Indiana Volleyball faces first Big Ten competition this weekend in Penn State and Maryland

Indiana volleyball heads into convention play this weekend with a bang, because the Hoosiers face their first top-ten ranked crew of the season in undefeated No. 9 Penn State on Friday and Maryland on Sunday    

The Nittany Lions are guided by first yr head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, a former Penn State assistant coach. Sophomore exterior hitter Anjelina Starck, senior exterior hitter Zoe Weatherington and graduate pupil exterior hitter Kashauna Williams all have over 100 kills this season.  

Within the Large Ten/PAC-12 Problem, Penn State confronted No. 11 Stanford College and No. 18 College of Oregon. With the assistance of graduate pupil setter Seleisa Elisaia, the Nittany Lions gained the match 3-2 in opposition to the Cardinal.  

Penn State’s matchup in opposition to Oregon was a back-and-forth battle, and neither crew may win two units in a row. Nonetheless, Penn State got here out on high within the fifth set 15–9, enabling them to win the match 3-2.  

[ Indiana volleyball finishes 2-1 in the Western Kentucky Invitational over the weekend]

Indiana will face Maryland at house on Sunday. The Terrapins have a 9-3 file and are on the lookout for their first convention win Friday night time in opposition to  Illinois. 

Graduate pupil center blocker Rainelle Jones leads Maryland along with her protection, highlighted by 77 whole blocks this season. The Terrapins as a collective common 3.38 blocks per set.  

Indiana must be aware of Maryland’s highly effective exterior hitter duo — junior exterior hitter Sam Csire and freshman exterior hitter Laila Ivey have a mixed 261 kills on the season. 

Head coach Steve Aird is enthusiastic to begin convention play. Aird acknowledged how troublesome it’s to win the Large Ten, however he mentioned he appears to be like ahead to the problem.  

“We’re all excited for the chance to compete,” Aird mentioned. “20 matches within the Large Ten and also you get the chance to check your self in opposition to the nation’s finest. All issues thought-about, I believed we had a reasonably strong preseason. We saved getting higher each week.” 

The final time Indiana gained a highway convention opener was in 2018 in opposition to Ohio State. The Hoosiers could have an opportunity to begin their convention slate off on the fitting foot Friday at 7 p.m. in Blissful Valley in opposition to the Nittany Lions.  

Each matches this weekend can be broadcast on BTN+.