Hoosiers Drop Match to Defending Champs

Thursday, September 5

Austin, Texas

9:00 PM

Indiana University

3-1,0-0Big Ten

#1 Texas

2-1,0-0SEC

Indiana

Texas

9/5/2024 11:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

AUSTIN, Texas – On the night that No. 1-ranked Texas unveiled its 2023 National Championship banner, the back-to-back defending national champions made life difficult on visiting Indiana (3-1, 0-0). The Longhorns hit .385 (40-10-78) on the evening while rattling off big comeback rallies in games two and three. The Hoosiers had seven aces and five blocks but fell in straight sets (8-25, 21-25, 22-25) at Gregory Gym on Thursday (Sept. 5) evening.

This was the 15th all-time meeting against the top-ranked team in program history. IU moves to 0-15 in such contests, playing four of those games in the past five years. Head coach Steve Aird hasn't shied away from testing his teams in the non-conference, playing four top-25 true road games - before Big Ten play - since taking the job.

Junior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles led the way with six kills while junior opposite hitter and senior outside hitter Mady Saris each had five kills. Senior setter Camryn Haworth tallied 15 assists, passing 3,000 for her outstanding IU career.

On the night, IU compiled seven aces. Senior Kenzie Daffinee, wearing the second libero jersey, racked up two with her lethal jump serve. Five other Hoosiers, including Haworth, had one. Junior middle blocker Madi Sell added a team-high three blocks.

IU's attention quickly turns to another outstanding opponent tomorrow night in Miami (Fla.). The teams played a thrilling five-set contest in Coral Gables last season with the Hoosiers taking the victory. Tatum had 17 kills when the programs last met. First serve is set for 7:00 PM ET/6:00 PM CT.

Set Breakdown
Set 1: #1 Texas 25, Indiana 8
It was all Texas from the jump in game one as the hosts hit at a .625 clip, going errorless through the opening frame in Austin. The Longhorns had six aces, three blocks and 10 kills to open the match, taking quick care of the visiting Hoosiers.

• Head coach Steve Aird was quick to take his first timeout as IU went down five points (1-6) early. Texas libero Emma Halter went on a strong run of serve, which included three aces, to take a 10-point lead. With a packed Gregory Gym packed to capacity, Aird called his final timeout just 18 points into the set.

• The Hoosiers got some offense going later in the set with kills from Mady Saris and Candela Alonso-Corcelles but a pair of aces from Madisen Skinner closed the door on the opening frame for Texas.

Set 2: #1 Texas 25, Indiana 21
IU got itself into the match in game two, putting service pressure on the Longhorns and forcing the hosts into a number of mistakes. The Hoosiers had four aces and four blocks in the second set. Texas' All-American outside hitter Madisen Skinner took over down the stretch to erase a deficit and win the second game.

• The Hoosiers pounced off Texas from the opening jump, using strong runs of serve from Kenzie Daffinee and Avry Tatum to open up a 7-2 lead. The Longhorns were forced into their first timeout but Mady Saris extended the lead out of the break (9-3) with an ace of her own.

• The IU lead got as big as seven points after a big double block from Saris and Ella Boersema to go up 13-6. IU found itself up six (17-11) after a kill from Candela Alonso-Corcelles but Texas started to roar back after that.

• After going down 16-19, Texas closed the set on a 9-2 run. Skinner scored the final three points of the set, taking over down the stretch. She had seven kills in the second frame to pace the Longhorns to a 25-21 win.

Set 3: #1 Texas 25, Indiana 22
Again, IU made life difficult for Texas in game three. Refusing to go down without a fight, the Hoosiers saw off a pair of match points before a self-inflicted attacking error closed the match for Texas. IU hit a match-high .189 (12-5-37) in game three with three kills from Saris and Alonso-Corcelles. The Hoosiers also had three aces in the set.

• Camryn Haworth and Delaynie Maple each had aces as the Hoosiers jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead. The two teams exchanged the lead back-and-forth before Texas opened up an 11-9 advantage on a big swing from opposite hitter Reagan Rutherford.

• IU would never get the match level the rest of the way, staying within four points as Texas' began to struggle from the service line. The Hoosiers got within two a handful of times but couldn't close the gap further. Alonso-Corcelles combined on a block before recording an ace to fend off two match points. An attacking error from Madi Sell closed the game for the Longhorns.

Top Hoosier Performers
#1 Sell, Madi
4 kills, 3 blocks

#10 Haworth, Camryn
15 assists, 9 digs, 2 kills, 1 ace

#32 Gary, Ramsey
6 digs, 5 assists

Notes to Know
• Camryn Haworth recorded her 3,000th career assist with after tallying 15 against the Longhorns on Thursday night. She's just the eighth setter in program history to hit the mark and the third to do so in the rally-scoring era (since 2001). She is now 51 assists from moving into seventh on the all-time ranks.

• IU moves to 0-15 in program history against No. 1 teams. The highest-ranked win to date was against No. 4 Penn State in 2010. The highest-ranked win on the road came in the Steve Aird era against No. 5 Ohio State in November of 2022.