Big Block, Late Offensive Surge Sparks Sweep of VCU

Saturday, August 30

Coral Gables, Fla.

2 p.m.

Indiana University

2-0,0-0Big Ten

VCU

1-1,0-0Atlantic 10

Indiana

VCU

Big Block, Late Offensive Surge Sparks Sweep of VCU

8/30/2025 5:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Less than 24 hours after a dramatic win over Miami (Fla.), the Indiana volleyball team (2-0, 0-0 B1G) put together a sweep of a pesky VCU (1-1, 0-0 A10) side (25-20, 25-20, 25-21) on Saturday (Aug. 30) morning at the James L. Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables.

Service pressure from the end line, including eight aces, helped set up IU's block early and often. The Hoosiers had six blocks in the first set and 10 on the afternoon. Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray had a hand in six blocks (one solo, five assists) while fellow freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager racked up five (one solo, four assists).

VCU was forced to run its offense from well off the net, resulting in 20 attacking errors for the Rams. IU's defense held its opponents to just a .129 hitting percentage (33-20-101). Freshman libero Audrey Jackson led the match with nine digs in the back row.

IU's offense picked up steam as the match rolled on. Senior opposite Avry Tatum supplied 10 kills on 22 errorless swings (.455). Jager was back in double figures with 11 kills while senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles recorded nine. Freshman setter Teodora Kričković had 30 assists (10.00 p/s) as the team hit .284 over three games.

The Hoosiers have won 10-consecutive games played in the state of Florida including all nine under head coach Steve Aird. It's the fifth-straight season that IU has won at least the first two games of the campaign. A return to Wilkinson Hall is on the horizon as Aird's squad begins the home slate on Thursday (Sept. 4) against SEMO.

How it Happened
• The Hoosiers spent most of the match in control of the proceedings. IU had more kills (38-33), a better hitting percentage (.284-.129) and a significant blocking advantage (10.0-5.0). Communication issues led to nine errors in reception but IU countered with eight aces of its own.

• IU hit .284 on the match with 38 kills to just 13 attacking errors. The Hoosiers never had more than five errors in one set. Senior opposite Avry Tatum and senior middle blocker Madi Sell combined for 14 kills on 28 errorless swings (.500).

• Long serving runs were the theme of game one. IU's block supplied the surge in the opening frame with six stuffs. Freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray had a hand in four of those. The Hoosiers got just enough offense (.222, 10-4-27) to overcome a shaky start in serve receive. Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles led with four kills in the first frame.

• The Hoosiers overcame an early hole and held off a late push from VCU to win game two comfortably. IU's offense picked up dramatically with freshman setter Teodora Kričković providing 13 assists. She found Tatum for four kills and freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager for five. Senior outside hitter Jessica Smith stepped up in the back row and passed nine balls without an error.

• A 5-0 run to end the match was just what the doctor ordered for IU. Kričković served two aces in the red zone and got a big kill from her senior opposite on the right side. Three aces, two blocks and 12 kills in the third set helped finish off a quality sweep of VCU.

Top Hoosier Performers
#13 Tatum, Avry
10 kills, .455 hitting percentage

#1 Sell, Madi
4 kills, .667 hitting percentage, 3 blocks

#24 Jager, Jaidyn
11 kills, 5 blocks, 5 digs, 1 ace

Notes to Know
• Freshman outside hitter Jaidyn Jager is the first IU true freshman to kick off her career with double-digit kills in the first two games of the season since Erica Short in 2005. Jager supplied 13 in the win over Miami (Fla.) and followed it up with 11 in a sweep of VCU.

• The Hoosiers put together 10 team blocks in the win on Saturday. It's the first time IU has had consecutive matches with at least 10 blocks since contests against Notre Dame (Sept. 20 + 22, 2024) last season. Jager and freshman middle blocker Victoria Gray both had at least five blocks in both matches.

• Senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum had 10 kills on 22 swings, hitting .455 in the contest. She's the first IU player with at least 10 kills and zero errors in a match since Ava Vickers (10-0-18) against Washington last season. Dating back to last season, Tatum has had double-digit kills in six-straight matches and 11 of her last 13 contests.