Indiana University Athletics
‘New World’ – IU Aims to Take Next Volleyball Step in Loaded Big Ten
8/26/2024 4:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Wilkinson Hall rocked in a volleyball scrimmage setting. A packed student section jumped, shouted and disrupted with opponent-intimidating energy, a hint of what will come when Indiana plays games that matter, when national powers such as Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue, USC and UCLA visit this 3,000-seat, state-of-the-art area in this new Big Ten era.
USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon, along with their eight combined national titles, have officially joined the now 18-team super conference, adding to the unprecedented challenge of what had already been the nation's best volleyball league given perennial national title contenders Nebraska, Penn State and Wisconsin own a combined 13 NCAA championships.
How good does this make the Big Ten? Consider Nebraska, Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue and Oregon are ranked in the preseason top 10, with Minnesota and USC in the top 25, and IU, Ohio State and Washington receiving votes.
"I know it sounds weird," Indiana coach Steve Aird says, "but I'll know a lot more about the league after the year than I do now."
Still, optimism radiates in a Hoosier program coming off a breakthrough season -- an 11-9 Big Ten record, 21 victories overall, and talent everywhere you look, led by All-American setter Camryn Haworth and All-Big Ten libero Ramsey Gary.
"If you have a good libero and a good setter," Aird says, "you can be in every match."
Aird has spent seven seasons building toward this. IU was 1-19 in the Big Ten the year before he arrived. Last year's sixth-place finish, its best since placing fifth in 1999, included its first win over rival Purdue in 11 years.
The result, Ramsey says, is that the Hoosiers are confident as never before.
"Last year was so fun to be a part of. We know what it looks like, what it takes."
Aird sees promise even while pushing caution against a schedule as difficult as any the program has ever faced. Much of this is Big Ten created, but some is of his own doing as the Hoosiers scheduled strong to boost NCAA tourney at-large bid prospects.
Yes, they really do play at No. 1 Texas and at No. 2 Nebraska.
"I have too much respect for the league and how good those teams coming in are," Aird says when asked if IU can improve on last season's sixth-place Big Ten finish. It's picked 10th in a preseason poll.
Junior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles shares that respect, and then pushes optimism.
"We have a really good team. We're so excited. We're confident we can beat so many good teams."
She flashes her trademark smile.
"It will be so good."
*****
IU's secret weapon lies by a Wilkinson Hall team bench after a recent practice, mouth open, tail wagging, curly white-and-black fur made for petting, a director of athlete wellness and happiness in every sense of the title.
"She is very comforting," Ramsey says with a smile about Kona Bear, a Bordoodle service dog trained to spot and treat anxiety, and fully capable of providing emotional support.
Kona Bear is a potential edge in the often high-stress world of Big Ten athletics in general, volleyball in particular. IU has other edges with Haworth and Ramsey, veteran outside hitters Alonso-Corcelles, Avry Tatum, Mady Saris and Morgan Geddes, promising freshmen Ella Boersema, Avery Daum, Reese Hazelton and Emma Segal, plus USC transfer Delaynie Maple, a beach volleyball All-American.
Yes, beach volleyball. Maple helped USC win four national beach ball titles.
"To see her game, it's so different," Ramsey says. "She has so many new insights. It's helping our game."
Haworth led the nation with 73 service aces and totaled 1,247 assists. Ramsey set a school record with 530 digs.
Developing difference-making middle blockers is critical. Missouri transfer Madi Sell and Boersema are set to take charge. Aird sees Boersema quickly developing into an All-Big Ten player, with Sell bringing valuable experience and maturity.
"Boersema is really special," Aird says. "Madi was here the whole spring. She gets the system."
Serving could be a deciding factor. Led by Haworth, IU has had more than 200 aces in each of the last two seasons.
"We're one of the best serving teams in the country," Aird says. We'll have to serve at an incredibly aggressive rate."
If IU does …
"We have a really good libero and a really good setter," Aid says. "We have a lot of veteran pieces. I feel good we can be competitive. To say we can make the next jump, we have to be healthy and play well. Some of our outside hitters -- Morgan, Mady, Candy and Avry -- have to take another step."
Ramsey sees that step coming, and more.
"I'm excited for everyone. Our freshmen have done an excellent job. They did not come in timid. They're really pushing the challenge. We have a couple of fifth-year players playing well. To see them get back on the court is so exciting."
To turn excitement into NCAA tourney participation, something that hasn't happened since 2010, requires consistency, Ramsey adds.
"We have to stay level with ourselves. Don't focus on too much ahead. Focus on what's in front of us. Whether that's practice, a game, or taking care of our bodies. Take it one day at a time and be in the moment."
*****
The scrimmage -- which the Cream won 25-22, 25-22, 15-11 -- displayed the Hoosiers' energy, passion and communication. Haworth set the tone with 24 assists and eight digs. Alonso-Corcelles supplied the power with 15 kills. Saris added nine kills and 10 digs. Gary had nine digs and multiple dives.
It was the first public evidence of Indiana's 2024 potential.
"What I'm optimistic about is we have a veteran group," Aird says. "We've added really good pieces. We've accumulated good people. It's a hard-working team of good kids.
"I love where the culture is and where we're at competitively."
IU opens its season on Friday in the Kennesaw State Invitational against Kennesaw State and Wichita State before hosting UC Davis on Sept. 2, then traveling to Texas to face the Longhorns and Miami (Fla.). It also plays a pair of home-and-away matches against Notre Dame, hosts its own invitational against Chicago State, Southern Indiana and Ball State before starting Big Ten action with trips to Washington and No. 10 Oregon on Sept. 27-28.
"Wichita State is always a top 25, top 30 team," Aird says. "(Texas) will probably drop the national championship banner when we're there. We play at Miami. We won there last year, but they've improved. We are home and home with Notre Dame. They'll be much better than they've been."
As far as opening Big Ten play so far from home, Aird adds, "It's a new world for us."
A new world where, if promise becomes reality, the Hoosiers won't just belong, but thrive.
"Offensively, we can play really fast," Aird says. "The biggest thing people will notice is the speed of the balls from Camryn. We have to make up for the lack of size with speed. We'll dig balls. We'll block balls. We're good defensively and good at the net. It's the speed of the offense and variety of things we throw at people that hopefully will make us tough to play.
Or, as Gary puts it, "We're ready to play the Big Ten, ready to beat some people. We had a good year last year, so continue on that road."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Wilkinson Hall rocked in a volleyball scrimmage setting. A packed student section jumped, shouted and disrupted with opponent-intimidating energy, a hint of what will come when Indiana plays games that matter, when national powers such as Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue, USC and UCLA visit this 3,000-seat, state-of-the-art area in this new Big Ten era.
USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon, along with their eight combined national titles, have officially joined the now 18-team super conference, adding to the unprecedented challenge of what had already been the nation's best volleyball league given perennial national title contenders Nebraska, Penn State and Wisconsin own a combined 13 NCAA championships.
How good does this make the Big Ten? Consider Nebraska, Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue and Oregon are ranked in the preseason top 10, with Minnesota and USC in the top 25, and IU, Ohio State and Washington receiving votes.
"I know it sounds weird," Indiana coach Steve Aird says, "but I'll know a lot more about the league after the year than I do now."
Still, optimism radiates in a Hoosier program coming off a breakthrough season -- an 11-9 Big Ten record, 21 victories overall, and talent everywhere you look, led by All-American setter Camryn Haworth and All-Big Ten libero Ramsey Gary.
"If you have a good libero and a good setter," Aird says, "you can be in every match."
Aird has spent seven seasons building toward this. IU was 1-19 in the Big Ten the year before he arrived. Last year's sixth-place finish, its best since placing fifth in 1999, included its first win over rival Purdue in 11 years.
The result, Ramsey says, is that the Hoosiers are confident as never before.
"Last year was so fun to be a part of. We know what it looks like, what it takes."
Aird sees promise even while pushing caution against a schedule as difficult as any the program has ever faced. Much of this is Big Ten created, but some is of his own doing as the Hoosiers scheduled strong to boost NCAA tourney at-large bid prospects.
Yes, they really do play at No. 1 Texas and at No. 2 Nebraska.
"I have too much respect for the league and how good those teams coming in are," Aird says when asked if IU can improve on last season's sixth-place Big Ten finish. It's picked 10th in a preseason poll.
Junior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles shares that respect, and then pushes optimism.
"We have a really good team. We're so excited. We're confident we can beat so many good teams."
She flashes her trademark smile.
"It will be so good."
*****
IU's secret weapon lies by a Wilkinson Hall team bench after a recent practice, mouth open, tail wagging, curly white-and-black fur made for petting, a director of athlete wellness and happiness in every sense of the title.
"She is very comforting," Ramsey says with a smile about Kona Bear, a Bordoodle service dog trained to spot and treat anxiety, and fully capable of providing emotional support.
Kona Bear is a potential edge in the often high-stress world of Big Ten athletics in general, volleyball in particular. IU has other edges with Haworth and Ramsey, veteran outside hitters Alonso-Corcelles, Avry Tatum, Mady Saris and Morgan Geddes, promising freshmen Ella Boersema, Avery Daum, Reese Hazelton and Emma Segal, plus USC transfer Delaynie Maple, a beach volleyball All-American.
Yes, beach volleyball. Maple helped USC win four national beach ball titles.
"To see her game, it's so different," Ramsey says. "She has so many new insights. It's helping our game."
Haworth led the nation with 73 service aces and totaled 1,247 assists. Ramsey set a school record with 530 digs.
Developing difference-making middle blockers is critical. Missouri transfer Madi Sell and Boersema are set to take charge. Aird sees Boersema quickly developing into an All-Big Ten player, with Sell bringing valuable experience and maturity.
"Boersema is really special," Aird says. "Madi was here the whole spring. She gets the system."
Serving could be a deciding factor. Led by Haworth, IU has had more than 200 aces in each of the last two seasons.
"We're one of the best serving teams in the country," Aird says. We'll have to serve at an incredibly aggressive rate."
If IU does …
"We have a really good libero and a really good setter," Aid says. "We have a lot of veteran pieces. I feel good we can be competitive. To say we can make the next jump, we have to be healthy and play well. Some of our outside hitters -- Morgan, Mady, Candy and Avry -- have to take another step."
Ramsey sees that step coming, and more.
"I'm excited for everyone. Our freshmen have done an excellent job. They did not come in timid. They're really pushing the challenge. We have a couple of fifth-year players playing well. To see them get back on the court is so exciting."
To turn excitement into NCAA tourney participation, something that hasn't happened since 2010, requires consistency, Ramsey adds.
"We have to stay level with ourselves. Don't focus on too much ahead. Focus on what's in front of us. Whether that's practice, a game, or taking care of our bodies. Take it one day at a time and be in the moment."
*****
The scrimmage -- which the Cream won 25-22, 25-22, 15-11 -- displayed the Hoosiers' energy, passion and communication. Haworth set the tone with 24 assists and eight digs. Alonso-Corcelles supplied the power with 15 kills. Saris added nine kills and 10 digs. Gary had nine digs and multiple dives.
It was the first public evidence of Indiana's 2024 potential.
"What I'm optimistic about is we have a veteran group," Aird says. "We've added really good pieces. We've accumulated good people. It's a hard-working team of good kids.
"I love where the culture is and where we're at competitively."
IU opens its season on Friday in the Kennesaw State Invitational against Kennesaw State and Wichita State before hosting UC Davis on Sept. 2, then traveling to Texas to face the Longhorns and Miami (Fla.). It also plays a pair of home-and-away matches against Notre Dame, hosts its own invitational against Chicago State, Southern Indiana and Ball State before starting Big Ten action with trips to Washington and No. 10 Oregon on Sept. 27-28.
"Wichita State is always a top 25, top 30 team," Aird says. "(Texas) will probably drop the national championship banner when we're there. We play at Miami. We won there last year, but they've improved. We are home and home with Notre Dame. They'll be much better than they've been."
As far as opening Big Ten play so far from home, Aird adds, "It's a new world for us."
A new world where, if promise becomes reality, the Hoosiers won't just belong, but thrive.
"Offensively, we can play really fast," Aird says. "The biggest thing people will notice is the speed of the balls from Camryn. We have to make up for the lack of size with speed. We'll dig balls. We'll block balls. We're good defensively and good at the net. It's the speed of the offense and variety of things we throw at people that hopefully will make us tough to play.
Or, as Gary puts it, "We're ready to play the Big Ten, ready to beat some people. We had a good year last year, so continue on that road."
Players Mentioned
Outside Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
Libero
/ Women's Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Setter
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
Opposite/Middle Blocker
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