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

INDIANAPOLIS – Needing 30 digs to break IUPUI’s all-time digs record, Shari Bernhardt collected a match-high 42 digs helping the IUPUI volleyball team pull out a 3-2 win over South Dakota Saturday evening in Summit League action.

The win moved IUPUI’s record to 13-14 overall and 7-8 in conference play, while South Dakota fell to 13-14 overall and 6-8 in league action.

Midway through the fourth set, Bernhardt recorded her 2,068th career dig moving her past Erin Jones as the Jaguars all-time digs leader. Later in the set, her accomplishment was announced to the crowd and she was given a standing ovation by those in attendance.

“It definitely feels good to surpass [the record] and definitely came out there tonight not thinking about it,” Bernhardt said. “I just wanted to get the win and do whatever I could defensively for the team so I’m really glad we pulled out the win.”

“Her performance tonight was just like every other night and she is just a huge part of the team and the defense is based around her,” said head coach Steve Payne. “I’m sure this was a goal of hers and I’m happy she could do it here at home.”

The Jags struggled most of the opening set unable to establish any rhythm allowing South Dakota to take a lead as large as eight points at 23-15. Consecutive USD errors preceded a block from Kelsey Hoefer and Kortni Wright# cutting the deficit to five points, 23-18, but a Kristen Kritenbrink kill gave the Coyotes set point at 24-18. A service error and attack error were sandwiched around Hoefer kills bringing the Jags within two points, 24-22, forcing USD to call a timeout. Out of the break, another kill by Hoefer, a service ace from Kalyse Reimbold, and another block from Hoefer and Wright put IUPUI on top, 25-24, marking its first lead of the set. During the next point, a kill by Fair capped off an improbable eight-point run and a 26-24 come-from-behind win.

IUPUI used the momentum gained from the end of the opening set to jump on top, 7-3, in set two, but USD overcame the early deficit and tied the set up three times with the last occasion at 14-14. From that point, Bethany Fogler put down two kills and was a part of two blocks helping push IUPUI in front, 19-16. The lead remained at three points, 23-20, before kills by Fogler and Moriah Fair closed out a 25-20 second-set win.

Similar to the previous night, things didn’t go as planned for the Jags in sets three and four. USD led for most of set three and slowly built up a four-point lead late in the set that the Jags couldn’t overcome as it took the third set, 25-20.

In set four, South Dakota held a two-point lead at the midway point and proceeded to go on a five-point run to widen that margin to seven points, 21-14. IUPUI couldn’t muster another rally as it dropped set four, 25-19, setting up a decisive fifth set.

In the final frame with the score tied at five, the Jags created some breathing room courtesy of a kill by Fogler, a kill by Reimbold, and an ace from Fogler. The Coyotes cut their deficit to one point, 11-10, but a kill from Fair followed by an attack error quick escalated the lead back to three points, 13-10. After a side out, a kill by Hoefer set up set point, before Ellyn Jones aced the Coyotes securing a 15-11 fifth-set win.

Offensively, Hoefer led the squad with 18 kills while hitting .356, and she was joined in double figures in kills by Fair and Fogler who added 13 kills and 10 kills, respectively. Fair also tacked on 14 digs marking her fourth straight kill-dig double-double.

With a solo block and five block assists on the night, Fogler tied IUPUI’s single-season solo blocks record with her 20th solo block of the season, while becoming the program’s single-season block assists leader recording her 101st block assist of the season. Fogler became the first player in school history to surpass 100 block assists in a season.

The Jaguars have a week off before returning to the floor on Saturday, Nov. 5, when they welcome Western Illinois to The Jungle for a 7 p.m. start. The match against the Leathernecks will be Senior Night and the volleyball team will honor its two seniors, Bernhardt and Reimbold, prior to the start of the match.