Close Menu
The Daily Hoosier
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • IU baseball loses Big Ten Tournament opener, postseason hopes dashed
    • IU basketball recruiting: Hoosiers offer 2026 4-star wing Cole Cloer
    • Former IU basketball star Kel’el Ware voted to NBA All-Rookie Second Team
    • IU baseball’s Hanley earns Big Ten FOTY, Taylor and Dickerson first team all-conference
    • IU basketball recruiting: Hoosiers offer 2027 wing Bruce Branch
    • East 17th Street Ep. 23 — IU transfer wing Jasai Miles joins
    • Watch: Kyle Schwarber crushes his 300th career home run
    • IU basketball recruiting: Hoosiers offer 2026 4-star forward Cameron Williams
    • Sign Up
    • About/Support
    • Jobs
    • Tickets
      • IUBB Tickets (Stubhub)
      • IUFB Tickets (Stubhub)
    • Shop
      • Official IU Store
      • IU Adidas Store
      • Amazon: Support TDH
      • IU Memorabilia
      • IU Press (Books)
      • The Daily Hoosier T-Shirt
    • Radio/Podcasts
      • East 17th Street
    • Pro IU
      • IUBB NBA
      • IUFB NFL
      • IUBASE MLB
    • Forum
      • Disqus Forum
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    The Daily HoosierThe Daily Hoosier
    Tuesday, May 20
    • IU Basketball
      • Latest IU Basketball News
      • Offseason roster activity tracker
      • 2025-26 IU Basketball Roster
      • DeVries’ new staff
      • Scholarship Chart
      • Future Schedules
      • IU Basketball 2024-25 Schedule
      • 2024-25 Big Ten Standings
      • 24-25 IU Basketball Stats
      • Rankings & Bracketology
      • IU Basketball Media Guide
    • IU Football
      • Latest IU Football News
      • Roster updates by position
      • 2025 scholarship tracker
      • Current roster
      • Curt Cignetti’s staff
      • Future opponents through 2032
      • IU Football 2024 Schedule
      • 2024 B1G Standings
      • 2024 IUFB Stats
      • IU Football 2024 Record Book
    • IU Recruiting
      • IU Basketball Recruiting News
      • IU Football Recruiting News
      • IUBB 2026-28 Prospects
      • Recruit Interviews
      • Recruit Highlights
      • IU Football Recruiting Commits
    • IU Women’s Basketball
      • IU Women’s Basketball News
      • 24-25 Schedule
      • Big Ten Standings
    • IU Men’s Soccer
      • 2024 Schedule
      • Indiana Men’s Soccer: Program History
    • More Hoosiers
      • Fan and Business NIL options
      • IU Baseball
        • Baseball Schedule
        • Statistics
        • Big Ten Standings
      • IU Swim & Dive
      • IU Olympic Results
    • Hoosier History
      • March Madness Classics
      • Basketball History
      • Football History
      • IUFB Best Seasons
      • IUFB All-Time Top 10 Players
    The Daily Hoosier

    IU Volleyball To Open Wilkinson Hall Under Cautiously Optimistic Coach Steve Aird

    Mike SchumannBy Mike SchumannAugust 28, 2019 More Hoosiers No Comments
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Indiana volleyball hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2010.

    The Hoosiers have had one first team All-American in the 44 year history of the program, and they have never won a Big Ten title.

    The challenge was very real when head coach Steve Aird took over in 2018, and in that short span the conversation has already shifted from what hasn’t been to what could be.

    There is a genuine optimism surrounding the IU volleyball program, perhaps more so than at any time in its history.

    It’s easier for Aird to have that kind of forward looking, optimistic view, even if it comes with a healthy dose of caution — because he’s seen this show before.

    IU hired Aird away from a Maryland program with a similarly less than stellar history, and by year two the Terrapins had 18 wins — the program’s most since 2010.

    What can be expected of Aird’s second season in Bloomington?

    “Initially I could tell you that I think we’re a heck of a lot better than we were a year ago,” Aird told The Daily Hoosier.

    That statement is significant, because Aird’s first IU team was ahead of his turnaround pace at Maryland.

    The 2018 Hoosiers picked up six more conference wins than the 2017 team, knocked off No. 14 Michigan, and barely missed the NCAA Tournament.

    On paper Aird believes he has the pieces to keep the momentum going in year two.

    “I think we’re better at every position.  I think we’re more physical.  I think we’re a lot harder to score against, and I think we have a whole bunch of arms and veteran kids who can play the game the right way.”

    Sounds good, right?

    If you picked up the five “I thinks” in Aird’s observations on his team, that wasn’t by accident.

    With only two and a half weeks of practice allowed under the NCAA rules before the the first game, truth be told, Aird isn’t entirely sure what he has just yet.

    Aird knows he has brought in more talent, but until he can get a closer look he will tell you that he has “no idea how that is going to translate.”

    Emily Fitzner
    Freshman setter Emily Fitzner is one of nine new players on this year’s IU volleyball roster. Photo credit – IU Athletics

    Part of the uncertainty is due to roster turnover.  Half of the roster — 9 of the 18 players — are new to the program.

    Included in the nine new faces is Emily Fitzner, the younger sister of former IU basketball player Evan Fitzner.  Aird, who brought with him to IU a reputation as an elite recruiter calls Fitzner “one of the top recruits in the history of the program.”

    The talent level is no doubt on the rise in Bloomington, but Aird needs to see some live game action to fully appreciate what he has assembled.

    For a coach that has spent time at Penn State and Maryland and knows the Big Ten very well, the uncertainty for Aird extends beyond his own roster.

    The league is widely considered to be one of the elite volleyball conferences in the country.

    “We could be four or five points better a game this year and just a vastly improved volleyball team, but the conference right now has 7 teams in the top 17 and 5 in the top 10,” Aird said.  “It’s harder to win the Big Ten than it is to win a national championship.”

    “You really don’t know how the kids are going to respond to it.  Nine of the kids have never played in the Big Ten before.  I don’t know how it’s going to work out.  But I know that we’re better.”

    While the head coach has understandable questions about his team, there is a buzz surrounding the program for the first time that has the fans feeling enthusiastic.

    So much enthusiasm in fact that more than a thousand fans showed up for the team’s scrimmage last weekend.

    Credit – IU Athletics

    The energy around the program extends beyond the team to the new $20 million Wilkinson Hall that IU volleyball now calls home.

    IU will see their first competition at the facility this weekend when they host four home matches beginning on Friday afternoon against Florida International.

    Wilkinson Hall sits on campus, directly next to Assembly Hall, and should provide students and fans alike a more accessible and enjoyable experience than the program’s predecessor off campus home court.

    What will fans see when they come to an IU volleyball match?

    It could be a couple more years until Aird can recruit and assemble a roster that is truly ready to compete at the top of the Big Ten.

    He isn’t promising wins for those that come to Wilkinson Hall and support his program.  Not when faced with the realities of the conference.

    What Aird can promise for now is an upward trajectory for the program and an entertaining and competitive product on the floor for fans.

    “I think our job is just to be better,” Aird said.  “I know this for sure, we’re going to be a heck of a lot better than we were a year ago, and we are going to be fun to watch.”

    See also:  2019 IU Volleyball Schedule


    You can follow us on Twitter:  @daily_hoosier

    Find us on Facebook:  thedailyhoosier

    The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

    Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no additional cost to you.

    Related

    indiana hoosiers
    Mike Schumann

    Keep Reading

    IU softball eliminated from NCAA Tournament

    IU softball returns to NCAA Tournament

    Updated: IU Football Recruiting Overview Page — Commitments and Rankings

    Latest Hoosier News
    • IU baseball loses Big Ten Tournament opener, postseason hopes dashed
    • IU basketball recruiting: Hoosiers offer 2026 4-star wing Cole Cloer
    • Former IU basketball star Kel’el Ware voted to NBA All-Rookie Second Team
    • IU baseball’s Hanley earns Big Ten FOTY, Taylor and Dickerson first team all-conference
    • IU basketball recruiting: Hoosiers offer 2027 wing Bruce Branch
    • East 17th Street Ep. 23 — IU transfer wing Jasai Miles joins
    • Watch: Kyle Schwarber crushes his 300th career home run
    Sign Up



    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    © 2025 The Daily Hoosier, LLC.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Ad Blocker Enabled!
    Ad Blocker Enabled!
    Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please support us by disabling your Ad Blocker.