Indiana University Athletics
Believe it – Indiana Developing Volleyball Excellence
6/16/2020 12:43:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Steve Aird's goal is clear – coach the best, beat the best, thrive amid Big Ten volleyball national dominance.
The Hoosiers' third-year coach is building a program to achieve that goal, and a lot more.
"Our staff has recruited and trained players who have gone on to the Olympics," he says. "I've been fortune enough to win national championships (as a Penn State assistant coach). We have to do it here.
"The players have to have that belief that the program can get them there."
Junior outside hitter Breana Edwards puts reality to that belief. A strong 2019 season helped land her a spot on the U.S. Women's National Team Gold roster, just behind the Olympic team.
As a freshman, Edwards recorded the most kills (360) by an IU newcomer since 2009. She had a team-leading 361 kills last season.
"Breana Edwards is a great example," Aird says. "She came in as a very green and young kid as a freshman. Two years later, she's invited to the National Team as one of the 28 best players in the country."
Recruiting outstanding players is big. Coaching them to elite status is the program changer.
"People can develop in our program," Aird says. "They have to want it and do the right stuff. Breana did and she's the poster child of development."
Edwards isn't the only Hoosier. Setter Emily Fitzner (a team-high 738 sets last year) and libero Haley Armstrong (team-leading 324 digs) also are coming off strong seasons. Fitzner also participated in tryouts for the U.S. Women's National Team, and while she didn't make the squad, she got a developmental boost certain to deliver major Cream 'n Crimson dividends.
"Emily Fitzner is the same way (as Edwards)," Aird says. "Haley Armstrong has come a long way. We've got some kids who have developed."
Development includes mindset to overcome any obstacle, whether it's a pandemic or a rugged Big Ten schedule.
"We try to control what we can control," Aird says. "Win the day. We do the best job we can of staying connected, and do it legally."
"We make sure the kids know we care. That's been the differentiating factor. We're a passionate staff. An enthusiastic staff. We believe in where the program is going, and the players have bought into that."
Buy in includes break-the-other-person's-will intensity. A big example of that came from the recent ESPN Last Dance series that featured Michael Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls. Jordan's ferocious competitiveness generated awe even among some of the world's most competitive athletes.
"I don't know if anyone has been around some like Michael Jordan," Aird says. "He was among the best and most competitive athletes in the world, and he was so far ahead of everyone.
"When you look at the Dream Team (that won 1992 Olympic gold), and how far ahead he was competitively. It was amazing.
"I've never had a group where we've had a whole bunch of kids that alpha."
Finding even one alpha competitor who dominates all others is "rare," Aird adds.
"Do you need it? The best teams I've coached have had a collective fight. That's what we need. They have to believe in each other and the vision of the program.
"The locker room has to dictate that they really want it. That's the next progression for us."
Progress produced 30 total victories in Aird's first two IU seasons, and now a top-15 recruiting class that suggests that, just like football last year, a breakthrough is coming.
"The first two years we were trying to get the ball rolling in the right direction," Aird says. "We were talking about what it takes at this level. It's finding the right kind of person and teammate to help us be really competitive in the Big Ten."
Aird coaches to win the classroom as well as the volleyball court, and it starts before players even get to IU. The eight incoming freshmen have a collective grade point average of 3.9.
"Not only are they exceptional as athletes and physically gifted," he says, "but they're really good in the classroom. It matters to them."
That, in the end, on and off the court, could make all the difference.
Players Mentioned
Defensive Specialist
/ Women's Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Setter
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