Indiana University Athletics
Be Happy – Alonso-Corcelles Finds Fun in Elite Volleyball
9/17/2024 1:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Candela Alonso-Corcelles lights up arenas with a smile, lights up opponents with a massive kill. Indiana's junior outside hitter is a volleyball difference maker whose laughter and sense of fun are invaluable in the often serious business of college sports, key factors as the Hoosiers push for national acclaim.
Standout libero Ramsey Gary vouches for that.
"She's always the one to have a smile on her face," Gary says. "She is the light on our team. She is the funniest person. She makes us all laugh, especially in times when we're all so chaotic and stressed. When we are deep breathing with butterflies in our stomachs, she's the one to calm us down. That's her role."
Let others play through competitive fire. The 6-2 Alonso-Corcelles thrives with happiness.
"Some people need to be angry to play well," she says. "I need to be happy. That makes me confident. That makes me consistent."
Consistency finds the Spain native second on the team with 92 kills behind Avry Tatum's 104. She has had as many as 16 kills in a match, 10 or more in six of the IU's eight matches this season. Her 45 digs tie All-American setter Camryn Haworth for second on the team behind Gary's 122.
This follows a sophomore season in which Alonso-Corcelles had a team-leading 344 kills, plus 226 digs, 54 blocks, 24 aces and 24 assists. That was a big jump from her freshman numbers of 231 kills, 108 digs, 41 blocks and 22 aces.
"She's physically strong," coach Steve Aird says. "She has some nice tools. She's long. She can play very fast. That's what we try to do because we don't have a lot of 6-5 to 6-7 kids."
Off-season preparation included a summer stint playing with her club back in Spain. Alonso-Corcelles' significant international experience is highlighted by a pair of gold medals with the Spanish U18 team in the Western European Volleyball Zonal Association Tournament a number of summers ago. Her roots run deep in the Spanish system.
"I practiced here and back in Spain with my old team," she says. "It's good to have two teams -- in the U.S. with IU and with Spain. It gives me a lot of insight."
******
Alonso-Corcelles became a Hoosier on trust, on belief, on the understanding that, sight unseen, IU was, in every way, the best place for her, and if it didn't include a Florida or California ocean view, well, Aird recruited past that.
"I told her that Lake Monroe is a phenomenal body of water and she should check that out," he says with a twinkle in his eyes.
Alonso-Corcelles started playing volleyball when she was 4 years old along with tennis, basketball, swimming and track.
Eventually, Alonso-Corcelles focused on volleyball.
Aird learned about her through a friend with major international volleyball connections. The friend said there was a good Spanish player looking to play in the United States near the ocean. Aird worked his recruiting magic, offered a scholarship and she accepted.
Alonso-Corcelles then got on a plane and joined her teammates for the first time in Prague, as part of a summer foreign tour in 2022.
"It took a match to realize she could really play," Aird says.
Alonso-Corcelles' limited English skills were an early challenge. She says she joined the Hoosiers knowing only the basics of English.
"The language was a big barrier. It was hard. I was so lost. I came here late and everything happened superfast. My teammates helped and guided me.
"The culture was a big difference. I had no clue what was happening. My first year was so tough."
During practices, Alonso-Corcelles says, Aird would set up a drill and "I had no clue what he was saying." Teammates, including former libero Paula Cerame – a Spanish speaking player from Puerto Rico - explained it to her in her native language. Eventually, her English improved.
"Now, I understand everything."
American college volleyball is different from what she was used to in Spain, where players ranged in age from 20 to 40.
"Here, all the players are my age. Some of the rules are different. The style is different. The coaching is different."
American countries are just starting to tap into Spanish volleyball talent. Alonso-Corcelles is the only Big Ten player from Spain, which is an international power in soccer and tennis.
"I'm so grateful to represent Spain here," she says. "I want to be the best version of myself, not for me, but for my country. I feel super proud of that."
Through all of it, Aird says, Alonso-Corcelles adapted.
"She loves being here. It was harder for her early being away from home.
"She can become all-conference good. She plays with a smile and an energy. She's an unbelievable kid."
Alonso-Corcelles is a leader on a team with NCAA tourney aspirations. IU is off to a 6-2 start, bouncing back from losses to defending national champ Texas and Miami of Florida with three straight victories (including a five-set thriller over Ball State) en route to last weekend's Indiana Invitational title.
Next up is this weekend's series with Notre Dame – at Notre Dame on Friday night, hosting the Irish on Sunday.
"We have a really strong team," Alonso-Corcelles says. "We're so excited. We can beat so many good teams."
As for adversity certain to come, for the Hoosiers and for her, "I'm still here," she says with a smile, "so it's good."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Candela Alonso-Corcelles lights up arenas with a smile, lights up opponents with a massive kill. Indiana's junior outside hitter is a volleyball difference maker whose laughter and sense of fun are invaluable in the often serious business of college sports, key factors as the Hoosiers push for national acclaim.
Standout libero Ramsey Gary vouches for that.
"She's always the one to have a smile on her face," Gary says. "She is the light on our team. She is the funniest person. She makes us all laugh, especially in times when we're all so chaotic and stressed. When we are deep breathing with butterflies in our stomachs, she's the one to calm us down. That's her role."
Let others play through competitive fire. The 6-2 Alonso-Corcelles thrives with happiness.
"Some people need to be angry to play well," she says. "I need to be happy. That makes me confident. That makes me consistent."
Consistency finds the Spain native second on the team with 92 kills behind Avry Tatum's 104. She has had as many as 16 kills in a match, 10 or more in six of the IU's eight matches this season. Her 45 digs tie All-American setter Camryn Haworth for second on the team behind Gary's 122.
This follows a sophomore season in which Alonso-Corcelles had a team-leading 344 kills, plus 226 digs, 54 blocks, 24 aces and 24 assists. That was a big jump from her freshman numbers of 231 kills, 108 digs, 41 blocks and 22 aces.
"She's physically strong," coach Steve Aird says. "She has some nice tools. She's long. She can play very fast. That's what we try to do because we don't have a lot of 6-5 to 6-7 kids."
Off-season preparation included a summer stint playing with her club back in Spain. Alonso-Corcelles' significant international experience is highlighted by a pair of gold medals with the Spanish U18 team in the Western European Volleyball Zonal Association Tournament a number of summers ago. Her roots run deep in the Spanish system.
"I practiced here and back in Spain with my old team," she says. "It's good to have two teams -- in the U.S. with IU and with Spain. It gives me a lot of insight."
******
Alonso-Corcelles became a Hoosier on trust, on belief, on the understanding that, sight unseen, IU was, in every way, the best place for her, and if it didn't include a Florida or California ocean view, well, Aird recruited past that.
"I told her that Lake Monroe is a phenomenal body of water and she should check that out," he says with a twinkle in his eyes.
Alonso-Corcelles started playing volleyball when she was 4 years old along with tennis, basketball, swimming and track.
Eventually, Alonso-Corcelles focused on volleyball.
Aird learned about her through a friend with major international volleyball connections. The friend said there was a good Spanish player looking to play in the United States near the ocean. Aird worked his recruiting magic, offered a scholarship and she accepted.
Alonso-Corcelles then got on a plane and joined her teammates for the first time in Prague, as part of a summer foreign tour in 2022.
"It took a match to realize she could really play," Aird says.
Alonso-Corcelles' limited English skills were an early challenge. She says she joined the Hoosiers knowing only the basics of English.
"The language was a big barrier. It was hard. I was so lost. I came here late and everything happened superfast. My teammates helped and guided me.
"The culture was a big difference. I had no clue what was happening. My first year was so tough."
During practices, Alonso-Corcelles says, Aird would set up a drill and "I had no clue what he was saying." Teammates, including former libero Paula Cerame – a Spanish speaking player from Puerto Rico - explained it to her in her native language. Eventually, her English improved.
"Now, I understand everything."
American college volleyball is different from what she was used to in Spain, where players ranged in age from 20 to 40.
"Here, all the players are my age. Some of the rules are different. The style is different. The coaching is different."
American countries are just starting to tap into Spanish volleyball talent. Alonso-Corcelles is the only Big Ten player from Spain, which is an international power in soccer and tennis.
"I'm so grateful to represent Spain here," she says. "I want to be the best version of myself, not for me, but for my country. I feel super proud of that."
Through all of it, Aird says, Alonso-Corcelles adapted.
"She loves being here. It was harder for her early being away from home.
"She can become all-conference good. She plays with a smile and an energy. She's an unbelievable kid."
Alonso-Corcelles is a leader on a team with NCAA tourney aspirations. IU is off to a 6-2 start, bouncing back from losses to defending national champ Texas and Miami of Florida with three straight victories (including a five-set thriller over Ball State) en route to last weekend's Indiana Invitational title.
Next up is this weekend's series with Notre Dame – at Notre Dame on Friday night, hosting the Irish on Sunday.
"We have a really strong team," Alonso-Corcelles says. "We're so excited. We can beat so many good teams."
As for adversity certain to come, for the Hoosiers and for her, "I'm still here," she says with a smile, "so it's good."
Players Mentioned
Outside Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
Libero
/ Women's Volleyball
Setter
/ Women's Volleyball
Opposite/Middle Blocker
/ Women's VolleyballWednesday, August 05
Monday, August 03
Monday, August 03
Monday, August 03