Indiana University Athletics
'Best is Yet to Come' - IU Volleyball Building the Fire
10/4/2023 11:30:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana volleyball defeat comes and autographs follow, a sequel to the victory-and-autograph scenario from the previous night.
Building a championship culture always -- always -- requires passionate support.The Hoosiers have it as never before.
A record sell-out crowd of 2,632 rocks Wilkinson Hall and all things seem possible – and almost are. A first-set victory against unbeaten Nebraska is nearly duplicated in a second-set cliffhanger. The Hoosiers have found that higher gear coach Steve Aird seeks. The No. 2 Cornhuskers, drained from a grueling five-set victory at Purdue the previous night and relentless Big Ten travel, are vulnerable.
IU seems poised to do what would have been unthinkable throughout most of its 50-year volleyball history -- establish itself as one of the top teams in the Big Ten.
But then Nebraska finds its own higher gear derived from its national championship tradition and imposing talent to win the third and fourth sets for a Saturday night team victory that reflects their resilience and, in so many ways, Hoosier program promise.
"We were pretty good," Aird tweets in the aftermath. "Nebraska was better. I'm proud of the program and where we are headed. Forever Forward."
Forward thinking is everywhere you look for this program on the rise.
"It's exciting," setter Camryn Haworth says. "Why wouldn't it be? We get to play the best teams and the best players in the nation. That's really cool. I never thought I'd be here. Little Camryn never would have thought this."
Adult Camryn and all the Hoosiers think it now. Aird has spent six seasons building a program capable of beating the Big Ten's best. IU isn't there yet, but a once seemingly insurmountable gap has closed.
The 12-5 overall record, 2-2 in the Big Ten, reflects that. Conference losses were to No. 2 Nebraska and at No. 1 Wisconsin.
Ask Aird what makes this team special and coaching perspective from a resume that includes six Final Fours and two national titles resonates.
"As far as the 'special' designation," he says, "we're not there yet. It's a good group of kids. They care about each other. They compete hard. We've done a great job of recruiting pieces who have turned into good Big Ten players.
"Early in my career here, we didn't get a lot of sweeps. We were on the other end of a lot of sweeps. We have a chance to have a special year. We have to play better, commit to training and stay healthy.Â
"We're not a team that can strangle teams. We have to play special matches. If you want to talk special, I hope we have more of that later on in the year."
*****
IU wins because of players such as Haworth, whose 132Â career aces are a program record for the rally era, which began in 2001, and who has a shot at the overall Hoosier record of 197. She totaled 72 assists against Iowa and Nebraska.
It wins because of middle blocker Savannah Kjolhede, who had 10 kills against Nebraska while adding a team-high-tying four blocks.
It wins because of opposite hitter Avry Tatum, who had 19 total kills against Iowa and Nebraska.
It wins because of libero Ramsey Gary, who has at least 10 digs in 15Â of 17 matches, and who had 21 digs against Nebraska and who has 241 for the season.
It wins because of outside hitter Morgan Geddes, who had nine kills each against Iowa and Nebraska.
It wins because of those players, and more, and it goes far beyond numbers.
"We have a lot of heart," Haworth says. "We have a lot of passion to play the game and play for each other. That makes this group different than the past 48Â (IU) groups."
Adds Geddes: "The camaraderie and chemistry we have on and off the court is great. When life is good outside the gym, it's easy to bring that on the court."
*****
Good teams become great because of little things as much as sheer talent. It requires effort, chemistry and communication.
Aird is big on communication.
"The tougher the environments," Aird says, "the more communication matters."
Sometimes in the heat of action, the Hoosiers forget this. Aird uses humor -- among other things -- to remind them.
"I don't know if they believe in telepathy, or have their own thing going on," he says. "I don't mind if you're a quiet kid. That doesn't bother me, but you have to give up something of yourself if you're going to play a team sport.
"The game is so fast. You have to make decisions so quickly."
It helps to have Gary, who plays beyond her freshman status. Her 21 digs against Nebraska, eight more than she had the previous night in a sweep of Iowa, kept giving IU chances.
"Ramsey is special and she makes up for some flaws, but we have to be better defensively and in serve receive," Aird says. "A lot of that is about mentality, communication and confidence. It helps when your team lets you know what's going on.
"Communication is a work in progress. It's something we have to get better at. I've been doing this for a while. Every year it's the same thing."
Communication follows game planning which demands execution.
"Coaches do everything they can to get us ready," Geddes says. "We know what's coming. They give us a great game plan and it's a matter of executing it."
*****
Saturday night's sellout reflects impressive facilities and leadership highlighted by athletic director Scott Dolson, senior associate athletic director Jeremy Gray and deputy athletic director Mattie White as well as strong play and outstanding support from the Wilkinson family.
"I'm proud of the players for building a program people want to be part of and come to see," Aird says. "Full credit to the girls.
"I'm proud of IU Athletics. Scott Dolson, Mattie White and Jeremy Gray had the vision of where we could get this to. That was super cool.Â
"Thanks to Jay Wilkinson for helping us put this building together. It's a special place and can be really fun in the future."
It's fun now, of course. The Hoosiers thrive with high-energy play and fueled by consistently large home crowds.
"We've been working on our culture the last couple of years," Haworth says. "To see it come together with the support in the community is great."
Seventeenth-ranked Purdue will come to Wilkinson Hall on Oct.11 as well as No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 13 Minnesota and No. 22 Ohio State after that.
The Hoosiers, who travel to No. 15 Penn State on Friday and Maryland on Saturday, seem well equipped to handle all those challenges, and more.
"We do have a high gear," Aird says. "We can play with the best."
It takes consistency, Geddes adds.
"We talk about that a lot, and everybody being at their 8 out of 10. Once we figure that out, we'll be fine."
When they do, look out.
"The best is yet to come," Haworth says. "We haven't put every piece together yet. Everybody has been firing at different times. Pretty soon it will all come together, each individual skill -- passing, serving, setting. The offense in general. We need all 17 of us to be at our best and have that fire."Â
