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INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI volleyball team rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat in-state rival Fort Wayne, 3-2 (25-19, 18-25, 17-25, 25-16, 16-14), Saturday evening inside The Jungle for the program's first outright regular-season Summit League Championship.

Both Fort Wayne and IUPUI entered the night with identical 12-3 Summit League records, and it was no surprise that the two teams that battled all season for the top spot in the conference standings would have a match that had so much at stake go five sets.

The Jaguars trailed 11-8 in the final set before it rallied for the win, and the win not only gave IUPUI its first outright Summit League Regular-Season Championship, but it secured the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Summit League Tournament that will be played Nov. 16-17 at the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse in Fargo, N.D. Additionally, the win was IUPUI’s 21st of the season, marking the most wins for the program since joining the Division I ranks in 1998.

With the loss, the Mastodons will be the No. 2 seed in the Summit League Tournament. The third and fourth seeds have yet to be determined.

“There were a lot of ups and downs in this match. We came out strong in the first set and did everything we wanted to do, and in that second set we kind of let up and made a lot of errors,” said head coach Steve Payne. “To then be down 2-1, have a good fourth set and go point-for-point in the fifth set – we just did some good things, played some aggressive defense and made some smart plays to take the match.”

Kaitlyn Hickey led the Jaguars with 21 kills, while Alexis Meeks put together one of her finest all-around performances with 21 assists and 19 digs.

Additionally, IUPUI’s three seniors were big factors in the outcome of this match with Bethany Fogler and Kelsey Hoefer each posting 10 kills, while Lindsey Weber came off the bench and provided a spark with a pair of kills.

Fort Wayne took the early lead in the opening set, but a Hickey kill and solo block highlighted a four-point run that put the Jaguars in front, 11-8. With the lead at two, 15-13, another brief four-point surge widened the IUPUI lead to six, 19-13. Nine consecutive side outs ensued giving the Jaguars set point at 24-17, but after two set points were spoiled, a Moriah Fair kill closed out a 25-19 first-set win.

Despite the win, IPFW managed to get IUPUI out of sync and controlled sets two and three winning 25-18 and 25-19, respectively, to put it one set away from a league title.

With their backs against the wall, the Jags jumped on the Mastodons early using three Hickey kills, a Fogler kill and three Fort Wayne errors to take an 8-3 advantage in set four. IUPUI’s lead remained at six, 16-10, at the mid-way point, before two kills apiece from Hickey and Fogler pushed IUPUI’s cushion to nine points, 20-11. From that point, the Jags managed to claim the fourth set, 25-16, setting up a decisive fifth-set.

The final set was a see-saw battle until the Mastodons jumped in front by three, 11-8. IUPUI used a Fair kill, a block by Wright and Fair, and a Meeks ace to tie the score at 11, but three more ties ensued. Knotted at 14, a Hickey kill gave the Jags championship point, and the freshman delivered for the 21st and final time on the next point to cap off a long rally and secure the 16-14 fifth-set win.

IUPUI now turns its focus to the upcoming Summit League Tournament Nov. 16-17 in Fargo, N.D. The Jags will play on Friday, Nov. 16 against the No. 4 seed, which has not been determined.