Indiana University Athletics
Sunday, September 6
Nashville, Tenn.
3 p.m.
Indiana University
vs
#22 Tennessee
Volleyball Central: Tennessee and Southern Indiana
9/4/2026 3:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The rapid start to the season for the 21st-ranked Indiana volleyball team (2-1, 0-0 B1G) will come to a close this weekend. The Hoosiers will play the final games in a five-game stretch away from home to start the year with contests in Nashville (No. 22 Tennessee) and Evansville (Southern Indiana). It will end a run of five games in four different cities across the Midwest since August 28th.
IU will be the Big Ten representative in the second-ever Sprouts Farmers Market Broadway Block Party at Bridgestone Arena. Its game against No. 22 Tennessee (3 p.m. ET – ESPN2) will be the second game of an elite doubleheader in Nashville. The two teams are playing for the first time since IU won a NCAA second round game against Tennessee in 2010.
Following a win over No. 12 Texas A&M on Wednesday at Mackey Arena, the Hoosiers will be looking to win consecutive ranked matchups for just the second time in program history. It's the third-straight contest against an SEC team. Of the top six projected teams in the SEC preseason poll, IU will have played three of them by the end of this week.
Third-year opposite hitter Ella Boersema will look to continue her hot week. She had a career-high 21 kills in the win over Texas A&M and hit over .530 across seven sets at the Big Ten/SEC Challenge in West Lafayette. Her and second-year outside hitter Jaidyn Jager each had at least 12 kills in every game this week.
First serve from Nashville will come at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday (Sept. 6) afternoon. Following the game against Tennessee, IU will drive to Evansville to prepare for a Monday (Sept. 7) contest with Southern Indiana. That game against the OVC foe will be the last game away from home before opening the campaign at Wilkinson Hall against Cal Poly on September 10th.
Gameday Details
#21 Indiana (2-1) vs. #22 Tennessee (4-0)
Sunday, September 6th | 3 p.m. ET | Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, Tenn.)
TV: ESPN2 (Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak and Madison Fitzpatrick)
Live Video | Live Stats
#21 Indiana (2-1) at Southern Indiana (2-1)
Monday, September 7th, 2026 | 4 p.m. ET | Liberty Arena (Evansville, Ind.)
TV: ESPN+ (John Morris)
Live Video | Live Stats
A Win Would
TENNESSEE: Be the third-straight win over an SEC program to start the season and the second-consecutive win over a ranked team. It would also put IU in a great position for another at-large bid to the tournament.
SOUTHERN INDIANA: Be the third-straight win in the series since Southern Indiana transitioned to the division one level.
BOTH: Give IU at least four wins in the first five games for the second-straight year. It would put IU firmly in the top-20 of the national rankings.
Stats and Trends
• Indiana to feature as lone Big Ten representative in Broadway Block Party at Bridgestone Arena
• IU has finished .500 or better in each of the last four seasons - the program has won 79 games since 2022
• The win over No. 12 Texas A&M (Sept. 2, 2026) was the highest-ranked non-conference win in program history
Notable
TOUGH SLATE: This is the first time since 1987 that the Hoosiers will play at least three ranked opponents during the non-conference slate. It is also the first time in program history - excluding the Big Ten only 2020-21 season - that IU begins a year with four-straight power conference opponents in the non-conference.
BIG TIME BOERSEMA: Third-year opposite hitter Ella Boersema provided 33 combined kills in wins over Georgia and Texas A&M at the Allstate Big Ten/SEC Challenge. She averaged 3.67 kills per set in the win while hitting .538 over the two games. Her 21 kills against the Aggies were a career high.
SETTLING IN: Second-year libero Hannah Leftridge won the jersey this offseason and has quietly put up great numbers. She had a career high 17 digs in a win over Georgia and totaled 33 digs, eight assists and three aces in total in the Big Ten/SEC Challenge at Mackey Arena.
THE CONNECTION: Fifth-year middle blocker Kiki Granberry spent four years at Tennessee where she earned her undergraduate degree. On the other side of the net, setter Mallory Matheny spent the spring semester with the Hoosiers as a prep recruit from Ohio.
AIRD'S BIG WINS: Head coach Steve Aird picked up his 10th ranked win as the Indiana coach on Wednesday against No. 12 Texas A&M. He is three ranked wins away from having the most by any coach in program history. He will get another shot on Sunday against No. 22 Tennessee in Nashville.
BIG BLOCK KIKI: Fifth-year senior Kiki Granberry has been the most potent blocker on the team this season. The veteran middle blocker has 14 blocks in three matches this season, led by seven in a big win over Texas A&M. She is averaging 1.42 kills per set and 1.17 blocks per set on the year.
HEAVY LOAD: Due to some player absences, second-year outside hitter Jaidyn Jager is taking on a big portion of the offensive load in the early goings. She is averaging 3.58 kills per set while playing all six rotations. She turned up with 19 kills in a big win over Georgia on Tuesday.
UNSUNG HERO: Everyone has to be ready on any given night. Third-year defensive specialist Emma Segal had three big aces in the win over Texas A&M on Wednesday night. At any point, Steve Aird will go to his bench to find difference makers from the service line.
Scouting the Opponent
#22 Tennessee (4-0, 0-0 SEC)
• Tennessee defended its home court in the Big Ten/SEC Challenge with a dominant win over Illinois on Tuesday evening. Sophomore outside hitter Kennedi Rogers is averaging 5.44 kills per set through the first four matches of the season. She is also digging 3.00 balls per set.
• Fifth-year senior All-American setter Caroline Kerr is the straw that stirs the drink. She averages 11.42 assists per set. On top of Rogers, Kerr loves to pick out senior opposite hitter Jalyn Stout (3.25 kills per set). Sophomore outside hitter Maggie Dostic provides 2.30 kills per set.
Southern Indiana (2-1, 0-0 OVC)
• The Screaming Eagles will play three games in Atlanta before returning home next Monday against the Hoosiers. Senior outside hitter Asby Willis leads the teams with 54 kills over three matches (4.91 kills per set). Sophomore right side Carley Wright has been dig with 44 kills in three matches.
• Sophomore setter Aysa Thomas became the team's first OVC Freshman of the Year last year. She's started off hot by averaging 10.27 assists per set in their opening weekend. She's added in 39 digs, nine kills and three aces in the early part of the year.
Inside the Series
Tennessee
• The third of three contests against SEC opponents in the regular season pits the Hoosiers against the Volunteers. This game was last played in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2010. Until last year, that was the last time IU advanced to the regional semifinals.
• Jordan Haverly produced 30 kills at a .333 hitting percentage to help the Hoosiers to a five-set victory at University Gym.
Southern Indiana
• IU began this series in 2023 when Southern Indiana transitioned to the division one level. The two sides played in 2023 and 2024 at the Indiana Invitational with sweeps for the Hoosiers on both occasions. Ava Vickers and Luca Fickell each made their collegiate debuts in the win three years ago.
IU will be the Big Ten representative in the second-ever Sprouts Farmers Market Broadway Block Party at Bridgestone Arena. Its game against No. 22 Tennessee (3 p.m. ET – ESPN2) will be the second game of an elite doubleheader in Nashville. The two teams are playing for the first time since IU won a NCAA second round game against Tennessee in 2010.
Following a win over No. 12 Texas A&M on Wednesday at Mackey Arena, the Hoosiers will be looking to win consecutive ranked matchups for just the second time in program history. It's the third-straight contest against an SEC team. Of the top six projected teams in the SEC preseason poll, IU will have played three of them by the end of this week.
Third-year opposite hitter Ella Boersema will look to continue her hot week. She had a career-high 21 kills in the win over Texas A&M and hit over .530 across seven sets at the Big Ten/SEC Challenge in West Lafayette. Her and second-year outside hitter Jaidyn Jager each had at least 12 kills in every game this week.
First serve from Nashville will come at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday (Sept. 6) afternoon. Following the game against Tennessee, IU will drive to Evansville to prepare for a Monday (Sept. 7) contest with Southern Indiana. That game against the OVC foe will be the last game away from home before opening the campaign at Wilkinson Hall against Cal Poly on September 10th.
Gameday Details
#21 Indiana (2-1) vs. #22 Tennessee (4-0)
Sunday, September 6th | 3 p.m. ET | Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, Tenn.)
TV: ESPN2 (Courtney Lyle, Holly McPeak and Madison Fitzpatrick)
Live Video | Live Stats
#21 Indiana (2-1) at Southern Indiana (2-1)
Monday, September 7th, 2026 | 4 p.m. ET | Liberty Arena (Evansville, Ind.)
TV: ESPN+ (John Morris)
Live Video | Live Stats
A Win Would
TENNESSEE: Be the third-straight win over an SEC program to start the season and the second-consecutive win over a ranked team. It would also put IU in a great position for another at-large bid to the tournament.
SOUTHERN INDIANA: Be the third-straight win in the series since Southern Indiana transitioned to the division one level.
BOTH: Give IU at least four wins in the first five games for the second-straight year. It would put IU firmly in the top-20 of the national rankings.
Stats and Trends
• Indiana to feature as lone Big Ten representative in Broadway Block Party at Bridgestone Arena
• IU has finished .500 or better in each of the last four seasons - the program has won 79 games since 2022
• The win over No. 12 Texas A&M (Sept. 2, 2026) was the highest-ranked non-conference win in program history
Notable
TOUGH SLATE: This is the first time since 1987 that the Hoosiers will play at least three ranked opponents during the non-conference slate. It is also the first time in program history - excluding the Big Ten only 2020-21 season - that IU begins a year with four-straight power conference opponents in the non-conference.
BIG TIME BOERSEMA: Third-year opposite hitter Ella Boersema provided 33 combined kills in wins over Georgia and Texas A&M at the Allstate Big Ten/SEC Challenge. She averaged 3.67 kills per set in the win while hitting .538 over the two games. Her 21 kills against the Aggies were a career high.
SETTLING IN: Second-year libero Hannah Leftridge won the jersey this offseason and has quietly put up great numbers. She had a career high 17 digs in a win over Georgia and totaled 33 digs, eight assists and three aces in total in the Big Ten/SEC Challenge at Mackey Arena.
THE CONNECTION: Fifth-year middle blocker Kiki Granberry spent four years at Tennessee where she earned her undergraduate degree. On the other side of the net, setter Mallory Matheny spent the spring semester with the Hoosiers as a prep recruit from Ohio.
AIRD'S BIG WINS: Head coach Steve Aird picked up his 10th ranked win as the Indiana coach on Wednesday against No. 12 Texas A&M. He is three ranked wins away from having the most by any coach in program history. He will get another shot on Sunday against No. 22 Tennessee in Nashville.
BIG BLOCK KIKI: Fifth-year senior Kiki Granberry has been the most potent blocker on the team this season. The veteran middle blocker has 14 blocks in three matches this season, led by seven in a big win over Texas A&M. She is averaging 1.42 kills per set and 1.17 blocks per set on the year.
HEAVY LOAD: Due to some player absences, second-year outside hitter Jaidyn Jager is taking on a big portion of the offensive load in the early goings. She is averaging 3.58 kills per set while playing all six rotations. She turned up with 19 kills in a big win over Georgia on Tuesday.
UNSUNG HERO: Everyone has to be ready on any given night. Third-year defensive specialist Emma Segal had three big aces in the win over Texas A&M on Wednesday night. At any point, Steve Aird will go to his bench to find difference makers from the service line.
Scouting the Opponent
#22 Tennessee (4-0, 0-0 SEC)
• Tennessee defended its home court in the Big Ten/SEC Challenge with a dominant win over Illinois on Tuesday evening. Sophomore outside hitter Kennedi Rogers is averaging 5.44 kills per set through the first four matches of the season. She is also digging 3.00 balls per set.
• Fifth-year senior All-American setter Caroline Kerr is the straw that stirs the drink. She averages 11.42 assists per set. On top of Rogers, Kerr loves to pick out senior opposite hitter Jalyn Stout (3.25 kills per set). Sophomore outside hitter Maggie Dostic provides 2.30 kills per set.
Southern Indiana (2-1, 0-0 OVC)
• The Screaming Eagles will play three games in Atlanta before returning home next Monday against the Hoosiers. Senior outside hitter Asby Willis leads the teams with 54 kills over three matches (4.91 kills per set). Sophomore right side Carley Wright has been dig with 44 kills in three matches.
• Sophomore setter Aysa Thomas became the team's first OVC Freshman of the Year last year. She's started off hot by averaging 10.27 assists per set in their opening weekend. She's added in 39 digs, nine kills and three aces in the early part of the year.
Inside the Series
Tennessee
• The third of three contests against SEC opponents in the regular season pits the Hoosiers against the Volunteers. This game was last played in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2010. Until last year, that was the last time IU advanced to the regional semifinals.
• Jordan Haverly produced 30 kills at a .333 hitting percentage to help the Hoosiers to a five-set victory at University Gym.
Southern Indiana
• IU began this series in 2023 when Southern Indiana transitioned to the division one level. The two sides played in 2023 and 2024 at the Indiana Invitational with sweeps for the Hoosiers on both occasions. Ava Vickers and Luca Fickell each made their collegiate debuts in the win three years ago.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's VolleyballThursday, September 03
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