Box Score

BROOKINGS, S.D. – Behind 12 blocks, including a school-record tying four solo blocks from Kaitlyn Hickey, the IUPUI volleyball team shut down the South Dakota State offensive en route to claiming a 3-0 (25-10, 25-14, 25-15) victory over the Jackrabbits Friday evening at Frost Arena.

The win was the Jags first conference road victory of the season as they improved to 10-12 overall and 4-2 in the Summit League. SDSU fell to 3-16 overall and 1-5 in the league.

The IUPUI offense also continued its stellar play of late by out-hitting the Jackrabbits .404 to .000. Kortni Wright hit .875 thanks to seven kills on eight attempts without an error, while Hickey and Logan Walling also hit above .400.

"Our block was excellent tonight and we did what we were supposed to do," head coach Steve Payne said. "When our block wasn't there, we dug the ball up and got kills. All of our hitters contributed tonight and when that happens, that really opens up the court."

The Jaguars started off the match strong scoring 21 of their 25 first-set points via 11 kills and 10 South Dakota State attack errors. Two kills from Wright, two from Kelly Wachtel and four offensive attack errors allowed IUPUI to sprint out to a 10-4 advantage in the opening set. After the lead grew to double figures at 20-10, the Jags finished the set off in impressive fashion using kills from Wright and Wachtel, a solo block from Walling and a pair of aces from Meredith Farkas to win 25-10.

Three of IUPUI's eight total errors for the match occurred in the first 13 points of set two, but once the Jags settled down, they scored five of their next seven points off kills to open a 14-8 lead. Consecutive Jaguar blocks helped them double up SDSU, 16-8, and from that point the second set was never really in doubt. Two kills down the stretch from Fair completed a 25-14 win in set two.

Out of the ten-minute break, SDSU stayed close with the Jags and were within two at 11-9, but a four-point spurt featuring two Walling kills expanded that cushion to 15-9 and forced a Jackrabbits timeout. South Dakota State closed within four at 19-15, but IUPUI ended all doubt when it went on a six-point run to secure set three, 25-15.

Beth Howard led the back-row defense with a match-high 14 digs, while also posting a team-high tying two aces.

The Jaguars conclude their weekend on Saturday, Oct. 19, when they head to Fargo, N.D., to take on North Dakota State. The match is set for 8 p.m. ET.