Preseason Primer: Volleyball

PRESEASON PRIMER
The Indiana volleyball program officially kicked off its 2024 season with report day to Bloomington on August 7th (Wednesday) and the first day of practice on August 8th (Thursday). The Big Ten begins a new era of volleyball with the addition of four powerhouse, west coast programs from the Pac-12 (Oregon, Washington, UCLA and USC).

IU won 11 conference games in 2023, the most since 1999, and returns its starting setter (Camryn Haworth), starting libero (Ramsey Gary) and the top four pin options from a season ago. Led by juniors Candela Alonso-Corcelles and Avry Tatum and seniors Mady Saris and Morgan Geddes, the Hoosiers have the most talent and depth at the outside/opposite hitter position of any season in the Steve Aird era.

Additional depth is provided by the additions of freshmen Ella Boersema (MB, Churubusco, Ind.), Avery Daum (RS, Peachtree Corners, Ga.) and Reese Hazelton (OH, Philipsburg, Pa.). The Hoosiers replenished the back row with freshman Emma Segal (Brookston, Ind.) and graduate student Delaynie Maple (San Diego, Calif.).

Gary and Haworth form one of the most potent libero/setter combinations in the league. They join Nebraska (Rodriguez/Reilly) as the only other setter-libero duo to earn All-Big Ten honors last season. Haworth is a two-time All-Big Ten selection and will run the offense for the third-consecutive season.

Here are some facts to know and notes to follow ahead of the 50th season of volleyball at Indiana as a varsity sport.

DATES TO KNOW
• Thursday, August 8th: First Day of Practice
• Friday, August 23rd: Cream and Crimson Scrimmage
• Friday, August 30th: Season Opener
• Monday, September 2nd: Home Opener
• Friday, September 27th: Big Ten Opener
• Friday, October 4th: Big Ten Home Opener
• Friday, November 8th-Saturday, November 9th: Alumni Weekend/50th Anniversary Celebration
• Friday, November 29th: Senior Night

PRESEASON BIG TEN NOTES
Senior setter Camryn Haworth was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten team for the second-straight year. Already a two-time All-Big Ten selection, Haworth is seeking to become just the second player in program history (Ashley Benson, 2008-10) to make three consecutive all-league teams.

The Hoosiers, in a revamped Big Ten, were picked to finish 10th in the conference. Three newcomers (Oregon, USC and UCLA) moved ahead of IU in the poll. Nebraska is favored to repeat as league champions followed by Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue and Minnesota in the top five.

2023 IN REVIEW
It was a marquee year for the Hoosiers in 2023, matching a program record with 21 regular season wins. Head coach Steve Aird and team finished in a tie for sixth in the Big Ten conference with an 11-9 record. IU broke an 11-year losing streak to Purdue with a 3-1 victory over its in-state rival in front of a record crowd at Wilkinson Hall. Twice over the course of the season, the Hoosiers set attendance records in the five-year-old building.

Setter Camryn Haworth and libero Ramsey Gary were the backbone of an electric, tough volleyball team. Haworth was an AVCA and Volleyball Mag All-American after finishing the year with 1,247 assists and 73 service aces. Gary, in her freshman season, was a Second Team All-Big Ten Selection and broke program records for single season digs and freshman single season digs (530).

The Hoosiers were well balanced offensively with six different players providing 170+ kills on the season. Graduate student middle blocker Kaley Rammelsberg joined Haworth and Gary on the All-Big Ten teams.

After the season, head coach Steve Aird was awarded an extension to keep him in Bloomington through the end of the 2029 season. Associate coach Rachel Morris, assistant coach Kevin Hodge and director of operations Hallie Enderle continue their roles on his staff.

2023 OFFSEASON
With five departing seniors, and six departing players in total, IU added some depth at key positions with the addition of eight players to the program. Junior middle blocker Madi Sell (Missouri) and graduate student and defensive specialist Delaynie Maple (USC Beach) joined as transfers.

A five player freshman class includes outside hitter Reese Hazelton (Philipsburg, Pa.), right side Avery Daum (Peachtree Corners, Ga.) and middle blocker Ella Boersema (Churubusco, Ind.)

BIG TEN MEDIA DAYS
The Big Ten Conference held its third annual Volleyball Media Days on August 5th and 6th in Chicago, Ill. Grad student defensive specialist Delaynie Maple and sophomore libero Ramsey Gary joined head coach Steve Aird to talk about the program's upcoming season and partake in fun social media trends, behind the scenes interviews and photo shoots at network studios.

THE LAST COVID WAIVER
Morgan Geddes will be the final IU athlete to use her fifth-year COVID player to close out her volleyball career at Indiana. A member of the 15th-ranked recruiting class in 2020, Geddes has transformed herself into a potent Big Ten arm for Steve Aird.

Despite battling some injuries at times, Geddes has produced at a high level and will be a reliable option for the Hoosiers. IU has had good success with players using their COVID waiver including setter Brooke Westbeld (2021), libero Paula Cerame (2022) and middle blocker Kaley Rammelsberg (2023).

FINAL RIDE FOR A PROGRAM GREAT
Camryn Haworth is one of seven seniors on this year's roster. A starting setter in some capacity since her freshman year, Haworth has been a treat for IU fans and has helped create some memorable moments over the past three years.

She will have a chance to break the all-time aces record at Indiana and will climb the ranks in all-time assists before it's all said and done. She's helped IU to a 37-28 record the last two years and 20 conference wins in 2022 and 2023.

Already an All-American and a unanimous All-Big Ten selection, Haworth will have a plethora of offensive options to pick from in 2024 and will hope to parlay that into ending an NCAA Tournament drought at IU that dates back to 2010.

TOUGH SCHEDULE AWAITS
Despite winning 21 games last season, the Hoosiers' RPI at the end of the season was well out of consideration for a NCAA Tournament berth. To help with that, head coach Steve Aird added some marquee matchups to align with the deep competition the conference brings.

IU will play true road matches at both Nebraska and Texas, the two national finalists from a season ago. In addition to that, matches away from home against Miami (FL), Purdue, Minnesota and Oregon will provide a massive boost to the team's postseason chances. A new era of volleyball in the Big Ten presents both new challenges and new opportunities.

Indiana University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Candela Alonso-Corcelles

Ella Boersema

Avery Daum

Ramsey Gary

Morgan Geddes

Camryn Haworth

Reese Hazelton

Delaynie Maple

Kaley Rammelsberg

Mady Saris

Emma Segal

Madi Sell

Avry Tatum

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