INDIANAPOLIS -- The IUPUI Jaguars battled to the end, but just fell short of claiming their first tournament title since 2005 after dropping a four-game heartbreaker to Central Michigan, 3-1, in the championship match of the IUPUI Jaguars Hampton Inn Invitational at the IUPUI Gymnasium.
Seniors Devika Bellamy and Carol Newell led the Jaguars with double-doubles. Bellamy had 19 kills and 12 digs, while Newell finished with 19 kills and 11 digs.
IUPUI (5-3) pushed the tournament champion Chippewas to the brink in all four games, falling 26-30, 34-32, 27-30 and 33-35.
In game one, the Jaguars committed 11 attack errors, opening the door for Central Michigan to steal the first game. Tournament MVP Kate Fissel had eight of CMU's 17 kills in the game, while Bellamy and Newell had five apiece. IUPUI held an 18-12 advantage, but the Chippewas used their offense to come back and take the game.
The Jaguars battled back in a marathon second game, eventually winning, 34-32. The offense came alive for IUPUI, and the Jags only had five errors to go along with their 19 kills. While CMU had 20 kills, they also had nine errors, which the Jaguars capitalized on throughout the game.
Trailing 29-28, IUPUI used a kill by Bellamy to knot the game, and after a CMU attack error, the teams traded points to 32-32, where an attack error and an ace by sophomore Danielle Goodnight sealed the game.
After the break, Central Michigan (6-0) used a late run to take the third game, which featured 11 ties and six lead changes. IUPUI led 20-18 after a kill by sophomore Ashley Johnson, but CMU rallied to take a 21-20 lead.
Still, IUPUI hung tough, trading points back and forth, taking their last lead at 24-23. From there, CMU used a 4-1 run to take control of the game, taking the pivotal game, 30-27.
However, the Jaguars did not give up, pushing Central Michigan to 35-33 in the fourth game. IUPUI led by as many as six at 20-14, but the Chippewas rallied to take a 25-21 lead.
Following an IUPUI timeout, the Jaguars pressured the Chippewas, knotting the game with four straight points. When CMU took a 28-25 lead, the Jaguars rallied again, taking a 29-28 advantage after consecutive kills by Newell and a CMU attack error.
The teams traded points from there, with neither team able to close out the game. Finally, with IUPUI leading 33-32, Central Michigan was able to string together three straight points to take the game, match and tournament.
Bellamy and Goodnight were named to the All-Tournament Team.
IUPUI will venture to the Billiken Invitational next weekend, where they will begin tournament play by battling Big East foe Connecticut at 5:30 EST on Friday, September 7.
