Three Takeaways From IU Volleyball's NCAA Match Victory Vs. Colorado

Hoosiers Off To Second Ever Sweet 16

Wilkinson Hall, Where The Hoosiers Beat Colorado On Friday

Volleyball Kicks Off Arguably Biggest Athletic Weekend Ever With A Bang

Bloomington-Volleyball’s match on Friday night was a kickoff of maybe the biggest weekend in IU sports history across the board. It got off to a terrific start. After easily taking out Toledo in straight sets to open the NCAA Tournament, the Hoosiers had a much greater challenge in Colorado to try to reach the Sweet 16. Mission accomplished.

Indiana swept a good Buffaloes squad in straight sets (25-20, 25-17, 25-23) to kick off the monster weekend for Hoosier athletics. Now it remains to be seen how the basketball and football teams do just up the road in Indianapolis. The hoops squad looks for a signature win over Louisville in Gainbridge Fieldhouse at 2 pm, while the gridiron will see the Cream and Crimson chase their first Big Ten Championship since 1967 at 8 pm in Lucas Oil Stadium against Ohio State. Also, the women’s basketball squad opens league play with a massive contest in Champaign at noon versus Illinois.

Hoosier fans have to hope Friday night was a sign of things to come for Saturday, given the stakes. Certainly. these results got things off on the right note.

Sustained Success This Time Can Only Be Maintained If Hoosier Fans Increase Support For The Volleyball Program

In 2010, Indiana had its best season in program history. Led by All-American Ashley Benson (daughter of former IU great Kent Benson), the Hoosiers made their furthest run in the NCAA Tournament ever, reaching the Sweet 16.

Instead of building on the momentum, a lack of support and awful facilities sent Indiana right back to the bottom of the Big Ten, the best conference in America, and this year is its first postseason appearance since. Some of those factors have been corrected with a new facility in Wilkinson Hall and far more top prospects showing up on campus.

However, other challenges might remain, and the program has work to do to not be another quick flash in the pan. For starters, fans have to do a far better job of showing up and giving their time to the team. While the crowd that showed up Friday Night was incredibly rowdy and energetic (something IU coach Steve Aird complemented afterwards), being only 2/3 full (attendance: 1937) in a 3,000-seat venue for a postseason match is a non-starter regardless of circumstances.

If Indiana fans want sustained success, filling this intimate venue on a nightly basis is a must. Other Big Ten squads that win regularly with arenas this size do see capacity crowds for most matches, and recruiting will not sustain itself without support and NIL.

With all programs in Bloomington competing for NIL dollars, will IU be willing to allocate resources to one that does not fill its arena on a nightly basis and lacks full support? Also, a lack of a facility at capacity will absolutely be used against the Hoosiers in recruiting battles that are must-wins to remain relevant.

While IU is unlikely to be like Nebraska, which is constantly at the very top of the sport and averages greater than 10,000 a night, support and success at the level of arch-rival Purdue is certainly obtainable. However, this means crowds that are full on a nightly basis and increased media coverage.

If this occurs, only then can Indiana make the NCAA Tournament regularly and have deep runs consistently, rather than an occasional high-water mark followed by many low points. The volleyball program deserves to be fully embraced, and hopefully, more fans will follow.

The ones who are there (including a rowdy student section) are top-notch and loyal, but support has no reason not to grow. After all, Rome was not built in a day, but the construction must continue.

Slow Start Leads to Fast Finish In First And Third Sets For Hoosiers

While Indiana swept the match, it was not all smooth sailing. The Hoosiers trailed early in both the first and third sets before rallying for the victories. IU took control of the first set relatively easily as they turned a 10-6 deficit into a 19-13 lead and cruised from there.

However, the third set was much more dramatic with IU trailing 22-17 late. However, they rallied for the next six points and a 23-22 lead. With a 24-23 lead and going for match point, Deja Vu struck from the 2010 appearance.

Back then, it was a 14-13 lead and a do-or-die match point in the final winner-take-all set. Tennessee served just long, allowing the Hoosiers to survive 15-13 to advance to the Sweet 16. However, the celebration in the Bloomington venue (University Gym at that point) was a half-second delayed as no one was sure if the ball was long or had caught the line. However, once it was realized the Vols’ ball had gone completely out, bedlam erupted as IU won.

This time, it was the third set, and IU had room to play with, having two sets in the bag already. However, a briefly delayed celebration was again the situation on a do-or-die set point. This time, it was whether Colorado had caught the sideline on an attempted kill that was quite close. Just like in 2010, the officials confirmed the ball was completely out, sending Indiana’s crowd into a frenzy and their second Sweet 16 ever (likely at top-seed Texas), after a momentary pause.

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