INDIANAPOLIS – For the third straight match, the IUPUI volleyball team held a two sets to one lead, but the Jaguars were unable to hold on as it dropped its third consecutive five-set match Tuesday evening falling to in-state foe IPFW at The Jungle.

“You have to give credit to IPFW for taking advantage of our miscues,” said head coach Steve Payne. “This is the third match in a row that we have held a lead and we have to learn how to finish.”

The loss dropped the jaguars to 5-9 overall and 0-3 in Summit League play, while IPFW upped its record to 7-5 overall and evened its conference record at 1-1.

In the opening set, the Jags used a pair of kills from Kalyse Reimbold, a Shari Bernhardt ace, and kills from Kelsey Hoefer and Alexis Meeks to take an 8-4 lead, before using a lengthy run to open a double-figure cushion. Behind the serving of Reimbold, IUPUI captured the next eight points, highlighted by three consecutive kills from Moriah Fair, to widen its lead to 16-4. From that point, the Jags continued to expand their lead and used a block from Kortni Wright and Hoefer to stamp shut a 25-11 opening-set triumph.

The strong play from the Jags continued early in set two before an eight-point swing behind Tessa McGill’s serving reversed a two-point IUPUI lead into a 13-7 IPFW advantage. Down the stretch, the Mastodons continued to push their lead into double figures and eventually won set two, 25-14, evening the match at one set apiece.

Similar to the first two sets, it was an early run that proved to be key. Trailing 6-4, a kill and two aces from Bethany Fogler spurred a six-point rally catapulting IUPUI in front, 10-6. Two kills apiece by Reimbold and Hoefer coupled with a Hoefer and Fogler block aided the Jags as their lead grew to seven, 17-10. With its lead still at six, 20-14, two kills by Fair, a kill by Hoefer, and two IPFW attack errors closed out a 25-14 third-set win.

Despite trailing early in set four, the Jags overcame a pair of four-point deficits to tie things up late at 20-20. The Mastodons took the upper hand on a kill by Megan Wiler and a block from Emily Spencer and Alli Hook, but a costly service error gave the Jags the much needed side out while closing the deficit to 22-21. Unfortunately, a kill by Hook, followed by an ace from Megan Steenhuysen and a kill from Jessie Manwaring secured the 25-21 win for the Mastodons, setting up a fifth and final set.

IPFW continued to play well jumping out to a 4-0 cushion in the fifth set, but IUPUI remained resilient and used a pair of blocks to help close the gap to two points, 7-5. That would be a close as the Jags reached as a Manwaring kill on the next point led to a six-point run that opened up a 12-5 lead and too many errors down the home stretch gave IPFW the 15-8 win.

Fair led IUPUI with 14 kills, while Hoefer proved to be the most effective offensive option connecting on 13 kills en route to hitting at a .385 clip. Bernhardt again led the team with 21 digs, while Wright and Fogler continued to play well at the net with six and five blocks, respectively.

The Jags continue their three-match homestand this weekend when they welcome Oral Roberts and Southern Utah to Indianapolis for a pair of conference matches. IUPUI opens the weekend with a 7 p.m. clash with the Golden Eagles on Friday, Sept. 23, before taking on the Thunderbirds at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24.