Indiana Volleyball took a major step forward this season. They finished with a record of 16-16 and 9-11 in the Big Ten. It was their most wins in a season since 2018 and their most Big Ten wins since 2010. One reason for their improvement is the dynamic play of sophomore setter Camryn Haworth.
Haworth finished the season leading the Big Ten in total aces and was third in the conference in total assists. She recorded nine double doubles on the season (double digit assists and digs) and Indiana’s first triple double since 2001. It is her versatility in many aspects of the game that stands out to Head Coach Steve Aird.
“She’s one of the best athletes I’ve ever coached,” he said. “She’s one of the most competitive kids I’ve ever coached, and she can do a lot of stuff.”
While Haworth is one of the best servers in the country, she has a simple strategy at the line.
“Hit it hard,” she said. “That’s it.”
Another reason for the improvement for this years team was a trip they took to Europe over the summer. Haworth said that the trip helped everyone bond and build team chemistry.
Camryn Haworth talks about the European trip that the Indiana Volleyball team went on prior to the 2022 season.
While playing in high school, she got to share the court with her older sister, Audrey. She was Haworth’s inspiration for playing the sport. However, their relationship on the court in high school was not smooth at first.
“It was very strange,” Camryn Haworth said. “Her and I didn’t like each other when we first started, but the more we got to play with each other the more it was a good bond.”
Despite their slow start on the court, their relationship grew. Haworth describes her sister as her biggest supporter. Audrey comes to Indiana games to support her sister as often as she can, while also playing collegiate volleyball at UT-Martin.
“She’s my biggest supporter in every way, and she comes here, actually, as often as she can,” she said. “She was just here two weekends in a row, which is insane.”
Camryn and Audrey Haworth playing together in high school.
Camryn and Audrey Haworth at Assembly Hall.
Camryn and Audrey Haworth playing together in high school.
Haworth is an Indiana native, hailing from Fishers and graduating from Fishers High School. Carly Mills, another sophomore on Indiana Volleyball, is also from Fishers and graduated from Hamilton Southeastern High School. Haworth and Mills have been friends for years and went to preschool together.
“We started playing club and youth sports together,” Haworth said. “We played soccer, basketball, and volleyball together, which was really cool.”
As for Haworth’s decision to stay in state and play at Indiana University, she leaves no doubt.
“The best choice I ever could have made, honestly,” she said. “I looked at a lot of different schools, and this one just felt like home.”
With Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rapidly changing the landscape of college sports, Haworth has dived right in. She signed a deal with Hoosiers for Good, an organization that partners athletes at Indiana University with charities in surrounding communities. Haworth was partnered with Habitat for Humanity and went to a recent house construction project in Bloomington.
“So I actually got to go to a women’s build for Habitat for Humanity, which was my first big project with them, and it was really great just getting to meet all these women out in the community and help build a house for some people,” she said.
In addition to Hoosiers for Good, Haworth also signed a smaller deal with Campus Ink. She said that one was to get more attention on volleyball.
NIL is here to stay in college sports. Haworth’s freshman year was the year that student athletes were able to profit off their name. As the inaugural class of NIL, Haworth believes it is here to stay.
“I think it will be more beneficial over the next coming years, now that more companies are branching out with it, but I think it’s been really cool getting the athletes involved with other businesses in the community,” she said.
