Clutch Points Close Out Important Big Ten Sweep

Saturday, September 27

Bloomington, Ind.

7 p.m.

Indiana University

Washington

Clutch Points Close Out Important Big Ten Sweep

9/27/2025 9:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Watch: Highlights

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It wasn't pretty. But Indiana found a way.

The Indiana volleyball team (11-1, 2-0 B1G) rode a pair of clutch blocks and some late home magic to finish off a tight sweep of visiting Washington (26-24, 25-22, 25-23) on Saturday (Sept. 27) evening at Wilkinson Hall. After wins on Wednesday and Saturday, the Hoosiers are off to their first 2-0 start in the Big Ten since 2003.

Both teams struggled to find their footing offensively but IU's defense came to the rescue when it needed it the most. Freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager had an important stuff block to force set point in game one while sophomore middle blocker Ella Boersema called the match with a big rejection in game three.

On the night, IU racked up nine blocks in just three sets. Boersema, freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray and senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum each had a hand in four rejections. IU's back row players provided an advantage in digs (42-32), led by eight from Jager. The Hoosiers outhit the visitors .196-.190.

Jager led the way on offense with 12 kills while Alonso-Corcelles was back in double figures with 10. Boersema matched a career high with nine kills on a .444 hitting percentage. Senior opposite Avry Tatum mustered seven kills despite lots of attention from the Washington block.

It's the first victory in program over Washington after falling in straight sets in 2023 and 2024. Since the beginning of the 2023 campaign, the Hoosiers are now 25-7 at Wilkinson Hall (.781). It's also the fifth-straight Big Ten home opener that IU has won.

The Hoosiers begin a grueling five-game stretch away from Wilkinson Hall next weekend in Los Angeles. Head coach Steve Aird and his group will play at top-20 USC on Friday (Oct. 3) before taking on its crosstown rivals, UCLA, next Saturday (Oct. 4). Both games will be on B1G+.

How it Happened
• The Hoosiers needed to gut out Saturday's match and they did just that. Picking up more balls (42-32) and blocking more shots (9.0-7.0) ensure IU's defense the ability to finish out the match. Sophomore middle blocker Ella Boersema had the rejection on match point to close the contest.

• Big plays were the name of the game. An early solo block from freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager in set one and a late tip from senior opposite Avry Tatum were two examples of clutch plays at the right time. Both set one and set three were tied at 23-all but IU was able to grab both frames.

Top Hoosier Performers
#27 Boersema, Ella
9 kills, .444 hitting percentage, 4 blocks

#24 Jager, Jaidyn
12 kills, 8 digs, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 ace

#5 Jackson, Audrey
7 digs, 3 assists

Notes to Know
• A win on Saturday over Washington helped the Hoosiers secure their first 2-0 start to Big Ten play since 2003. That season saw the program take home victories over No. 18 Minnesota and Iowa. Head coach Steve Aird and his crew did it by winning at Northwestern and sweeping Washington.

• Saturday's win helped ensure a fifth-straight season that IU has won its Big Ten home opener. Coming out of the pandemic, the Hoosiers have won the Big Ten home opener in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and now 2025. On three of those occasions, including this year's win over Washington, IU has done it in a sweep.

• Since the beginning of the 2023 season, IU has had the ultimate advantage inside Wilkinson Hall. Aird and his program has gone 25-7 (.781) on the home floor in Bloomington. In that stretch, IU still hasn't lost to a team that was either ranked or receiving votes.

• Sophomore middle blocker Ella Boersema continued her meteoric rise this season with another fantastic performance. She matched a career high with nine kills (.444 hitting percentage) – committing just one attacking error in the process. It's the second time in three games she's had nine kills for the Hoosiers.

• Since 2023, this is the ninth time that IU has swept a Big Ten opponent. Seven of those have come on the home floor of Wilkinson Hall. Of those nine games, they have come against eight different conference programs. The only team IU has swept twice in that stretch – both of which came away from home – is Maryland.

• Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles managed 10 kills for the Hoosiers on Saturday despite a slow offensive night overall. It was the 39th time in 62 career conference matches that the veteran hitter has reached double-digit kills. Dating back to last year, she's on a run of six-straight Big Ten games with at least 10 kills.