Saris and Geddes Ready for Big Seasons

Saris & Geddes Ready for Big Seasons
Mady Saris couldn't think about anything else all summer long. She was so excited to get back in the gym.

Hard to blame her after the Hoosiers compiled nine Big Ten wins in 2022, the most since 2010, and enjoyed an eighth-place finish in the conference. Saris had one of the biggest breakout seasons in the Big Ten with 427 kills, 163 digs and 38 blocks. Her 427 kills were the most by an IU player since 2012 (Jordan Haverly).

At the same time Saris was training in Canada with the national team program, her fellow outside hitter, senior Morgan Geddes, was off in Anaheim with the U.S. Collegiate National team.

The duo, with five years of college experience combined, is a strength of IU's when healthy and playing together. Paired with the addition of Avry Tatum on the right and other big arms in sophomore Candela Alonso-Corcelles and senior Grae Gosnell, IU's got a plethora of options to play on the outsides.

To win in the Big Ten, you need big arms. If the Hoosiers are going to build on their season from last year, they'll need big production from veteran pieces which includes Saris and Geddes.

Before IU's first match of the season, we caught up with the Hoosier duo with a chip on their shoulder this year.

What's the preseason been like for you?
MS: I was personally excited all summer long. The only thing that was on my mind was camp and the new season. The staff is just awesome. The team as a whole, we're so cohesive. It's so much fun to be in the gym every day. Everyone is looking forward to playing each day."

MG: The atmosphere in the gym this preseason is the best it's ever been. This will be my fourth year but third preseason because of COVID and each year it's been so different. We're so much further this preseason and we're so far into it and we're already going at it. We feel comfortable around each other.

How was it training with your respective national teams?
MS: The style of play in Canada is definitely different than it is in the US so it was cool to go back there and see those differences.

MG: It's always a challenge when you're next to new people because you have to learn how to play with them. Everybody's style of play is so different but it was such a great learning experience. Taking stuff you learned there and bringing it back to our gym is always great.

What have you been trying to improve this year?
MS: I was trying to work on my communication with my teammates so that the off-the-court things translate to on-the-court.

MG: Seeing what we did last year, it just got everybody excited. It's awesome to see the amount of belief in the group with what we're trying to do. We're all ready to move towards this one goal.

MS: Our word is "united" and we're all together and chasing the same thing.

How have you seen yourselves develop as a person?
MG: I'm a completely different human than I was my freshman year.

MS: Me too. I was a mute. I owe it all back to Steve [Aird]. He's always pushing us out of our comfort zones in the best way to grow as a person.

MG: The reason we are here every day is to be pushed more and more outside that comfort zone. You learn way more about yourself and become more confident being uncomfortable in different situations. You take that back into everyday life.

Your position is very tough and a lot of errors come with it, how do you stay mentally locked in?
MG: That's a big thing we've been talking about this preseason. The truth is in the middle. Sometimes you're going to have an amazing match. The whole thing we're trying to do is be consistent.

MS: If you are struggling, you have someone behind you that's always picking you up and supporting you.

What's it like getting to play with a consistent group for the second-straight year?
MS: It's a confidence we have in each other. Let's say I shank a ball; Cam knows the next ball is going to be playable. If she sets a bad ball, she knows I'm going to put it into play. It's those little things.

MG: The newcomers, it feels like they've been here longer than they have. They just dived right in. We're learning how to play with them, yes, but playing next to them is still super easy.

What has Associate Coach Rachel [Morris] provided for you and the program?
MG: Rachel has been huge for the mental side of our game. We work every day to perfect our craft, but she came in here and helped us work on both the physical and mental side.

MS: Volleyball is a mental sport because every point ends with someone messing up. You have to be tough enough to move on. Off-the-court has been so huge. You've learned people's personalities and that helps on-the-court.

Indiana University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Candela Alonso-Corcelles

Morgan Geddes

Grae Gosnell

Mady Saris

Avry Tatum

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