Box Score (.pdf) | Steve Payne Interview | Shari Bernhardt Interview

INDIANAPOLIS – It was a record setting night for the IUPUI volleyball team as Shari Bernhardt became the second player in school history to eclipse 2,000 digs and the team tied a school record with 18.0 blocks, but most importantly the Jaguars overcame a first-set loss to defeat in-state foe Valparaiso, 3-1 (24-26, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23) Tuesday evening at The Jungle.

The win inched IUPUI’s overall record closer to .500 at 12-13, while Valpo fell to 16-10.

Blocking was the story for the Jags as they outblocked the Crusaders, 18.0 to 4.0, with the 18.0 blocks equaling the most in a match in school history. Bethany Fogler entered the match as IUPUI’s top blocker and her six blocks gave her the school’s single-season blocks record with 110 on the campaign, but Corinne Owens stole the show with nine total blocks, four of which were solo blocks equaling another school record.

“Our blocking was really good tonight and we had a game plan of how we were going to block and we executed it. Our timing was great and we penetrated the net well,” head coach Steve Payne said. “I wanted to give Corinne some time in there and see what she could so and she did great. She’s getting a lot better in practice and I could tell she was going to do well out there.”

Bernhardt reached her milestone in the second set and when she came out for the third set, the fans rose to their feet and applauded the Plainfield, Ind.-native when her milestone was announced to the crowd.

“2,000 digs is a lot and that’s a lot of hitting the floor. She’s aggressive and she’s fast. She’s just a great player when it comes to reading the ball and breaking that 2,000 mark is a lifetime goal for her I’m sure,” Payne added.

The first set featured a series of runs from both sides. After Valparaiso opened the match with a five-point spurt, IUPUI used two kills by Kelsey Hoefer and a kill and an ace from Kalyse Reimbold to help the Jags go on a 6-0 run giving IUPUI a 6-5 lead. The Crusaders lead reached as many as four points on two occasions, with the last at 23-19, before the Jags went on another lengthy surge. A kill by Reimbold precluded a pair of blocks, both of which came from Kortni Wright, kick starting a 5-0 run giving IUPUI set point at 24-23. Unfortunately, the runs didn’t end there as a quick three-point flurry from Valparaiso gave the Crusaders the 26-24 opening-set win.

Coming off a tough opening-set loss, the Jags struggles continued as they trailed 14-8 midway through set two. A Janelle Hobbs kill put the Valpo lead at 18-13, forcing an IUPUI timeout, but the Jaguars used a block from Owens to start an eight-point run switching the lead into IUPUI’s favor, 21-18. With its three-point lead still intact, a kill by Moriah Fair off a diving defender closed out a 25-21 second-set win for IUPUI knotting the score at one set apiece.

Out of the break, IUPUI wasted no time taking an early lead as a pair of kills by Hoefer and Reimbold coupled with two blocks from Owens aided a run that gave the Jags a 9-1 lead. Valparaiso chipped away at its deficit and cut the IUPUI lead to four three times, with the last occurrence at 23-19. A Reimbold kill gave the Jags set point and a huge block from Hoefer and Owens stamped shut a 25-19 third-set triumph.

Valparaiso took charge in set four forcing IUPUI into some mistakes, but once IUPUI knotted the score at nine, seven ties ensued as neither team could seize control. A kill by Hoefer broke the tie and that was followed by a Reimbold ace, forcing Valpo to burn a timeout as it trailed 20-18. The Crusaders forced three more ties, with the last at 23-23, but a Valparaiso attack error precluded a kill from Reimbold that cemented a 25-23 win for IUPUI.

Three players finished in double figures in kills led by Hoefer and Reimbold’s 14 kills. Fair followed with 13 kills and added 18 digs for her sixth kill-dig double-double of the season. Bernhardt finished the evening with 25 digs.

IUPUI returns to Summit League play this weekend when it hosts UMKC and South Dakota in a pair of crucial conference matches. The Jags begin the weekend with the Kangaroos on Friday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m., before hosting the Coyotes at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29.