Indiana University’s Garrett Messer and Zania Socka-Nguemen Selected As 2026-27 Jackie Robinson Community & Impact Award Campus Winners Indiana track and field third year Garrett Messer and women’s basketball third year forward Zania Socka-Nguemen were selected as Indiana’s campus winners of the 2026-27 Jackie Robinson Impact Award presented by Discover campus winners, announced by the Big Ten on Wednesday.
Now in its third year, the honor was created to recognize Big Ten student-athletes who strive to have a positive impact within their community in addition to excellence in competition. From the collection of 36 local winners, two overall conference honorees will be selected and announced in the spring of 2027.
Messer is a fourth year from Greenwood, Indiana who is one of the all-time combined athletes in Indiana history. In 2025, Messer finished moved into the top-five in the indoor heptathlon and outdoor decathlon all-time program rankings at the respective Big Ten Championship meets. Across ten career combined events, Messer has never finished lower than eighth and has seen six victories and eight top-five finishes. Socka-Nguemen has scored in double figures in all three of IU’s early season games, averaging 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. She’s healthy after a season-ending injury in 2025-26 where she posted 11.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game and a team-high six double-doubles.
| Insitution | Name | Sport |
| Illinois | Brandon Henderson | Football |
| Illinois | Martina Cibulkova | Swimming & Dive |
| Indiana | Garrett Messer | Track & Field |
| Indiana | Zania Socka-Nguemen | Basketball |
| Iowa | Jayden Montgomery | Football |
| Iowa | Grace Ryan | Rowing |
| Maryland | AJ Larkin | Lacrosse |
| Maryland | Ogechi Uzoukwu | Track & Field |
| Michigan | Jordan Marshall | Football |
| Michigan | Stella Nolan | Lacrosse |
| Michigan State | David Anderson | Soccer |
| Michigan State | Gabrielle Jefferies | Track & Field |
| Minnesota | Jayden Edmonson | Swimming & Dive |
| Minnesota | Taylor Isabel | Cross Country | Track & Field |
| Nebraska | Evan McDermott | Golf |
| Nebraska | Allison Weidner | Basketball |
| Northwestern | Josh Fussell | Football |
| Northwestern | Drew Wright | Volleyball |
| Ohio State | Taji Flynn | Lacrosse |
| Ohio State | Bryn Martin | Basketball |
| Oregon | Javon McRae II | Football |
| Oregon | Taylour Spencer | Softball |
| Penn State | Cooper Cousins | Football |
| Penn State | Sydney Manning | Lacrosse |
| Purdue | CJ Madden | Football |
| Purdue | Paige Hazelrigg | Cross Country | Track & Field |
| Rutgers | Darren Buchanan Jr. | Basketball |
| Rutgers | Lorena Rossettin | Golf |
| UCLA | Zeke Johnson | Football |
| UCLA | Kaho Cichon | Cross Country | Track & Field |
| USC | Racquill Broderick | Track & Field |
| USC | Madison Whyte | Track & Field |
| Washington | Bodi Ligons | Track & Field |
| Washington | Niamh Comerford | Rowing |
| Wisconsin | Charles Perkins | Football |
| Wisconsin | Hannah Conger | Softball |
Indiana University Women’s Volleyball Falls at Minnesota in Four Sets A valiant effort to mount a comeback against a top-20 team came up short on Wednesday evening at the Maturi Pavilion. The Indiana volleyball team (14-10, 7-8 B1G) won its first set in Minneapolis since 1999 but saw a late lead slip away in the fourth frame in a loss (15-25, 17-25, 25-16, 25-27) against the Golden Gophers. IU’s first two sets were to be forgotten but head coach Steve Aird’s group roared back to life after the intermission. Third-year outside hitter Izzy Clark had a match high 17 kills to help the Hoosiers get going offensively late in the contest. Second-year middle blocker Victoria Gray hit a blistering .647 with 11 kills and zero errors in one of the best matches of her young career.
Second-year libero Audrey Jackson served IU back into the lead in the fourth set. Struggles in the red zone came back to life as IU saw a 23-20 advantage fall from its grasp. An error from the end line gave IU a lone set point in the fourth frame but Minnesota won a handful of late rallies to finish out the win on its home floor. The Hoosiers end the regular season with four wins on the road in Big Ten play. Behind 18 digs from second-year outside hitter Jaidyn Jager and 14 Jackson, IU’s defense threw everything at Minnesota it could handle. The Hoosiers led the match in digs (58-55) and nearly matched the home team with 12 blocks in just four sets. Fifth-year middle blocker Kiki Granberry was all over the net with a hand in nine blocks. Granberry finished the night with six digs and five kills as well. IU returns to Wilkinson Hall this weekend for a chance to close the regular season on the right note. Northwestern (Nov. 15) and Purdue (Nov. 17) come to Bloomington for the final two matches before this year’s Big Ten Tournament. IU’s match against the Wildcats is set for a Noon first serve on Sunday afternoon. Both matches will be broadcasted on B1G+.
Perhaps the best performance of her IU career came on Wednesday night when third-year outside hitter Izzy Clark put up 17 kills to lead all players. She had seven of those in the third set as IU got itself back into the match. Both of IU’s other pins hit under .100. Minnesota was on the right side of some late rallies in the fourth set. Both teams turned up the defensive pressure and kept every ball off the floor. IU had a slight edge in the digs category (58-55) and nearly matched Minnesota in blocks (12.0-13.0). A big advantage in aces (9-5) and fewer service errors (8-11) was key for the home team in the end.
For the fourth time in the last five matches, IU put up 12 blocks as a team. The Hoosiers have been an outstanding blocking team over the last two months and have gone for double-digit rejections in nine of 15 conference matches this year. In Big Ten action, head coach Steve Aird’s group is up to 2.71 blocks per set. Fifth-year middle blocker Kiki Granberry matched her season high with nine blocks in the effort against the Golden Gophers. She also hit that mark in the reverse sweep effort against Michigan State at the end of October. Granberry now has 100 blocks on the season, the third time in her career she’s reached the century mark. The veteran is averaging 1.33 blocks per set and 2.67 points per set this year.
Third-year outside hitter Izzy Clark put up a match high 17 kills on a season best 53 swings. She had seven of those kills in the third set alone. All five of IU’s primary attackers had at least five kills with four of them producing eight-or-more kills in the loss to Minnesota. Second-year middle blocker Victoria Gray tore apart Minnesota’s defense with the best offensive match of her season. She had 11 kills, the fourth match of her career in double figures. Gray did that while committing zero attacking errors and hitting .647. She now has three Big Ten matches this year, all on the road, where she’s gone for at least eight kills and had zero errors.
Todd Yeagley and Michal Mroz Highlight Big Ten Award Haul for Indiana Hoosiers Men’s Soccer A conference-best Ten Hoosiers feature in the Big Ten Postseason Awards, announced by the conference office on Thursday. Head coach Todd Yeagley received his fifth Big Ten Coach of the Year honor. Third-year goalkeeper Michal Mroz garnered the Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year award. Indiana leads the leagues with four players in the All-Big Ten first team, one in each position group: Mroz, defender Josh Maher, midfielder Alex Matthews and forward Oliver Moller-Jensen. The IU soccer program has totaled 129 first-team All-Big Ten honors all-time, 64 more than the next-best program (Penn State, 65).
Forward Easton Bogard and defender Nick McHenry further emphasize Indiana’s excellence across the pitch, each featuring in the All-Big Ten second team. First-year forward Michael Adu-Gyamfi, an electric force off the bench, made the Big Ten All-Freshman Team with 15 appearances in his rookie season. Fellow Ghanaian and Right to Dream Academy product Collins Oduro – himself a former All-Freshman team selection (2023) – was the team’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.
Yeagley led the program to its 20th Big Ten regular season title and has his team on the precipice of a conference tournament championship, hosting Washington Sunday in the Big Ten final. The No. 3-ranked Hoosiers have a 15-1-3 record and finished top of the table in conference play with a 7-1-2 mark. Yeagley previously won Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 2010, 2018, 2019 as well as the adjusted 2020-21 season. Only his father, Jerry Yeagley, has more (8). He has led the program to 12 Big Ten Championships – seven league, five tournament – as well as the national title in 2012. Todd Yeagley is the winningest coach, by number, all-time in Big Ten Conference play with 83 victories in league play.
Mroz becomes Indiana’s third player to win Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year since the award’s introduction in 2013, joining Trey Muse (2018) and Roman Celentano – a repeat winner in 2020 and 2021. Both Muse and Celentano currently play in Major League Soccer. Mroz, Maher and McHenry have led Indiana to a defensive record – 0.579 goals against average – that ranks best in the Big Ten and No. 3 in the country. Indiana has kept nine clean sheets, holding opponents to 11 goals, 178 shots (9.4 per game) and 69 shots on goal (3.6 per game). Mroz also leads the Big Ten in save percentage (.831) and set the program record for saves made in conference play, with 39.
Moller-Jensen (12 goals, 5 assists) and Bogard (9 goals, 2 assists) have combined for 21 goals and 59 points this season. Moller-Jensen has been a high-volume producer with multiple goal contributions in six matches this season, while Bogard has delivered in big moments with three decisive goals in 1-0 results and four match-winners.
2026 Big Ten Men’s Soccer Postseason Honors
Offensive Player of the Year: ZACH RAMSEY, Washington
Midfielder of the Year: Alex Hall, Washington
Defensive Player of the Year: Harrison Bertos, Washington
Goalkeeper of the Year: Michal Mroz, Indiana
Freshman of the Year: Rodrigo Neri, Maryland
Coach of the Year: Todd Yeagley, Indiana
All-Big Ten First Team
Josh Maher, Jr., D, Indiana
Alex Matthews, R-Sr., M, Indiana
Oliver Moller-Jensen, Sr., F, Indiana
Michal Mroz, Jr., GK, Indiana
Andrew Darakdjian, Sr., F, Michigan State
Miles Merritt, Sr., M, Michigan State
Brandon Munson, Jr., D, Michigan State
Nick Collins, Sr., D, Rutgers
Harrison Bertos, Sr., D, Washington
Alex Hall, Jr., M, Washington
ZACH RAMSEY, Jr., F, Washington
All-Big Ten Second Team
Easton Bogard, Jr., F, Indiana
Nick McHenry, Jr., D, Indiana
Laurin Mack, Jr., GK, Maryland
Rodrigo Neri, Fr., F, Maryland
Richie Ludwig, Sr., F, Michigan State
Amer Lukovic, Grad., F, Rutgers
Zach Mastrodimos, So., M, Rutgers
Jaime Amaro, Jr., M, UCLA
Shakir Nixon, Jr., D, UCLA
Tre Wright, Sr., D, UCLA
Matthew Zachemski, Jr., M, Wisconsin
All-Freshman Team*
Michael Adu-Gyamfi, F, Indiana
Franklin Affanyi, D, Maryland
Said El Eyssami, F, Maryland
RODRIGO NERI, F, Maryland
Alex Gimple, F, Michigan
Josue Pfrommer, D, Northwestern
Jack Wayne, M, Ohio State
Sheridan McNish, D, Penn State
Jeffrey Bryjak, D, Rutgers
Hector Criado, D, Rutgers
Shaun Brun, D, Washington
JAKE GOETTING, F, Washington
Sportsmanship Honorees
Collins Oduro, Sr., F, Indiana
Albi Ndrenika, Grad., F, Maryland
Patrick O’Toole, Sr., D, Michigan
Connor O’Keefe, So., D, Michigan State
Italo Addimandi, Sr., F, Northwestern
Patrick McLaughlin, Sr., GK, Ohio State
Morgan Marshall, Sr., D, Penn State
Simon Gorczowski, So., D, Rutgers
Philip Naef, Sr., M, UCLA
Chad Sovde, Sr., M, Washington
Markie Hrvojevic, Sr., F, Wisconsin
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
* – additional player added due to ties in voting
Talented Duo Set to Join the Indiana University Women’s Volleyball Program For the third-straight year, head coach Steve Aird and the Indiana volleyball program will welcome a top-20 recruiting class on National Signing Day. The Hoosiers continue to stack elite talent in Bloomington as they build the program through the prep ranks. The 2027 recruiting class will bring a pair of top-55 national prospects to campus this winter. “We are excited to add two tremendous athletes to our program in January,” Aird said. “They have had great prep careers and are accustomed to winning at a high level. There is no doubt that they will make an impact on the program early and often. Their skills and energy will continue to push the program to new heights and Hoosier fans will love how they represent our program and university.
Both players – libero Kaitlyn Herweg and opposite hitter Samantha Karjala – will enroll in January to begin training with the program ahead of their first year of college volleyball. It’s the fourth time under Aird that the Hoosiers will sign a top-20 national recruiting class. Prep Dig’s latest class rankings tabbed IU with the 18th best overall group and the sixth best in the Big Ten.
Kaitlyn Herweg, a 5-6 libero from Long Beach, California, is one of the nation’s best prospects at the position. Prep Volleyball has her has the country’s top libero while Prep Dig ranks her as the number four back row prospect. Both services have her as a consensus top-40 prospect in the national rankings. According to all-time Prep Volleyball rankings, Herweg is the highest-ranked recruit (No. 16) to sign with IU in program history. Herweg led Los Alamitos High School to a 30-9 record during her senior campaign and a spot in the quarterfinals of the CIF Open Division State Championships. She finished her prep career with the program’s all-time digs record after picking up over 1,500 digs during her time as the team’s starting libero.
Samantha Karjala, a 6-1 opposite hitter from Tampa, Florida, will join an IU program built for talented and athletic pin hitters. She is a natural right side attacker and has turned into one of the country’s fastest-rising prospects over the last year. Karjala is a top-55 national prospect by both Prep Dig (No. 38) and Prep Volleyball (No. 52) in this year’s senior class. Karjala spent her senior campaign in 2025 at Calvary Christian High School where she led the Warriors to a FHSAA 3A State Championship. She recorded 342 kills (3.8 per set) on a .379 hitting percentage and added 79 service aces in her final prep campaign. Karjala also won a state title when she attended Plant High School. IU has amassed 39 wins over the last two seasons and has a chance to secure back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time this century later this month. Herweg will wear number 11 next season while Karjala takes the number four. Both players will start their collegiate journey this January.
Kaitlyn Herweg • 5-6 • Libero • Long Beach, Calif./Los Alamitos (SC Rockstar) No. 16 Overall Recruit by Prep Volleyball, No. 1 Libero (August 2026) No. 34 Overall Recruit by Prep Dig, No. 4 Libero (October 2026) Highest Ranked Recruit in Program History – Prep Volleyball Career Stats: 1,554 digs, 158 aces, 445 assists
- Los Alamitos School Record Holder – Digs
- 2026 USAV 18U Junior National Champions (SC Rockstar)
- 2026 Max Preps Preseason All-American, Top-10 Senior Libero
- 2026 USAV 18U Junior National Championships All-Tournament Team
- 2024 USAV 16U Junior National Champions (SCVC)
Herweg – Why IU: “I chose IU because it felt like the right fit for me to not only grow as an athlete but as a person. I will be able to do that with people that constantly work to make me better.”
Aird on Herweg “We had Kaitlyn graded as one of the best liberos in the country early in the recruiting process. She continued to improve as the club season developed and became one of the nation’s top prospects. She has elite touch, a great feel for the game, plays hard and is not afraid of big moments. Her serve receive is excellent, her nose for the ball is elite and she can keep our team in system when the setter takes the first ball. We run a unique offense and one that relies heavily on our first touch. She is as good as it gets in that area with so much room to grow.”
Samantha Karjala • 6-1 • Opposite Hitter • Tampa, Fla./Calvary Christian (OTVA) No. 38 Overall Recruit by Prep Dig (October 2026) No. 52 Overall Recruit by Prep Volleyball (August 2026) Career Stats: 659 kills, 108 aces, 120 blocks, 170 digs 2026 AAU Junior Nationals 17 Open MVP and All-Tournament Team 2026 17 Open AAU National Champions (OTVA) 2025 Class 3A Florida Girls Volleyball Player of the Year 2025 FACA 3A District 14 Player of the Year 2025 AVCA Second Team All-American 2025 FHSAA 3A State Volleyball Champions (Calvary Christian) 2025 16U Open AAU All-American 2023 FHSAA 7A State Volleyball Champions (Plant)
Karjala – Why IU: “I wanted to find a university where I could pursue everything I envisioned for myself, both as an athlete and as a student. From the first conversations, IU made me feel like I was already part of something bigger. I felt connected to the people and the program. The chance to compete in the Big Ten and be part of a community that values excellence beyond the court made it a very easy choice.
Aird on Karjala: “Sam is a proven, high level offensive talent that can score from all areas of the court. She can score from the endline, can block at a high level and has proven to be one of the most impressive point scorers at the club level. Her defensive skills are developing, but we see her as a six-rotation player that can score and dominate matches. I think her upside is exciting and her work rate and energy are great attributes. She is a fun-loving kid and a great teammate but also has an incredible competitive drive. She wants the ball and wants to put matches on her arm. She will be a foundational piece of this program for years to come, and her future is incredibly bright.”
Indiana Pacers snap two-game skid with 114-101 win over the Washington Wizards Pascal Siakam scored 28 points and Ivica Zubac finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds as the Indiana Pacers beat the Washington Wizards 114-101 on Wednesday night. Siakam was 7 of 17 from the field and converted all 12 of his chances at the line. Andrew Nembhard added 17 points and 10 assists and Kelly Oubre Jr. scored all 14 of his points in the first half for Indiana. Kyshawn George scored 25 points and Anthony Davis had 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Wizards, who lost their fifth straight. Trae Young scored 12 of his 15 points in the second half and Tre Johnson added 15 points off the bench for the Wizards.
Indiana, which snapped a two-game skid, went on a 14-0 run to open the fourth quarter for a 91-77 lead. The Pacers had led 69-59 with 6:24 left in the quarter before the Wizards responded with an 18-8 outburst to close the quarter. The Wizards took their largest lead of the game at 41-33 midway through the second quarter before the Pacers closed the half with a 22-9 run for a 55-50 halftime lead. Indiana shot 46% while holding the Wizards to 39% in the opening half. For the game, the Pacers shot 47%, while the Wizards finished at 41%. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Tyrese Haliburton’s left hamstring strain is progressing, but added it is reasonable that he might have a status update in 10 days. Haliburton has missed eight consecutive games.
Messiah Burch becomes 12th Buffalo player with 1,000 rushing yards in 28-7 win over Ball State Messiah Burch ran for a career-high 209 yards and two touchdowns and Buffalo defeated Ball State 28-7 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight victory. The Bulls (7-3, 5-1 Mid-American Conference) secured bowl eligibility and remained in a four-way tie atop the MAC standings, while also eliminating Ball State (3-7, 2-4) from bowl contention. Burch became the 12th player in Buffalo history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, and put the game on ice after breaking three tackles at the line of scrimmage and dashing for a 67-yard touchdown with 4:04 remaining in regulation.
The Bulls blew the game open on the next possession, taking advantage of a special teams miscue by the Cardinals to recover their own kickoff. Terrance Shelton Jr. took the first play 27 yards to the end zone, their second rushing score in six seconds of clock. The Cardinals struck first thanks to a special teams error by Buffalo. Punter Ethan Stumpf kicked the ball directly into the back of lineman Christopher Climes, and the ball went all the way back into the end zone. Gabe Aramboles simply fell onto the ball for the first score of the game. Buffalo evened things up with a 14-yard reception by Chance Morrow from Jason Wright with four minutes to go in the first half. Burch’s 2-yard dive put the Bulls ahead in the third quarter, capping off a 12-play, 79-yard drive that took over six minutes. Ball State had ample opportunities to cut back into the lead, but missed three field goals from 39, 44, and 47 yards on the night. TJ Horton led with 92 rushing yards on 11 carries. Donovan Hamilton had 11 catches for 104 yards. Buffalo hosts Central Michigan next Wednesday and Ball State: visits Ohio next Tuesday.
Ellie Herschberger’s 21 Kills Fire No. 9 Taylor Past MVNU in Crossroads League Semifinals Ellie Herschberger fired 21 kills, and the Trojan offense hit an electric .368 to sweep Mount Vernon Nazarene (23-13, 11-7 CL) in the Crossroads League Semifinals on Wednesday night inside Odle Arena. The senior outside saved her best for last, swatting down ten kills on 18 swings in the third and final set. An eye-popping hitting percentage of .500 in the final set propelled her final percent to .439. Herschberger has notched 20 or more kills in both of her matches against the Cougars this season.
The Trojans hit over .300 in every set and notched 51 total kills, good for 17 per set. The offensive firework display was orchestrated by Margo Hernandez, who tallied 44 assists, her most in a three-set match, surpassing the 41 she accumulated in her last match. Hernandez was also a defensive dynamo, collecting a match-high 18 digs. While the offense took the headlines the defense held the Cougars to a hitting percentage under .200, well below their season mark of .239. Mackenzie Gerig had 12 in the libero position as back row teammate, Suzanne Storey added eight.
The CL foes began the night trading extended runs which led to a 13-13 tie in the opening set. TU then took full control finishing the set on a 12-4 run for a 25-17 victory. Daya Vestal started the night brilliantly with kills on her first five swings. The junior ended the night with nine kills a pair of digs and a block. The momentum carried to the second, which the Trojans ran away with a 25-14 victory behind seven kills on eight swings by senior Reagan Kleiman. Kleiman reached double-digit kills at ten without an error on 19 swings.
As the Purple and Grey were cruising, the Cougars reminded everyone of their own prowess early in the third. Mount Vernon Nazarene raced out to a 14-8 advantage as Lilla Nichols and Evelyn Brown powered the offense. Herschberger responded with authority, sparking eight-consecutive TU points with three kills and a block. The senior was not finished, and another trio of kills helped TU gain full control of the set and match, eventually cantering to a 25-20 win in the final frame. Herschberger also added a team-best two aces on the evening in yet another amazing match. No. 9 Taylor (30-5, 16-2 CL) will host No. 12 Indiana Wesleyan (25-8, 15-3 CL) in the Crossroads League Championship this afternoon at 3:00 pm back inside Odle Arena. The cross-county rivals split the season series with each winning on their home floor.