Indiana volleyball wrapped up non-conference play and went 2-1 this past Friday and Saturday at the Western Kentucky University Invitational in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Indiana started the tournament with a 3-1 win over Texas A&M on Friday. Indiana lost the first 25-19, but bounced back in the second with a kill from sophomore outside hitter Mady Saris on a 3-0 run to put Indiana up 9-5. Texas A&M started a late rally, but Indiana finished the set with a kill from senior middle blocker Kaley Rammelsberg for the 25-22 victory.
In the third set, the Hoosiers took a 5-1 lead with a pair of kills from Savannah Kjolhede. Later in the set, the team would go on a 9-2 run to extend the lead 18-12 over the Aggies. The Hoosiers would hold the Aggies to a -0.88 hitting percentage to secure the 25-19 victory.
Indiana managed to get three kills from Saris to tie the fourth set at eight. After leveling the score, the team then proceeded on an 8-2 run to take a 14-10 lead. Indiana closed the set 25-23 on a 4-0 run with three kills from junior outside hitter Morgan Geddes. This was Indiana’s first win against an SEC opponent since a 3-2 victory against then-No. 15 Kentucky on Sept. 14, 2019.
Later in the day, Indiana defeated Tennessee Tech 3-0. Indiana hit .438 against Tennessee Tech, which was the ninth-best single game hitting percentage in program history and the highest under the tenure of head coach Steve Aird.
The first set was Geddes’ time to shine as she had a run of kills to give the team a 9-5 lead. Indiana then went on a 7-1 run to increase the point margin in the first set and secured a 25-15 win with four kills from Saris and Geddes.
In the second set, the Hoosiers were able to go on a 6-0 run with kills from freshman outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles and freshmen right-side hitter Melisa Ilter. Alonso-Corcelles then put up a pair of kills to give the team a 23-11 advantage. The Hoosiers secured the second set 25-12 with a service ace from senior setter Emily Fitzner.
Indiana won the final set 25-21. Senior defensive specialist Paula Cerame served five consecutive points with back-to-back kills from Saris to take the lead 11-9. Then after, kills from Alonso-Corcelles and Ilter got Indiana to take a 19-14 lead. The match would come to an end with a kill from Saris to end the day at 2-0.
Indiana lost its third and final non-conference match 3-1 on Saturday to No. 21 Western Kentucky. Western Kentucky was able to rally to keep the set within one point, Indiana went on a 4-0 run to extend the lead to 22-17. Indiana won the first set 25-19 after Saris finished it with a kill.
The second set was a battle between the Hilltoppers and Hoosiers. The Hoosiers took a 10-6 lead after two Western Kentucky errors. Two kills from Geddes gave the team a 21-18 lead. However, the Hilltoppers would come back to tie the game at 24 and then win the second set 26-24.
Western Kentucky won the third set 25-13. In the fourth set, Indiana had back-to-back kills from Saris and Alonso-Corcelles to take a 14-9 lead. Despite building momentum and holding a 23-21 lead in the fourth set, Western Kentucky would go on to win the set 25-23.
Indiana will start conference play at 7 p.m. on Friday at Penn State.
