In the weeks leading into the spring volleyball season, Indiana coach Steve Aird made his intentions clear. Aird vowed to use the non-traditional campaign to get his newcomers — of which IU has many — valuable match experience, and in this weekend’s opening series against No. 5 Nebraska, the third-year coach followed through.
Predictably, the Hoosiers did not win a single set against the Huskers at Wilkinson Hall across Friday and Saturday nights, but they did get to see what their heralded class of freshmen is all about. In Friday’s opener, IU started four freshmen — outside hitters Tommi Stockham and Morgan Geddes, and middle blockers Savannah Kjolhede and Leyla Blackwell — and saw those first-year athletes begin to make an impact.