Indiana University Athletics
‘Sky is the Limit’ – Haworth Sets the Hoosier Tone
8/22/2023 9:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- It's time to end it, this Cream and Crimson Scrimmage that hints at so much Indiana volleyball potential.
That much is certain.
Camryn Haworth leads the way.
That, too, is certain
Would you expect anything less?
The junior setter is in constant motion in a high-energy Wilkinson Hall setting -- hustling, focusing, directing, serving, digging, celebrating.
A third and deciding set is there for the taking -- a nail-biter as the first two weren't -- and Haworth helps ensure the Cream takes it.
She smashes an ace and then a kill, then sets up teammates for decisive points in what becomes a 25-19, 25-16, 17-15 Cream victory that means nothing in terms of season records and plenty in preparation and fan-generating excitement.
Excitement looms in what could be a breakthrough season. It begins with this weekend's Indiana Invitational and matches against New Hampshire, Southern Indiana and Radford. Haworth is a catalyst, and not just because she has the strength, balance and athleticism to walk on her hands, and the academic discipline to handle a human biology major.
"A lot of coaches will have a system and say you have to do a thing a certain way," IU coach Steve Aird says. "I just want her to double down on her natural athleticism and competitiveness.
"She has this cheeky kind of we'll-find-a-way-to-win mentality. That's what makes her so good. She's an elite-level athlete, an incredibly hard worker, but at the same time, fiercely competitive."
Haworth's scrimmage-leading 24 assists reflect that competitiveness, ability to dictate and overall All-Big Ten-caliber play.
Still, she wants more.
"I need to improve in every area," she says. "I look to my team to help me get better."
It starts with the eyes. Haworth calls it "eye work" and it involves reading angles, ball placement and positioning, and doing it fast enough and in synch enough with teammates to get the job done.
"It comes down to working as a unit," she says.
Few do it better.
Haworth is positioned to become the 11th Hoosier to total 2,000 assists (she has 1,615) and the 19th to reach 100 aces (she has 91).
Last season, she led the Big Ten in aces (49) and was third in assists (1,111). She also won one conference setter-of-the-week award and one national player-of-the-week honor.
She and IU teammate Morgan Geddes were named to the 20-player USA Collegiate National Team.
"She has a little Bret Favre in her," says Aird, referring to the former gun-slinging Green Bay Packers quarterback.
"She didn't set for her club team. She didn't serve for her club team. But she's become one of the best servers in the country and maybe the best in the conference. She can change a match. The sky is the limit."
You won't hear that from her. Haworth is a team-first player and her play reflects it. She's constantly communicating, directing, and encouraging. She understands success is just as much the product of chemistry as it is talent and experience.
"We have a lot of different personalities," she says. "We've learned to find new ways to be cohesive as a group and really get to know each person on a different level. Who's their family? What are they like? What do they do on their free times?"
It all matters, especially against the Big Ten's powerful competition.
Haworth is among 12 returning players from a 16-16 team that finished eighth in the Big Ten with upset road victories over Ohio State and Michigan, a huge jump for a program that has struggled to achieve conference title contention.
The goal is to finish among the conference's best, which would also mean among the nation's best. Preseason national polls list Wisconsin at No. 2, Nebraska at No. 5, Minnesota at No. 7 and Penn State at No. 8. Current Big Ten teams have combined for 13 national championships and 13 national runner-up finishes.
Given that kind of challenge, what would define success?
"One of our overall goals is to be 1 percent better," Haworth says. "We're taking it step by step. No matter what the result is, it all comes down to the team and what we identify as good."
Haworth arrived in Bloomington as the nation's No. 75 prep player out of Fishers High School near Indianapolis. Her versatility was apparent with career numbers of 1,180 assists, 749 digs, 648 kills, 176 blocks and 149 aces.
Aird and his staff made her a recruiting priority. Their pitch, and IU's overall athletic and academic excellence, made choosing the Hoosiers a no-brainer.
"There are a lot of reasons why I came here," Haworth says. "The biggest one is Indiana plays in the best conference. That I'm from Fishers was great because I love to see my family. They do a great job of supporting me at games. And the school is amazing. I couldn't have asked for anything better."
Haworth's uniqueness transcends sports. She lists optometrist as her dream job. She represents, in every way, the best of Cream 'n Crimson athletics.
And then there's one other defining attribute.
"She has a memory like a goldfish," Aird says.
Yes, that's a good thing.
"She might make an error," Aird says. "I'll ask her why she did what she did. She's like, I don't know. She just plays. The volleyball IQ has come a long way. I haven't tried to make her anything other than what she is."
A really good player and person.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- It's time to end it, this Cream and Crimson Scrimmage that hints at so much Indiana volleyball potential.
That much is certain.
Camryn Haworth leads the way.
That, too, is certain
Would you expect anything less?
The junior setter is in constant motion in a high-energy Wilkinson Hall setting -- hustling, focusing, directing, serving, digging, celebrating.
A third and deciding set is there for the taking -- a nail-biter as the first two weren't -- and Haworth helps ensure the Cream takes it.
She smashes an ace and then a kill, then sets up teammates for decisive points in what becomes a 25-19, 25-16, 17-15 Cream victory that means nothing in terms of season records and plenty in preparation and fan-generating excitement.
Excitement looms in what could be a breakthrough season. It begins with this weekend's Indiana Invitational and matches against New Hampshire, Southern Indiana and Radford. Haworth is a catalyst, and not just because she has the strength, balance and athleticism to walk on her hands, and the academic discipline to handle a human biology major.
"A lot of coaches will have a system and say you have to do a thing a certain way," IU coach Steve Aird says. "I just want her to double down on her natural athleticism and competitiveness.
"She has this cheeky kind of we'll-find-a-way-to-win mentality. That's what makes her so good. She's an elite-level athlete, an incredibly hard worker, but at the same time, fiercely competitive."
Haworth's scrimmage-leading 24 assists reflect that competitiveness, ability to dictate and overall All-Big Ten-caliber play.
Still, she wants more.
"I need to improve in every area," she says. "I look to my team to help me get better."
It starts with the eyes. Haworth calls it "eye work" and it involves reading angles, ball placement and positioning, and doing it fast enough and in synch enough with teammates to get the job done.
"It comes down to working as a unit," she says.
Few do it better.
Haworth is positioned to become the 11th Hoosier to total 2,000 assists (she has 1,615) and the 19th to reach 100 aces (she has 91).
Last season, she led the Big Ten in aces (49) and was third in assists (1,111). She also won one conference setter-of-the-week award and one national player-of-the-week honor.
She and IU teammate Morgan Geddes were named to the 20-player USA Collegiate National Team.
"She has a little Bret Favre in her," says Aird, referring to the former gun-slinging Green Bay Packers quarterback.
"She didn't set for her club team. She didn't serve for her club team. But she's become one of the best servers in the country and maybe the best in the conference. She can change a match. The sky is the limit."
You won't hear that from her. Haworth is a team-first player and her play reflects it. She's constantly communicating, directing, and encouraging. She understands success is just as much the product of chemistry as it is talent and experience.
"We have a lot of different personalities," she says. "We've learned to find new ways to be cohesive as a group and really get to know each person on a different level. Who's their family? What are they like? What do they do on their free times?"
It all matters, especially against the Big Ten's powerful competition.
Haworth is among 12 returning players from a 16-16 team that finished eighth in the Big Ten with upset road victories over Ohio State and Michigan, a huge jump for a program that has struggled to achieve conference title contention.
The goal is to finish among the conference's best, which would also mean among the nation's best. Preseason national polls list Wisconsin at No. 2, Nebraska at No. 5, Minnesota at No. 7 and Penn State at No. 8. Current Big Ten teams have combined for 13 national championships and 13 national runner-up finishes.
Given that kind of challenge, what would define success?
"One of our overall goals is to be 1 percent better," Haworth says. "We're taking it step by step. No matter what the result is, it all comes down to the team and what we identify as good."
Haworth arrived in Bloomington as the nation's No. 75 prep player out of Fishers High School near Indianapolis. Her versatility was apparent with career numbers of 1,180 assists, 749 digs, 648 kills, 176 blocks and 149 aces.
Aird and his staff made her a recruiting priority. Their pitch, and IU's overall athletic and academic excellence, made choosing the Hoosiers a no-brainer.
"There are a lot of reasons why I came here," Haworth says. "The biggest one is Indiana plays in the best conference. That I'm from Fishers was great because I love to see my family. They do a great job of supporting me at games. And the school is amazing. I couldn't have asked for anything better."
Haworth's uniqueness transcends sports. She lists optometrist as her dream job. She represents, in every way, the best of Cream 'n Crimson athletics.
And then there's one other defining attribute.
"She has a memory like a goldfish," Aird says.
Yes, that's a good thing.
"She might make an error," Aird says. "I'll ask her why she did what she did. She's like, I don't know. She just plays. The volleyball IQ has come a long way. I haven't tried to make her anything other than what she is."
A really good player and person.
Players Mentioned
Outside Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Setter
/ Women's VolleyballWednesday, August 05
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Monday, August 03
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