Hoosiers Victorious in Season Opener

Friday, August 27

Indianapolis, Ind.

3:00 PM

Indiana University

1-0,0-0Big Ten

UIC

1-1,0-0Horizon

Indiana

UIC

8/27/2021 5:39:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indiana Volleyball kicked off its 2021 season with a Friday afternoon victory against UIC. The Hoosiers took the first match of the Top Dawg Challenge, 3-0 (27-25, 25-17, 25-12).

KEY MOMENTS
• After letting the Flames take the lead early in the first set, the Hoosiers used a 5-0 run to take a 17-12 lead.
• Despite never giving up that lead, UIC crawled their way back into the opening set but a perfect block from Breana Edwards and Savannah Kjolhede propelled Indiana to a 27-25 set win.
• The Hoosiers and Flames exchanged points for most of the second set. Indiana forced four straight UIC errors which forced a Flames timeout. Out of the timeout, A kill by Kari Zumach and an ace by Paula Cerame gave the Hoosiers the momentum they needed.
• Finding their rhythm, kills by Mady Saris and Brooke Westbeld helped the Hoosiers win set two, 25-17.
• Indiana collected a quick four points to begin the third set. Kjolhede, Edwards, and Saris recorded kills followed by an ace from Saris.
• It was a dominant performance for Indiana to end the third set as the Hoosiers went on 11-2 run to shut down the Flames and get the 25-12 victory.

NOTABLES
• With Friday's 3-0 win over UIC, Indiana has won the season opening contest 13 out of the last 14 seasons. The only loss coming last season to No. 5 Nebraska.
This is the first time since 2017 that the Hoosiers have swept the opening match. They defeated Ball State in three straight sets in 2017.
• Indiana now leads the all-time series against the Flames, 6-5.
• Kaley Rammelsberg earned her first start with the Hoosiers on Friday afternoon. Rammelsberg ended the match with a team high 12 points, nine kills, and five blocks.
• Paula Cerame suited up for the first time as a Hoosier. Cerame had five digs and three assists.
• Two Indiana freshmen saw their first career starts, Mady Saris and Carly Mills. Saris contributed nine kills to the Indiana total while Mills had nine digs.
• Freshman Camryn Haworth and Kenzie Daffinee saw their first career minutes.
• Brooke Westbeld led the team in digs with 12.
• Indiana had 38 total kills compared to UIC's 30.

Quotable

"It was a good start to the year. I thought we continued to improve as the match progressed. We have a good mix of youth and experience and a long way to go, but I am proud of the effort today." – Head Coach Steve Aird

UP NEXT
The Hoosiers will play two matches on Saturday, August 28 to close out the Top Dawg Challenge. Indiana will face Bowling Green at 1 p.m. and host team Butler beginning at 6 p.m.

#GoIU