ROCHESTER, Mich.. -- Despite senior Devika Bellamy's first triple-double of the season, the IUPUI volleyball team could not overcome Oakland University, falling, 3-1, at the Athletics Center O'Rena Friday night.
IUPUI (9-11, 2-5 Summit) lost to Oakland for the first time since Nov. 8, 2003, when they dropped a five-game match in Rochester.
Bellamy picked up her first triple-double of the season with 17 kills, 25 assists and 10 digs. However, after picking up the first game, 30-24, the Jaguars could not take the next three, falling, 26-30, 27-30, 27-30.
The Jaguars used a 6-1 run in the first game to open up a 15-11 lead, forcing an Oakland timeout. The Golden Grizzlies were never able to come back in the game, as IUPUI was able to take the first game.
Oakland (6-11, 2-3 Summit) bounced back in game two. While IUPUI led early, OU gradually worked their way back into the game, closing to within a point at 25-24 to force a Jaguar timeout. Back-to-back service aces gave Oakland the lead, and they took six of the last seven points of the game to knot the match at a game apiece.
IUPUI repeated a familiar pattern in the pivotal third game, jumping out to an early lead before fading down the stretch. A kill by sophomore Ashley Johnson gave the Jags a 19-15 advantage, but a 6-2 Oakland run forced IUPUI to take a timeout with the score tied at 21.
A kill by sophomore Hillary Houston seemed to stem the Grizzlies momentum, giving the Jaguars a 25-24 lead, but OU took the next three points to go up, 27-25.
Coming out of another timeout, the Jaguars tied the game at 27 on a kill by senior Carol Newell, but Oakland took the next three points to take a game advantage.
IUPUI seemed poised to even the match at two games apiece after rallying to take an 18-15 lead in the fourth game, forcing an Oakland timeout. Holding a 25-23 lead, IUPUI could not hold on, allowing the Grizzlies to use a late 7-2 run to take the game and match.
The Jaguars will look to rebound tomorrow night, when they take on one of The Summit League's newest members, IPFW. The action will begin at 7 p.m. from the Hilliard Gates Sports Center in Fort Wayne, Ind.
