How Indiana made improbable rise to NCAA volleyball tournament host

BLOOMINGTON — To understand the record-setting Indiana volleyball season, one has to rewind to preseason goal setting but that had little to do with any stat, metric or individual accolade.

“The main (goal) is to play as a team and through that connection that we have — no fakeness, we’re all so real with each other — through that energy and amazing groupness, teamness, winning, I mean, obviously every team wants to win,” freshman Jaidyn Jager told IndyStar.

The blend of connectivity and a familial feel highlighted by the program’s winningest player in Candela Alonso-Corcelles laid the foundation for a historic season. Another layer was added as the Hoosiers were selected Sunday night to host first- and second-round NCAA volleyball tournament matches. IU will host the first round Thursday and the second round Friday after earning the No. 4 seed in the Texas quadrant.

IU (23-7) will play Toledo (23-10) in the first round and the winner of that match will play the winner of Colorado (22-8) and American (24-4) on Friday. Times, tickets and TV information are to be announced.

It’s IU’s sixth NCAA tournament appearance in program history, and the second time hosting. Add it to the list of accomplishments for this Hoosiers team: most Big Ten wins in a single season (14), highest ranking all-time (15), matched the most wins in a single season (23) and Big Ten road wins in a single season (7).

That’s a far cry from when coach Steve Aird took the program over in 2018. IU was 1-19 in the Big Ten in 2017.

“Obviously, humbled, and hungry at the same time. I think I’m really proud of how far it’s come,” Aird told IndyStar. “When I took the job, there were a lot of people who didn’t understand why. It was like it was a program that had won one match and things didn’t look like it was gonna go. And it’s taken me longer than I wanted it to, but that’s every single coach that you ever talked to.

“We have a really good team, a fantastic staff, and we’ve been able to recruit exceptional players. And if you’ve got good players, you’re a good coach. So, so much of it comes back to that.”

Candy's career: Indiana volleyball's winningest player set familial culture before historic season

IU’s roster received a big boost with seven freshmen — a class that ranked No. 14 nationally by PrepDig, with five signees in the top 150 — as its highest-rated class in program history. Jager (No. 25) and Charlotte Vinson (No. 31) were among top players nationally. Bloomington North’s Avery Freeman switched her plans from playing beach to indoor and became the first in-town signee since Ashley Benson, who played at IU from 2007-2010.

And each freshmen has had a role on this season’s team. Even Vinson, who was on life support in May 2024, has carved out a role with her top-spin serve — seemingly a rarity anymore in college volleyball — that pressures opposing teams and is difficult to pass.

“It’s a unique class because they all do certain things well. They’re selfless, they’re good teammates, and they love Indiana,” Aird said. “And it’s certainly a good foundation to keep building.”

Phenoms: Indiana volleyball's future is 'super bright' with all its freshmen, especially these 2

Jager expressed the togetherness of the class, leaning on each other for their first college semesters and a heightened level of competition. They’ve delivered, together, but also emphasized the importance of the upperclassmen.

The 6-foot-1 freshman looks up to her former La Costa Canyon High School teammate, senior opposite Avry Tatum. The two connected by assistant coach Rachel Morris, who coached Jager as a freshman in high school, and now also in college.

“I look up to (Avry) in every aspect. She was such a strong and confident woman, not just in volleyball, but in everything, and that’s really inspiring,” Jager said. “Especially as a freshman and as someone who has known her for a while and has known how much she’s grown to be where she is right now, it’s amazing.”

Monday brings “uncharted territory” for the Hoosiers, Aird said, and accomplishes one of his goals, self-admittedly coach-speakish, “I want to be better every practice, every day, every this — whenever the next thing is to be good at it.”

But it is what’s required of greatness, and one shown throughout campus — Curt Cignetti elevated football into one of the country’s best, Darian DeVries is unbeaten in his IU tenure and Teri Moren retooled women’s basketball to an unbeaten start prior to Sunday vs No. 10 Iowa State.

Aird’s words came after a three-set loss to No. 1 Nebraska, which has swept nearly everyone but took IU’s best fight in the third set. And that might be the team of the century.

'It changes you.' This furry, 4-legged 'Bear' kills IU volleyball anxiety, serves happiness

Yet IU saw what it was chasing. It also is unique in that it has a service dog that treats anxiety and brings a layer of happiness and joy day in and day out in Kona Bear. It’s another meshing point of making hard days a little bit easier and a rallying togetherness for the Hoosiers.

Opponents feel that togetherness and connectedness on the court, too. When asked what people should know, in opposite rooms without knowing what either would say, the team goal is shown through what Jager and Aird believe.

Said Jager: “We’re not afraid to fight any team, obviously in the sense of volleyball, and we’re all going to go after it every single point, every single game. We literally have nothing to lose in any game, so why not go for it?”

Said Aird: “It’s a group of selfless young women that love Indiana and we’re not afraid to take on the challenge to beat some of the best teams in the country this year, especially on the road and be mature enough to do that day in and day out. They’ll be on the (Wilkinson Hall) wall here and it’ll be a program launching group and a team that should be very proud for the rest of their lives about what they were able to accomplish.”

The season is far from over, unlike most years of IU volleyball this time of year, it’s just beginning. And the Hoosiers will keep fighting for respect.

Want more Hoosiers coverage? Sign up for IndyStar's Hoosiers newsletter. Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the latest on IndyStar TV: Hoosiers.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana NCAA volleyball tournament bracket, seed, host location, record