Indiana University Athletics
Three Captains to Guide Hoosiers in 2026
6/29/2026 10:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – When Indiana takes the court this fall, it will be led by a trio of talented and determined leaders. Senior middle blocker Ava Vickers, junior setter Sade Ilawole and sophomore outside hitter Jaidyn Jager were voted as the program's three team captains for the 2026 season by their peers. Vickers and Ilawole are captains for the second-straight year.
Fresh off a trip to the NCAA regional semifinals, these three players will try and guide the Hoosiers to consecutive postseason appearances for the first time this century. IU is set to play nine teams that finished in the final poll of last year's AVCA rankings, including the defending national champions Texas A&M. Head coach Steve Aird's group finished the year ranked 13th – the highest ranking in program history.
Jager and Ilawole will join Aird as IU's representatives at this year's Big Ten Volleyball Media Day in August. Vickers, who is coming off season-ending surgery, is one of two seniors (Luca Fickell) on this year's roster that has played all four seasons of their career in Bloomington. IU is set to begin the campaign with a top-10 test at Louisville on Friday, August 28th.
Fresh off a trip to the NCAA regional semifinals, these three players will try and guide the Hoosiers to consecutive postseason appearances for the first time this century. IU is set to play nine teams that finished in the final poll of last year's AVCA rankings, including the defending national champions Texas A&M. Head coach Steve Aird's group finished the year ranked 13th – the highest ranking in program history.
Jager and Ilawole will join Aird as IU's representatives at this year's Big Ten Volleyball Media Day in August. Vickers, who is coming off season-ending surgery, is one of two seniors (Luca Fickell) on this year's roster that has played all four seasons of their career in Bloomington. IU is set to begin the campaign with a top-10 test at Louisville on Friday, August 28th.
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