Box Score
ROCHESTER, Mich. – Three players recorded double-digit kills and the IUPUI volleyball team out-blocked Oakland University, 12.0 to 5.0, but the Golden Grizzles proved to be too much and eliminated the Jaguars from Summit League Tournament contention with a 3-1 (16-25, 26-28, 25-19, 13-25) win over the Jaguars Friday evening.
Moriah Fair posted a double-double with 13 kills and 15 digs, and
Kalyse Reimbold added a team-high 16 kills, but Oakland outhit IUPUI .223 to .163 to secure its spot as the No. 4 seed in the upcoming Summit League Tournament.
Oakland held a slim lead for most of the opening set until a handful of IUPUI attack errors aided a run that took an 11-9 lead and widened out to an 18-10 cushion. Unfortunately for IUPUI, its deficit could not be cut below six points as the Golden Grizzlies opened the match with a 25-16 win in the first set.
Set two was much more competitive from the start as 16 ties and six lead changes occurred throughout. Oakland held a three-point lead late in the set, 21-18, before a Reimbold kill, a
Kelsey Hoefer kill, and a block from Hoefer and
Corinne Owens quickly knotted things back at 21. The Jags had four set-point opportunities that Oakland spoiled and the Golden Grizzlies needed just one set-point opportunity to seize the set using a block to cement a 28-26 win in set two.
Trailing two sets to none coming out of the intermission, the Jags re-focused and took control early using two blocks, four kills and four Golden Grizzlies miscues to help grasp a 12-6 lead. OU slowly cut its deficit to two points, 18-16, but IUPUI used kills from Fair and Reimbold and two Golden Grizzlies attack errors to push its lead back to six points, 22-16. Another Oakland attack error and kills by Reimbold and Owens gave the Jags a 25-19 win seizing the momentum.
However, a slow start in the final set hindered the Jags as they fell behind 8-3. A Reimbold kill brought IUPUI within four points, 11-7, but a six-point Oakland retaliation opened up a 17-8 OU advantage. From that point, the Jags could not muster a comeback and fell, 25-13, giving Oakland the 3-1 victory.
Alexis Meeks dished out 39 assists and tallied 18 digs, while
Shari Bernhardt put up 31 digs, her sixth consecutive 20-plus dig performance.
IUPUI concludes its season on Saturday, Nov. 12, when it takes on in-state rival IPFW at 7 p.m. in Fort Wayne, Ind.
