Hoosiers Open Big Ten Play in Bloomington

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – After traveling 5,140 miles for 11 straight road matches to start the season, the Indiana volleyball team returns to Bloomington to open conference play at home.

The Schedule
Friday September 21 at 7:00 PM ET: Indiana vs. Northwestern
Sunday September 23 at 1:00 PM ET: Indiana vs. No. 8 Illinois

Home Sweet Home
The Hoosiers are thrilled to be playing at home for the first time this season. While construction on the new arena is ongoing Indiana will play this week at University Gym (2721 E 10^th Street). While they will be playing in the same venue as last year, the atmosphere will be much different under first year head coach Steve Aird.

"It will be a little different than most every volleyball environment in the country and that's by design," IU head coach Steve Aird said. We are hoping that when we finally get into the new arena it goes to a whole different level."

"The cool thing about this school, I think the students really care," Aird said. "I think there are a lot of students, a lot of freshmen, a lot of people who are looking to be a part of something. Why not get in on the bottom floor of something that is going to be fun for the next decade."

Atmosphere & Promotions
The atmosphere will be different at volleyball matches this year. Starting with before the match their will be a tailgate for students with free food one hour before the match. The IU drumline will greet people coming into the building and play during the match. There will be a DJ embedded into the student section and the student section will be something you have to see for yourself.

Promotions
• First 250 fans at the match on Friday get an IU volleyball t-shirt.
• Free admission for any IU Knothole Kids Club Member who shows membership badge at the gate.
• All students who check in on the Crimson Guard App are entered to win a pair of Beats Headphones.
• Sunday the giveaway will be IU Bucket Hats.
• Sunday in addition to the student tailgate there will be a Red Zone tailgate.

Queen City Classic
The Hoosiers finished non-conference play with a 3-0 weekend at the Queen City Classic in Cincinnati. The Hoosiers picked up wins over Xavier, Cincinnati and Eastern Kentucky. Freshman Breana Edwards was named the tournament MVP. Edwards ranks second on the team in kills with 135 and has notched double-digit kills in seven straight matches. The Hoosiers won their third five set match of the season when they secured a 3-2 victory over a Cincinnati team that has been receiving votes in the AVCA top-25 poll. Deyshia Lofton and Bayli Lebo also earned spots on the Queen City Classic All-Tournament Team.

IU Head Coach Steve Aird

On the new arena, Wilkinson Hall
"I think everyone would be a lot more disappointed if the school wasn't so behind volleyball. When you look at it, you look at the building the fact that they are doing it and are committed to it, I think that trumps any kind of negative emotion to me. It will get done when it's going to get done, but we are grateful that this school cares enough about this sport and the direction it's going to be able to do that for us. That's the overwhelming take on it."

On being home
"It's good to be at home. They are at a good place emotionally. I think being at home matters. Having the whole week to prepare for a Friday match helps. The competition is going to get really good here as we get into conference, but being at home, we have been on the road for four weeks."

Notes
• The Hoosiers are 9-2 on the season.
• Redshirt junior Kendall Beerman leads the Hoosiers in kills with 145 and is second on the team in digs with 132. Beerman has tallied double-doubles in six of the Hoosiers 11 matches this season.
• Freshman Breana Edwards is second on the team in kills with 135. Edwards has notched double-digit kills in seven straight matches. Edwards was the MVP of the Queen City Classic and has played in all 43 sets for Indiana this season.
• Deyshia Lofton leads the Hoosiers in blocks with 58 and ranks ninth in the Big Ten in blocks at 1.35 per set. Lofton also ranks in the top-10 in the conference in hitting percentage at the ninth spot at .386.
• Sophomore Bayli Lebo leads the Hoosiers in digs with 192 and ranks seventh in the Big Ten in that category with 4.47 digs per set. Lebo has recorded 20 or more digs in four matches this season. Lebo has also been putting pressure on opponents from the service line as she leads Indiana in aces with 15.

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Players Mentioned

Kendall Beerman

Breana Edwards

Bayli Lebo

Deyshia Lofton

Indiana University Athletics