After a loss at home to No. 2-ranked Nebraska, Indiana volleyball went 1-1 on the road last week against No. 14-ranked Penn State and Maryland.
The trip started on Friday in Happy Valley with a match against the Nittany Lions. The Hoosiers started off hot by hitting .308 during the first frame. Sophomore opposite hitter Avry Tatum notched four kills on eight swings to spark a 25-18 victory and give the Hoosiers the 1-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions quickly changed the pace of the game by winning the second set 25-9. The Nittany Lions hit .591 and held the Hoosiers to -.179. After two uneven sets, the important third set was won by the Nittany Lions. The Hoosiers' graduate student Kaley Rammelsberg had six kills on 11 swings to keep the set close in a 25-21 loss.
Indiana gained back its momentum in the fourth set with a solo block from junior setter Camryn Haworth to give the team a 5-1 lead. Sophomore outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles and Rammelsberg went for seven kills on 14 swings in the set as Indiana hit .297 in the fourth set.
For the first time in history between these two programs, a match between the Hoosiers and the Nittany Lions went into five sets. Both teams hit over .300 with the Hoosiers taking a 6-4 lead at one point. However, the Nittany Lions rattled off three points to capitalize on their last-minute momentum to win the final set 15-11 and the match 3-2.
The two programs were evenly matched offensively with Penn State holding a slight .209-.194 attacking lead. Both teams also dug 67 balls throughout the match. Indiana’s 67 is the most by the team this season with eight players recording five or more digs.
Indiana continued its road trip with a sweep against Maryland on Saturday. Indiana started off strong during the first set. The middle blockers were dominant throughout the set and match, as Rammelsberg and senior Savannah Kjolhede combined for nine kills on 16 swings. An 8-0 run allowed Indiana to seal the first set 25-18.
Throughout the second set, the Hoosiers hit .319 against the Terrapins. Both Kjolhede and Alonso-Corcelles each went for five kills to set the offensive tone of the set and win it 25-19. In the third set, the Hoosiers were down to the Terrapins 12-8 before the Hoosiers rattled off seven straight points to take the 15-12 lead.
Rammelsberg and sophomore opposite hitter Avry Tatum combined on a massive double block to go up 21-17. The match ended 25-20 when Tatum aced the Terrapins libero Lilly Gunter to secure the 3-0 victory.
Indiana will host in-state rival No. 19-ranked Purdue for the sold-out battle of the Monon Spike at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
