Indiana University Athletics
‘No Fear’ -- Hoosiers ‘Ready to Roll’ into NCAA Volleyball Tournament
12/1/2025 2:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Fear? These Indiana volleyball Hoosiers have no time for that. They're too busy rising to challenges and accumulating achievements a young team (five freshmen playing major roles) has no business doing.
Case in point, IU compiling a 23-7 record with five wins against top-50 programs and a fifth-place finish in the Big Ten (its best conference showing since 1999) to earn a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tourney. It's the Hoosiers' first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010.
Not bad for a team picked in the preseason to finish 11th in the Big Ten.
"If I take this team and play anywhere in the world," head coach Steve Aird says, "there won't be a player that is scared of competition. It's play as hard as you can.
"That's another thing I like about this group. There's not a lot of fear."
The Hoosiers will host first and second-round matches on Thursday and Friday at Wilkinson Hall, starting with MAC tournament champion Toledo (23-10). Colorado (22-8) and American (24-4) will play in the other first-round game. The winners will play on Friday. That winner will advance to the regional semifinals.
IU, which is 10-2 at Wilkinson Hall this season, is hosting the first two rounds for the first time since 2010. It's the program's sixth NCAA tourney appearance.
"We're thrilled," Aird says. "Being at home is such an unbelievable opportunity. We've been so good at home. I expect the fan base to be awesome.
"We're excited to get going. I'm already in the office getting back to work. I feel we have a real chance to put a couple of matches together. We have a chance to do something special."
The Hoosiers' success comes in part by trying to push opponents to the breaking point. Aird calls it "dragging teams out to the deep water."
"The more volleyball we play, the better our chances of winning," he says. "We will fight you from the first whistle to the last whistle. That's just who we are. The DNA of the team."
A potent offense is led by senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles, senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum and freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager. They average over 10 kills per set.
Leadership comes from Alonso-Corcelles, Tatum and fellow seniors Jessica Smith and Madi Sell.
Jager is part of an outstanding freshman class that also includes middle blocker Victoria Gray and setter Teodora Krickovic.
Aird, who is in his eighth season, says he's proud of the program's "resiliency."
"The fact we've been chipping away, chipping away. We were really good a couple of years ago (IU went 21-12 in 2023). Last year, we got hit with injuries (and finished 15-15).
"The staff has done an unbelievable job. The leadership of the team with the four seniors has been incredible. A great freshman class has played well and been super brave.
"We're ready to roll."
The goal is to make NCAA tourney participation the norm moving forward. That includes keeping the same approach even amid one-and-done pressure.
"I'm pretty stubborn about that," Aird says. "There are certain things you have to do to be elite. We'll keep taking steps in that space."
Through it all, Aird keeps the focus on what's next rather than what's been accomplished.
"A lot of coaches are like this," he says. "You don't enjoy the journey. You don't smell the roses. You just aggressively attack the next thing. Until then, there there's no taking my foot off the gas."
