No. 10 Seed Indiana University Softball Loses to No. 2 Seed UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinal No. 10 Seed Indiana finished out play in the Big Ten Tournament with a narrow quarterfinal loss to No. 2 Seed UCLA, 5-4, on Thursday afternoon at Bittinger Stadium in West Lafayette. The Hoosiers trailed 3-0 early, cut down the lead to 3-2 and got the game to 4-4 in the top of the fifth inning before UCLA won it in the bottom of the seventh on a walk-off RBI single. With the loss, Indiana’s season record now stands at 33-18. In the top of the first inning, the Hoosiers threatened when Taylor Minnick reached first on a hit-by-pitch before stealing second and advancing to third on an error. The Hoosiers couldn’t bring Minnick home and the game remained at 0-0. UCLA got on the board with a 2-run home run from Jordan Woolery to give them a 2-0 advantage. Then, Megan Grant came home on an error to push the lead to 3-0.
Indiana’s top of the order cut into the deficit in the top of the third inning. Brianna Copeland single to center field, then Taylor Minnick doubled to right field to bring Copeland home. Avery Parker followed that up with an RBI single to left field to put the game at a 3-2 score with Minnick crossing home plate. The Bruins tacked on another run when Savannah Pola singled through the right side to score Lauren Hatch and make it a 4-2 game in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Hoosiers rallied again in the top of the fifth to even the score. It started with Minnick doubling down the left field line and Copeland coming home from first on the play and sliding in at the plate to put the score at 4-3. Kinsey Mitchell laced a single up the middle to score Minnick and tie the game at 4-4. In the bottom of the seventh inning, UCLA had the bases loaded and won Rylee Slimp RBI single to the pitcher, Rylee Pinedo scored the winning run from third. Both of Minnick’s hits were doubles. Minnick (2), Parker (1) and Mitchell (1) each recorded at least one RBI. In 3.2 innings pitched, Taylor Hess only allowed four hits and one run. This was the first game between Indiana and UCLA as conference opponents. On Sunday, the NCAA will hold its annual Tournament Selection Show at 7 p.m. Indiana is seeking its third consecutive appearance in the tournament.
Hoosiers Add Talented Pieces to the 2025 Volleyball Roster Head coach Steve Aird continues to build a strong roster ahead of the 2025 volleyball season. He announced the addition of two freshmen and one transfer on Thursday morning, adding a trio of talented pieces to this year’s team. Defensive specialist Hannah Leftridge (DeSoto, Mo.), outside hitter Jessie Smith (Laguna Niguel, Calif./UCLA) and setter Teodora Krickovic (Novi Sad, Serbia) provide more depth and skill at important positions for the Hoosiers in 2025. As of today, it brings IU’s roster to 17 players. The Hoosiers have now signed seven freshmen for next year – their biggest incoming class since 2020. Already owning the title of the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history (No. 14 Prep Dig), the additions of Leftridge and Krickovic take IU’s crop of new players to a new level.
“These are three very good additions to our IUVB family,” Aird said. “We have addressed depth at key positions and added quality human beings that want to work hard and value team. We have made some strides in the past few seasons but want to build on that and so much of that depends on depth and competition. These three are not afraid to compete and were attracted to the culture and grit our program plays with. We know the challenge ahead of us but we could not be more excited for the 2025 roster and the opportunity that lies ahead.”
Hannah Leftridge, a 5-10 defensive specialist from DeSoto, Missouri, is the sixth member of IU’s highly ranked freshman class. Originally committed elsewhere, Leftridge opened up her recruiting and landed in Bloomington in February. Leftridge is the No. 178 recruit in the 2025 class according to Prep Dig. All six of IU’s commits – from the USA – are ranked in the top 180 of this year’s recruiting class. Leftridge has played as an outside hitter during her prep days but has been a primary defensive specialist with her club team. She will continue her back row duties when she arrives on campus and adds depth to a strong collection of talented passers. During four years of high school volleyball, Leftridge racked up 1,384 kills, 1,099 digs and 184 aces. She is the second player from Missouri on IU’s 2025 roster (Madi Sell – Ballwin, Mo.). Leftridge will wear the number seven jersey for the Hoosiers and report to campus in June.
Jessie Smith, a 6-0 outside hitter from Laguna Niguel, California, adds to a recent lineage of veteran beach players to make the transition back to the indoor game for the Hoosiers. Delaynie Maple was a fantastic backrow addition last year after playing out an All-American career at USC. Smith wrapped up a four-year tenure with UCLA in 2025 after racking up 94 career wins and helping the Bruins to four-straight appearances in the NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship. She helped UCLA to the 2023 Pac-12 Championship and spent all four seasons in the starting lineup. The start of her senior year was delayed but she bounced back to play in 21 matches and pick up 17 wins in her final season. Smith and her partner won all three matches they played in the NCAA Tournament and were named to the All-Tournament Team at the No. 3 position. Her connections to IU’s coaching staff date back nearly 10 years. Assistant coach Kevin Hodge has known Jessie and her twin sister, Katelyn, since they were 12 years old from their days at Laguna Beach Volleyball Club. Smith is one of four California natives set to play on IU’s roster next season. Despite spending the last four years in the sand, Smith was a decorated indoor player coming out of high school. She was the 2020 California Gatorade Player of the Year and was a four-year letterwinner at Aliso Niguel High School. She recorded over 800 kills and 500 digs in her shortened prep career. She will wear the number 12 jersey in Bloomington.
Teodora Krickovic, a 6-1 setter from Novi Sad, Serbia, is a late addition to IU’s freshman class but provides great international experience to the 2025 roster. She’s the second international player on this year’s roster, joining senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles (Spain). Krickovic has played a longtime for the Serbian National Team and is in the pool of athletes to potentially play for her home country at this summer’s FIVB Women’s U21 World Championships. She played in the 2023 U19 World Tournament at just 17-years-old. She was the best setter at the 2022 U17 Balkan Championships and also played at the 2024 U20 European Volleyball Championships. She recently won the Serbian Cup with her club team – OK Tent – based out of the city of Obrenovac. Krickovic was raised in Novi Sad – the second biggest city in Serbia – and has spent the last season playing in the Serbian Super League. She is now the seventh member of IU’s freshman class and will come to campus at some point this summer. Krickovic will wear the number 10 for the Hoosiers – last worn by longtime setter and All-American Camryn Haworth (2021-24). She is the first Serb to play at IU and is the seventh true international student to play for the Hoosiers. Five of those have come during the Aird era. Former libero Paula Cerame (Puerto Rico) played internationally but grew up in Florida.
Hannah Leftridge 5-10 Defensive Specialist DeSoto, Mo./St. Pius X (H2 STL)- No. 178 Overall Recruit by Prep Dig, No. 5 Recruit in Missouri. Career Stats: 1,384 kills, 1,099 digs, 184 aces. Four-time Missouri All-State selection (2021-24). Two-time Conference MVP (2023-24). Four-time All-District selection (2021-24). Class Four State Champions (2024). One of six top 180 recruits by Prep Dig to sign with Indiana (No. 14 Overall Recruiting Class). Intended major is Community Health
Leftridge – Why IU: “I chose IU because the atmosphere is so unique. Everything about the town and campus was so welcoming to me. I truly felt at home when I stepped on campus. The coaching staff and team felt like a perfect fit for me. I am so excited to play volleyball for the Hoosiers and get familiar with the fans and the community.”
Aird on Leftridge: “Hannah is a highly skilled libero with a great motor and a solid feel for the game. Growing up as a coach’s kid, she understands culture, hard work, attention to detail and the grind necessary at this level. We feel she can pass and defend well and can serve the ball with great control. We expect her to develop into a very good player at the college level and I am excited to watch her grow.”
Jessie Smith 6-0 Outside Hitter Laguna Niguel, Calif./Aliso Niguel (UCLA)- Four-year beach volleyball player for UCLA. Career Record: 94-34. NCAA All-Tournament Team (2022, 2025). NCAA Championships Team Finalist (2023, 2024). Pac-12 Pair of the Week (April 18, 2023). Pac-12 Freshman of the Year (2022). Pac-12 All-Freshman Team (2022). JVA First Team All-American (2021). California State Gatorade Player of the Year (2020). Division 1 All-CIF, South Coast Volleyball League First Team and Conference MVP (2019)
Smith – Why IU: “I chose IU because this program is truly the best of both worlds. It offers me the chance to compete at the highest level and obtain my master’s degree from a prestigious business school. The coaching staff is top tier and I’m excited to fulfill one of my dreams by playing indoor volleyball at the collegiate level. I couldn’t imagine a better group of people to do it with.”
Aird on Smith: “Jessie is coming off a fantastic beach career at UCLA and has proven herself to be one of the better beach players in the country. She was the Gatorade High School Player of the Year in California as an indoor player and has all the tools to be very good at this level. She will spend the summer getting back into the groove of the indoor game but her touch and ability to handle the ball will be a huge addition to the roster. She has a calm approach to her game and a maturity that will help our locker room. I feel she will make contributions in a variety of areas and adds another fantastic player to the roster.”
Teodora Krickovic 6-1 Setter Novi Sad, Serbia/OK Tent- Youth National Team Member in Serbia. 2024-25 Serbian Cup and Serbian Super Cup Champion. 2024 Junior Nationals Best Setter. Played with Serbia at 2024 U20 European Championships. Member of the Serbian U19 Team at the 2023 World Championships
2022 Balkan Championships Best Setter. Played Club Volleyball for OK Tent
Aird on Krickovic: “Teodora is a tough, hardworking, physical setter with great experience for at her age. She has been fortunate to represent her country and play with and against some of the best young players in the world. She plays hard and can move the ball with ease. Her net play is solid; she can bang a jump serve and she is not afraid to compete. I am excited to see how she adapts to our style of play and learns her attackers. I feel she will improve quickly and has a very high ceiling. She is very excited to get going and we are thrilled she is joining our program.”
Indiana University Field Hockey Announces their 2025 Signing Class Indiana Field Hockey head coach Kayla Bashore announced the program’s incoming 2025 class. The team will add nine new players as part of its signing class with the group arriving to Bloomington in the fall of 2025. The class includes players from five different states and four different countries.
Celia Arroyo | Forward | Santander, Spain- Attends Esclavas del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus. Plays club for Sardinero HC. Club coach is Diego Rodriguez. Scored 38 goals in 2024-25 and 28 goals in 2023-24. She was the top scorer in the Spanish Indoor Championships on two occasions. Intended major: Undecided. Why IU: “I decided to commit to IU because it offered me a unique opportunity to combine my academic and personal development with hockey. I also really like the university’s facilities and athletic program.”
Rylee Brooks-Booth | Midfield/Forward | Virginia Beach, Va.- Attends First Colonial High School. High school coaches are Meg Smart and Allie Fischer. Plays club for Warhawks. Club coaches are Candice Russ and Tanner Ridgley. Totaled 38 goals and 13 assists during the 2024-2025 season. Member of 2x Region 5A Championship and 3x State Runner-Up teams in high school. Named First-Team All-Region 5A, First Team All-State Class 5, NFHCA First Team South Region, and First Team All Tidewater. Ranked in Top 50 Class of 2025. Intended major: Business. Why IU: “I fell in love with the close-knit team environment and love the family community of the team and from the coaches. I was drawn to the high-level academics and athletics that IU has to offer.”
Ella Davis | Forward | Louisville, Ky.- Attends Sacred Heart Academy. High school coach is Eleanor Mitchell. Plays club for IFHCK. Club coach is Yasser Hayat. Totaled 12 goals and eight assists in the 2024 season. She was named Max Field Hockey Midwest/West Regional Player to watch and Kentucky Senior All-Star. Max Field Hockey Top 100 Class of 2025. Member of the 2024 Apple Tournament All-Tournament Team, 2023 All State Second Team, and nominated for 2024 Offensive Player of the Year. Intended major: Business Management. Why IU: “I chose IU for so many reasons! I loved being in Bloomington, the balance of both great athletics and academics, as well as a personable coaching staff and inviting team!”
Lily Freeman | Back | Barnet, England- Attends Finchley Catholic High School. Plays club for Southgate Hockey Club. Club coach is Andy Richardson. Recipient of the 2024 Jack Petchey Award. 2024 Women’s 1s Junior Player of the Year and 2023 Junior of the Year. Contributed to club team’s Northwood Performance Centre U17 2022 National’s win. Intended major: Exercise Science. Why IU: “Almost immediately, IU stood out to me, and I knew that it was something I wanted to be a part of. Meeting the field hockey team and the coaches in the summer and seeing how supportive and encouraging they were to one another inspired me. The unity they had as a team made me believe that they would push me to be better in every way, and we’d strive to succeed. As well as the team, the campus is beautiful, and the academic prestige of the university is something that attracted me. I am so excited to get started, go Hoosiers!”
Kai Killian | Goalkeeper | Hummelstown, Pa.- Attends Lower Dauphin High School. High school coach is Erin Catafolono. Plays club for PA Revolution. Club coach is Jamie Pollock. She had a 90% save percentage for her high school senior season. PA District III AAA Champion in 2021,2022 and 2024. 2022 PA State AAA Champion. 2024 Mid Penn Commonwealth Champion and 2021 Mid Penn Keystone Champion. Named 2024 Mid Penn Commonwealth Div Player of the Year and 2022 Max Field Hockey Top 100 Class of 2025. 2024 Max Field Hockey High School National All-American, 2024 Max Field Hockey All-Pennsylvania Region. Participant in the 2023 USA FH U18 Woman’s Team Selection Camp, 2023 USA FH U18 Nexus Championships and Silver 2022 USA FH Junior Women’s Indoor Team. Intended major: Biology. Why IU: “I chose it because of the coaches being down to earth and honest, the team for its attitude, and all around the great vibe that surrounded it all. I felt at home and comfortable, and I knew it was the place to be.”
Kiki Oomens | Forward/Midfield | Breda, Netherlands- Attends Stedelijk Gymnasium Breda. Plays club for HC Tilburg. Club coach is Teun UitdeHaag. Parents are Bianca and Hein Oomens. Siblings are Veerle and Stijn. Intended major: Medicine. Why IU: “I like the campus, the players and staff, and I’m super excited to join next year!”
Sydney Meltzer | Midfield | San Diego, Calif.- Attends Torrey Pines High School. High school coach is Courtney Kun. Plays club for HTC CA. Club coaches are Mika Black and Nick Conway. She was the 2024 team leader in assists. Named to High School All-CIF First Team, Max West/Midwest All Region Second Team, NFHCA Western Regional Team, and First Team All-League. Intended major: Undecided. Why IU: “I chose IU for the positive campus environment and the strong academics. The culture and community that the coaches have built drew me even more and excited me about what IUFH has to offer.”
Georgia Rottinghaus | Midfield | Pittsburgh, Pa.- Attends Pine-Richland High School. High school coach is Donna Stephenson. Plays club for Field Hockey Life. Club coaches are Keli Puzo and Corie McLaughlin. Scored 47 goals and totals 41 assists for her high school career. Intended major: Exercise Science. Why IU: “I was drawn to IU because of the academics and beautiful campus. The field hockey coaches, and team made me feel very welcome on my visits and got me excited to compete in the Big Ten.”
Molly Stutte | Forward/Midfield | St. Louis, Mo.-Attends Cor Jesu Academy. High school coach is Audrey Ploesser. Plays club for Aim. Club coach is Lauren Cornthwaite. Holds the Cor Jesu field hockey scoring record. Named First-Team All-Conference, First Team All-Region, and First Team All-State for the 2024-2025 season. Parents are Dean and Cynthia Stutte. Siblings are Caroline and Danny Stutte. Intended major: Undecided. Why IU: “I chose IU because I felt at home right when I stepped foot on campus. I was looking to play at a high level and in a competitive conference like the Big Ten, so Indiana was a great fit for me.”
Former Indiana University Men’s Basketball Head Coach Mike Woodson is returning to the NBA Mike Woodson spent a lot more of his basketball life in the professional ranks than he did in the college game. For his next coaching opportunity, Woodson will be headed back to the NBA. It has been reported by multiple sources that Woodson will join Doug Christie’s Sacramento Kings coaching staff. Woodson comes off of a four-year stint as head coach at Indiana. Woodson stepped down as Indiana coach on Feb. 7, though he coached the remainder of the season. Woodson was 82-53 as Indiana head coach. Woodson coached the Hoosiers to the NCAA Tournament in 2022 and 2023 but failed to get Indiana to the 68-team field in his final two seasons. Under Woodson, Indiana peaked in 2023 – the senior season for Trayce Jackson-Davis – as they went 23-12 and reached a high Associated Press ranking of No. 10. Woodson came under fire from some segments of the Indiana fanbase in his final two seasons as inconsistency dogged the Hoosiers. Woodson’s .607 winning percentage is 12th-best in Indiana history and the best since Kelvin Sampson had a .741 winning percentage from 2007-08.
Woodson returns to the NBA where he played from 1980-91 and was a coach from 1996-2021. Woodson returns to Sacramento where he was an original Sacramento King from when the franchise relocated from Kansas City in 1985. The Kings will be the eighth NBA team Woodson has been a coach within some capacity. Woodson was head coach of the Atlanta Hawks from 2004-10 and the New York Knicks from 2012-14. Christie took over as the head coach of the Kings in December when Mike Brown was fired. On May 1, the interim tag was removed from Christie’s title. Christie went 27-24 as interim coach. The Kings lost 120-106 to the Dallas Mavericks in a Western Conference play-in game in April. Woodson and Christie did not cross paths when Woodson coached, and Christie was an NBA player from 1992-2007.
Former Indiana University Men’s Basketball Staff Member Adam Howard finds a new home Lost in the shuffle of an underwhelming season, the departure of coach Mike Woodson and the coaching search that saw Darien DeVries hired to replace Woodson, was the circumstances surrounding the November exit of Adam Howard from the Indiana men’s basketball support staff. While not officially an assistant coach, Howard had risen from being a student manager at Indiana to being promoted to assistant director of recruiting and operations in the summer of 2024. Then Howard was gone just as Indiana’s 2024-25 season had started. Howard’s exit became publicly known on Nov. 8 – during the first week of the regular season. No explanation was given for Howard’s exit from the program. On Wednesday, Howard’s next college destination was announced. Howard was hired as director of basketball operations at Texas-Rio Grande Valley. “Thankful for the opportunity! God’s timing is always perfect. Excited to get to work with a tremendous staff of high character individuals and excellent coaches. The Best is Ahead,” said Howard in X media post.
Howard is a native of Indianapolis who played basketball for his father Todd Howard at Brebeuf High School. Howard was a student manager at Indiana under both Archie Miller and Woodson from 2018-22. Howard was named 2022 National Student Manager of the Year at the 2022 Final Four by Grow The Game. Howard was promoted to graduate manager in 2022 and 2023 before he got the promotion to be assistant director of recruiting and operations in July 2024. “Adam comes from a great basketball pedigree,” Woodson said in a press release at the time Howard was promoted. “His father, Todd, is a legendary coach in this state. Adam has been a great asset for us in recruiting, and we are excited to keep him on our staff as we continue to push this program further.”
Bloomington North Graduates Race Stewart and Adian Steinfeldt find New College Football Homes for the 2025 Season A pair of former Bloomington North football standouts have landed after a whirlwind trip through college football’s transfer portal. There’s plenty to look forward to for redshirt freshman tight end Aidan Steinfeldt, who is heading to FCS power Richmond with four years of eligibility after his one-year stay at Marshall. For defensive lineman Race Stewart, there was no wiggle room. He had to get it just right with only one year of playing time left. He’ll graduate this week from Indiana and then move to Western Michigan. Playing time was the motivating factor for both former Cougars.
Richmond went 10-3 last year, falling in the first round of the playoffs. This year’s Spiders schedule will include a trip to North Carolina, where Bill Belichick is the new head coach. “The process was good,” Steinfeldt said. “I talked to a lot of schools, and it really came down to where I thought I could play. I wanted to get on the field and Richmond needed someone to come in and play right away.” The school was a good fit as a business/finance major and the program was as well. The Spiders have won at least nine games and made the playoffs the past three seasons under head coach Russ Huesman. “They’re a team that uses its tight ends,” Steinfeldt said. “They run a lot of 12 personnel. There’s always a tight end on the field. And I had a good connection with the head coach. He recruited me pretty hard.”
Ditto for Stewart when it came to the Broncos, who will play at two Big Ten venues next year, Michigan State and Illinois. April and May have been busy times for Stewart as he worked to wrap up his schoolwork at IU while searching for a new football home. “When I first hit the portal, there was a lot of activity,” Stewart said. “A lot of talking and decisions I had to make in a quick amount of time. I narrowed it down over the phone and went on some visits. “Western Michigan just felt right. It’s a newer coaching staff and they all have great backgrounds, and they have a great scheme. They had a plan for me when I came up there and presented that plan and I believe that it will work.”
Stewart will mostly lineup in the middle of the line but will get some opportunities to play some end. “They’ll try to use me in multiple ways,” Stewart said. “More than was used before. But the scheme is similar to IU’s so it’s not something completely new, which is a nice thing.” For now, he’s more worried about making sure everything is shored up for graduation and isn’t sure yet what approach he’ll take as far as classes at WMU. In any case, both are thrilled to be done with the portal. “I’m very happy to put an end to this process,” Steinfeldt said. “It’s a crazy world in college football. I’m glad to be done and have my spot and start working toward getting on the field.”