INDIANAPOLIS -- After two tense, hard-fought games, the IUPUI volleyball team faltered down the stretch as North Dakota State used their height to pull away and win, 3-1, over the Jaguars in their Summit League home opener.
IUPUI (8-8, 1-2 Summit) saw three players post double-doubles, Freshman Lauran Thompson had her first career double-double with 15 kills and 13 digs, while senior Devika Bellamy posted her fifth double-double of the year with 14 kills and 19 digs. Sophomore Danielle Goodnight contributed her eighth of the season, chipping in 55 assists and a career-best 28 digs.
Thompson's 15 kills matched her season high, while her 13 digs were a new career best.
The Jaguars hit .242 in the first two games of the match, but just .086 in the final two games.
The first game went back-and-forth throughout, with IUPUI jumping out to a 7-1 lead before North Dakota State rallied to come within a point at 14-13. However, the Jaguars went back out front 18-14 to cause the Bison to burn their final timeout of the game.
Still, the game was tied at 25 when IUPUI used a timeout, coming out of the break to take a 29-27 lead on a kill by senior Carol Newell. However, NDSU took the next three points to move ahead, 30-29, to set up their own game point.
Another kill by Newell knotted the game and an attack error gave the Jags another chance to take the first game, but they could not capitalize, allowing North Dakota State to pick up the next two points. IUPUI saved game point at 34-33 and set up game point at 35-34 on a Bellamy kill.
However, a Bison kill tied the game once again and NDSU took the next two points to slip away with the first game.
After the first game featured 11 ties and seven lead changes, game two only had eight ties and two lead changes. Still, the Jaguars were able to knot the contest at one game apiece, using 20 kills to take the game.
Sophomore Ashley Johnson led the way with seven kills in the game, hitting .545. IUPUI jumped out to an early lead again, taking a 5-2 advantage before North Dakota State rallied to take a 10-9 lead.
After IUPUI tied the game at 11, they pulled away, using a 10-6 run to force a NDSU timeout at 21-17. When the Bison attempted to rally, they did not rotate properly, dropping a point to make the score 27-21. The Jaguars pushed the lead to 29-22 before cruising to a 30-26 win.
Coming out of the break, North Dakota State made a point of using their height to control the match. In game three, the Bison front line tallied seven blocks to stifle the Jaguar attack. The IUPUI attack that had been consistent posted 10 errors and only 17 kills in the game.
North Dakota State (10-3, 2-1 Summit) led throughout the third game, getting the ball to MH Christy Stuewe consistently. Stuewe had six of the Bison's 15 kills in the game.
The Jaguars attempted to rally in game four, tying the score on seven occasions before North Dakota State seized control with a 10-2 run to open up a 17-9 lead. While IUPUI was able to bring the gap to 15-19, the Bison went on another 11-3 run to close the game and match.
Stuewe finished the match with 23 kills, while Newell had a team-high 20 for IUPUI.
The Jaguars will be back in action tomorrow night, when they take on the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State. The match will begin at 7 p.m. from The Jungle.
