara
9 kills, .400 hitting percentage

#12 Krickovic, Teodora
36 assists, 5 aces, 3 digs, 2 kills

Notes to Know
• With the win on Thursday evening, IU has now won six-straight Big Ten home openers. It's the second-straight year (2025 – vs. Washington) opening up the league campaign at Wilkinson Hall with a sweep. In total, IU is 25-2 against unranked conference foes at home since the beginning of the 2022 season.

• Sophomore outside hitter Jaidyn Jager didn't have her cleanest offensive night but came up with 13 important kills to lead the way for the Hoosiers. She has now reached double digits in nine-straight contests and is averaging 4.15 kills per set in the month of September. Jager's 11 digs gave her the ninth double-double of her career.

• The sweep of UCLA, IU's second in the last three years, was the 25th overall Big Ten win in straight sets since he became head coach of the program in 2018. It's the ninth over a conference opponent in the last two campaigns alone. The Hoosiers have won six-straight Big Ten efforts against west coast programs – a streak that features three-straight wins over the Bruins.

• Second-year setter Teodora Krickovic produced five aces in the Thursday win including three on an early service run in the second set. She's the fifth different Hoosier (Camryn Haworth (4), Jessica Smith, Candela Alonso-Corcelles and Mady Saris) with five-or-more aces in a Big Ten match since the start of 2022.