INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indy volleyball team has been picked to finish fifth in the Horizon League this season as the league office announced the #HLVB preseason poll on Wednesday (Aug. 27). Wright State collected six of the 10 first-place votes to earn the top spot, followed by Milwaukee with one first-place vote.
 
Head coach Andrew Kroger enters his third season with the Jaguars after recording the best Horizon League finish in his second season with a 9-9 mark in league play. The Jags recorded a 15-17 overall record this past season and will return their leaders in the four main categories of kills, assists, blocks and digs.
 
IU Indy returns junior Elle Patterson, the team's leader in kills with 389 (3.16 kills/set) and junior Grace Purichia, the assists leader with 1191 (9.76 assists/set) and digs leader with 330 (2.70 digs/set). The Jags also return senior Morgan Ostrowski who led the team in blocks a year ago with 82 (19 solo).
 
Other Jags returning this season include senior Jordyn Pax, juniors Maia Long, Kate White, Ava Harris, Kennedy Seputis, Brynn Zastrow and sophomore Lila Britt.
 
While returning the core group, head coach Kroger also brought in five freshman and one transfer. The incoming class features Ninah Miranda (OH), a junior transfer from Lipscomb and the five freshman squad of Jillian Tippmann (OPP), Kate Jacquay (S), Laura Roeder (L), Amanda Stephens (MB) and Chloe Macias (MB).
 
The Jaguars will open the regular season against The Citadel this weekend on Friday, August 29 as they travel to South Carolina for the 2025 Buc Dome Invitational hosted by Charleston Southern.  
 
2025 Under Armour #HLVB Preseason Poll
Place. Team (First Place Votes) – Points
1. Wright State (6) – 94
2. Milwaukee (1) – 86
3. Green Bay (1) – 80
4. Cleveland State (2) – 65
5. IU Indianapolis – 62
6. Northern Kentucky – 57
7. Purdue Fort Wayne – 35
T8. Oakland – 26
T8. RMU – 26
10. Youngstown State – 19