Seniors Reflect on Career with Indiana Volleyball

Ahead of Friday's (November 29th) senior day, Indiana volleyball's seven departing players were asked to reflect on their time at Indiana, how they developed as a person and player and what they want future generations of athletes to know about the program. With a mix of long-time players and first-year transfers, the Hoosiers greatly benefited from the skill of this group on the court and the great relationships made off the court.

Mady Saris
Growing up, I played all kinds of sports—swimming, hockey, karate, lacrosse, and soccer. Sports were a big part of my life. I always thought hockey would be the sport I'd stick with but in sixth grade my growth spurt hit and I started to become one of the tallest players in my class. I realized the typical hockey player is short and fast. My mom's best friend, Felicity, played for the Canadian National team and had recently started coaching at a club near my hometown. I was close friends with her daughter, so I decided to try volleyball for a year. From that moment on, I never stopped playing.

For most of my club career, I played as a middle blocker. I also trained as a setter because my coach - at the time - thought it would be interesting to have a setter over 6-feet tall. When I reached my 16s year, I transitioned to outside hitter. That's when my recruiting process really began.

My club team attracted a lot of attention from college coaches when we traveled to the U.S. for tournaments. We were a talented team and we held our own as a Canadian team playing in the States. I was also fortunate to have Wisconsin opposite hitter Anna [Smrek] on our team. She brought a lot of college coaches to our court and that ended up benefiting all of us. I started getting on calls with several schools and visiting a few campuses.

When I went to IU for a camp, we were in U-Gym—the old gym before Wilkinson Hall was built. After the camp, we drove to see what was currently built of Wilkinson Hall. I turned to my parents and said, "I'm going to go here." Their response was very hesitant because I hadn't even been offered yet. But I just knew. People always say, "When you know, you know," and I knew immediately. I had a strong feeling that IU was where I needed to be.

Over the course of my four years at IU, I grew immensely—not just as a player, but as a person. When I first arrived, I was quiet, extremely quiet. I only spoke when necessary and had a small group of people who truly knew me. Fast forward a few years and I've come out of my shell. I'm still not the most outgoing person in the room, but I've gained confidence in who I am both on and especially off the court. I was constantly pushed outside my comfort zone and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

To future IU players, my advice would be to take it all in and never take anything for granted. Enjoy every tough practice, every lift, every travel trip, because it truly flies by. One thing I wish I had done as a freshman was branch out and meet people from different teams. It creates a sense of community and makes the support between teams so much fun. Look up to the upperclassmen—they want to help you and be a resource for you in every way they can. And finally, embrace being a Hoosier. Get involved, support as many teams possible and go to as many games as you can. There is no better place I could have called home for the past four years.

Jaide Cummings
In middle school, I was playing softball and running track but was looking for another sport to play. One of my friends at the time, Lexi, was playing for a local volleyball club (NFVB) and she suggested I try out. I went to tryouts and made the 12U travel team. I enjoyed the team aspect of the sport and have been playing ever since.

I began my collegiate career at Nazareth University. After a season-ending ACL injury during preseason, I transferred to the University of Toronto my sophomore year. My experience living in Toronto was awesome and the educational opportunities at U of T were great preparation for law school. I applied to several law schools before my senior year, including Indiana, with the intention of continuing my volleyball career.

After my second ACL injury while at U of T, I wasn't sure that I would have the chance to play again, let alone at the DI level. But I was determined to make it happen. I reached out to Steve after getting accepted into the Maurer School of Law at IU in the spring. I was not expecting a response but was happy to see that Steve wanted to talk. We had several conversations on the phone before meeting in person at a volleyball showcase hosted by the University of Toronto a few months before classes started at IU. After that conversation, we set up a day for me to go and visit the campus and meet people in the program in June. I then attended one of the academies at the beginning of July and had an opportunity to play with the team. Everyone in the program - from the players, to the coaches and support staff were amazing. I knew after my visit that I wanted to come to IU and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to play at this level.

My experience at IU has been amazing. Bloomington is the perfect college town with the best fans. Not only is the law school great but the culture at IU is something I have never experienced before. I love being a part of the program and representing IU. Faculty in the law school and athletic department are so supportive of me. Without their support, I don't think I would be able to play volleyball and attend law school at the same time.

Throughout college, I have learned to be more patient, not take things so seriously and surround myself with good people. I have also learned that I am capable of so much more and am more mentally tough than I ever thought possible. Recovering from two ACL injuries was one of the hardest moments of my life, but I am so glad I stuck with volleyball because I met some of my best friends and had the most amazing experiences that I would never have had without the sport.

Kenzie Daffinee
I started playing volleyball when I was seven years old. Little did I know that the sport would change my life. In the beginning, I played because I thought it was super fun but then my mentality quickly shifted to being super competitive. I always looked up to the older girls at my club going on to play in college and I wanted to be just like them. When I was 14, I realized that playing in college could be a possibility for me. At the time, I had no idea how much the sport would change my life and how many opportunities I would get to experience.

I met Steve when he came to a club practice at my volleyball club. I got on campus for an unofficial visit in U-Gym, the old gym which Indiana used to play in. Steve had this vision for the program that was so inspiring and intriguing to me. He knew exactly what he wanted to build and how he was going to build it. I have always wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself and I loved the vision he had. I remember Steve saying to me that it's a gut feeling and when you know you know and deep down in my heart, I knew I wanted to be a part of building something so special. I gave it a week and then officially committed.

Looking back, this has been the best decision I have ever made in my life. Being a part of this program has changed my life in so many ways and given me so many incredible opportunities. Seeing the growth of the program from my freshman year to now has been incredible. I will never forget the first game that we sold out in Wilkinson hall against Purdue. I had goosebumps and was filled with so much excitement thinking about how far we have come. Having people recognize us in public for the first time and say how much they love watching us play made me so emotional. Interacting with kids and fans and building relationships after the match is a really unique experience and helps me appreciate the fans even more.

Through these four years, I have learned more than I could have ever imagined. I am more than prepared for the next phase of my life and I have so much confidence in myself. Steve has done an amazing job of teaching us lessons every single day. One of the biggest lessons for me in the past year is that life goes on once the sport ends. For me, volleyball has been my identity because my life has revolved around the sport. I have had to learn that I am more than just a volleyball player and that my sport does not define me. I have learned to find joy in all of the little things in life. I have a deeper appreciation for life on a daily basis. Learning how to have a balance in life has made me love the sport even more. I am so proud of the person I am becoming and I owe so much credit to Steve [Aird] for helping shape me into the person I have become.

To future IU players: Never take for granted a single day. It can be difficult when you're drained, overwhelmed, exhausted, etc. but you can never get a day back. So many athletes spend so much time looking forward to the next thing and they rush time away. Everyone says it but your time in college flies by and it's gone in the blink of an eye. It feels like yesterday that it was my first day on campus. Playing in the IU jersey is hard to put into words for me. It is such an honor to represent IU, this program, and this state every single day. We are so blessed to be in the position we are.

My advice to future players is to go into every day with an open mind eager to learn. Go to events in Bloomington, go to other sports games, get involved in clubs. Having pride for IU means more than just being on the team. Your time here flies by and in the end, you'll wish you had more time. Do everything that you possibly can to be the best version of yourself and make others better so that you have no regrets. At the end of the day always remember that you are more than just a volleyball player and that your sport does not define you.

Morgan Geddes
I started playing volleyball in the third grade because of my mom. She asked me if I wanted to join a sand volleyball league. I told her I really didn't want to but she signed me up anyway. She also decided to coach the team. From there, the rest was history. I immediately loved the sport and the girls I was playing with. Volleyball also became something for my mom and I to do together.

I chose Indiana because - when I visited campus - every single person I met was so nice and caring. I knew that if I went to school at Indiana, I would be surrounded by a lot of great people that cared about me and wanted to see me succeed. I will forever and always be grateful that IU volleyball brought the most amazing people into my life.

I am a completely different person now than I am when I first got to Indiana. I have grown so much as a person and a volleyball player. I have faced a lot of different challenges in my time at IU and I have always come out on the other side of them stronger than I was before. So, I know whatever obstacles I face in the future I am going to be better on the other side of them.

To future IU players, please be patient with yourself and allow the time for you to grow. You are going to learn so much on and off the court during your time at Indiana and you are not going to be good at everything right away. Give yourself time to fail, learn and grow as a volleyball player and a person. I am an entirely different person than the 18-year-old kid that stepped on IU's campus five years ago. I'm forever grateful for everything.

Camryn Haworth
I started playing volleyball when I was six-years-old in a youth volleyball league. I played many sports growing up, even going into high school, but being around volleyball gave me the opportunity to play with my friends. More importantly, it allowed me to be around my mom and my sister. At a young age, my sister played volleyball and my mom was her coach. I was always in the gym with them and that's when my love for volleyball began. I began to play club volleyball at the age of 11 and the rest is history.

My recruiting journey with Indiana began on Valentine's Day, just a month after Steve took over as head coach in 2018. He came to one of my club practices, watched for only about 20 minutes and told me he loved how I played before leaving to have dinner with his wife. Just two months later, on my 14th birthday, I verbally committed to Indiana. Since then, I've watched Indiana Volleyball change so much. One of the biggest transformations has been the culture. The people in and around the program truly became family and the community's support has continued to grow. It has surrounded us and lifted us up.

Being at Indiana has taught me invaluable lessons about myself. More than anything, I learned to trust in my values, to be confident and to appreciate the importance of teamwork. Stepping into a new role in Division I volleyball came with its share of fears. However, the coaches and players helped me embrace my unique style and strengths. Volleyball is unique in that it demands a true team effort to succeed. Any success I've had is only because of my teammates and their constant encouragement.

To future IU players, my biggest piece of advice is to savor every moment. Four years fly by faster than you can imagine and those relationships and memories stay with you forever. Stay grateful for every opportunity, thank those who helped you get here and appreciate the people around you. Your teammates will have your back no matter what challenges come your way and they'll be there for you through everything. Enjoy the journey—every moment of it!

Delaynie Maple
I know my identity is not volleyball. But so much of who I am and what my identity consists of is because of what volleyball has brought into my life. I learned about optimism and perspective through my sophomore year back injury that completely changed the way I play volleyball and who I play it for. I learned what true joy and positivity felt like through the genuine relationships I had with my teammates and their unconditional support, love, and energy that not everybody gets to experience. I learned about passion and drive after winning my first NCAA National Championship and working as hard as I could every day for the next three years so new teammates could feel the way it feels when the horn blows and you know all the hard days were worth it.

I learned how to be resilient and embody grit through countless examples of adversity and workouts/practices that I only got through with my teammates helping me off the floor (literally) and encouraging me to keep going. I learned what effective and positive leadership looks like through those who paved the way before me like Julia Scoles and Sunny Villapando. And I learned what sacrifice looks like after watching my parents send me to USC and watch me live my best life while they financially and emotionally supported me from afar, never complaining once. No word count could possibly explain how much they have done for me as none of this would be possible without the hours and hours that they dedicated to helping me achieve my dreams.

My time at USC and Indiana has given me more than I could have ever imagined. I walked into USC as an 18-year-old knowing nothing but her love for volleyball and her excitement to try something new. I left with a knowledge of what hard work and support truly looked like and a love for life I never knew was quite possible. When I decided to take my last year at Indiana University, I thought it would just be a great opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and grow in new ways with new friends and teammates. Yet. it ended up exceeding all expectations that I had. I can't thank Steve Aird, Rachel Morris and Kevin Hodge enough for taking a chance on a beach kid and allowing me to grow and flourish with unconditional support and countless opportunities. It is so clear this university wants this volleyball program to flourish. From the clear and strong support from our Athletic Director Scott Dolson, to our incredible facility, to having a budget that allows us to be taken care of on travel trips, and lastly hiring a support staff like Hallie Enderle, Amanda Madsen, and Eddie Ramirez that makes this team truly a team. I did not know nearly anyone here in Indiana a year ago, and now, I could not imagine my life without these teammates, staff, and experiences I have had here for the past six months.

The one common theme through all of this was that the people always made the place. While I was in the thick of it, I felt like volleyball was what was bringing me joy, teaching me resilience, and encouraging me to lead. But in reality, it was always the people. I could go the rest of my life without playing the game of volleyball (even though I would hate it), but I don't think I could possibly get through life without the people that it has brought me.

So, thank you volleyball. For the many people you brought into my life at the perfect time. I don't know what life without you looks like but know your impact on me will last a lifetime. I hope I made nine-year-old Delaynie proud; she had no idea how much her life would change after she picked up that volleyball for the first time.

Captain D officially signing off this time.

Carly Mills
I started playing volleyball because of my sister. She has always been a huge role model for me. After watching her dive into the sport and find so much joy in it, I knew I wanted to give it a try. Growing up, I played a variety of sports, which gave me a well-rounded perspective and taught me valuable life skills. The three core sports I stuck with through middle and high school were basketball, golf, and volleyball. Each of these taught me something different: golf, as a solo sport, helped me learn how to handle pressure on my own and trust in my abilities. Team sports like basketball and volleyball, on the other hand, taught me the value of collaboration, communication, and supporting those around me. These experiences helped shape me into the athlete and teammate I am today, and I'm incredibly thankful to have parents who supported me and allowed me to choose my own path—one that ultimately led me to focus on volleyball.

I committed to Indiana University during my sophomore year of high school, which might seem early, but I just knew that IU was where I wanted to be. My parents and sister also attended IU, which initially made me consider trying something different, somewhere new. But as soon as I set foot on campus, it felt right in my heart to be here. The coaches played a huge role in that decision—they were so supportive, sending letters and checking in throughout my high school years. They showed genuine care for me as a person, not just an athlete, and that made a big impact.

Starting college was a challenge—new friends, teammates, a bigger campus, and a faster pace. But it was also incredibly exciting. I was lucky to have girls in my class to lean on and some very caring upperclassmen on the team who welcomed us freshmen with open arms and helped us adjust. Over the years, I've seen our program grow and evolve, moving from the bottom toward the top, and it's been a privilege to be part of that journey. Being a part of this rebuilding phase is something I'll always cherish. My coaches have been consistently supportive and constructive, pushing me to grow both as a player and as a person, and I'm so thankful for each one of them.

Indiana University has become my home away from home. I've had the chance to play at the highest level of collegiate volleyball, join the Kelley School of Business with all its amazing resources, and find a strong community of believers through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which I've been fortunate to lead. I've met lifelong friends, experienced the joy of competing, and found countless ways to grow, both in my faith and as a person. For all of that, I am beyond grateful.

The biggest discovery I made in college was about my faith. I don't think I truly found Christ or experienced such a deep relationship with God until I came to IU. I realized that my identity is in Him, and He's my rock, especially when I face adversity—and there will always be challenges, both in sports and in life. I've learned to lean on that foundation and stay grounded. I also discovered that I'm capable of impacting others in ways beyond just my sport. Joining the Women Impacting Others organization and building a community in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes showed me that my influence extends beyond the volleyball court. These experiences allowed me to support, inspire, and connect with others in meaningful ways, which has been incredibly fulfilling.

I also learned that college is not easy and that things don't just come your way—it takes hard work, perseverance, and a willingness to grow through challenges. Balancing academics, athletics, and personal growth has taught me the value of discipline and resilience. Embracing these lessons has helped shape me into the person I am today, and I'm grateful for every obstacle and achievement along the way. I've learned what it means to be a leader and a teammate, especially as I took on different roles each year. Competing at this level has its ups and downs, and striving to be the best version of myself daily requires resilience. But I learned that no matter what my role, my goal was to be the best teammate I could be, to lift others up, and to put the team first. I'm grateful for the different kinds of teammates I've had throughout these years and for everything they've taught me about loyalty, friendship, and support.

To the future athletes of IU: care deeply about the people around you—your teammates, coaches, and the staff who support you. Building a positive culture is crucial for the success of this program. You have a platform as an athlete here, so use it well. For me, that meant sharing my faith and letting others see the love I have for God through my actions. Find what matters most to you and make it part of your journey.

Remember, as athletes, we face plenty of ups and downs. Injuries, changes in coaching staff, wins, and losses are all part of the process, but every new day is an opportunity to grow. And remember, your identity is not limited to being an athlete. You are so much more. Get involved in the IU community, connect with people beyond your team, and make the most of every moment. College goes by quickly, and you only get this experience once, so make it count.

Thank you once again to everyone who is part of the IU volleyball family. I am incredibly grateful for the many ways each of you have touched my life.

Indiana University Athletics

Seniors Reflect on Career with Indiana Volleyball

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