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INDIANAPOLIS – A pair of tough challenges await the IUPUI volleyball team this weekend when it welcomes the top two teams in the Summit League standings to The Jungle in South Dakota and Denver.

Friday's match against the Coyotes will begin at 7 p.m., while Saturday's contest against the Pioneers will begin at 5 p.m. On Friday, pizza will be provided to IUPUI students that attend the match while supplies last.

South Dakota comes into the second-half of the conference schedule with a perfect 7-0 record, while Denver sits a game behind the Coyotes at 6-1 - with their only blemish during the first half of the league slate coming at South Dakota. The Jaguars sit alone in third place at 5-2 and they know this weekend is important if they have aspirations of repeating as Summit League regular-season champions.

"Both of our losses in conference came against South Dakota and Denver on the road, and we are excited to get another shot at them on our home court," head coach Steve Payne said. "These are two very good teams that are coached well, but we know that if we can continue to play at a high level that we can have some success."

The Jags have won 13 consecutive Summit League home matches dating back to 2011, including their first three this season in which they collectively hit .366, led by Kelly Wachtel's .492 hitting percentage.

IUPUI is coming off a 2-1 week last week, which included a pair of road sweeps at South Dakota State and North Dakota State. Defensively, Beth Howard led the way averaging 5.45 dps and for her efforts, she was named Summit League Defensive Player of the Week by the conference on Oct. 21. Howard's 5.45 dps average bettered her season average of 4.88 dps, which leads the Summit League.

Moriah Fair and Kaitlyn Hickey lead the IUPUI offense ranking fifth and sixth in kills, respectively, in league-only action at 3.96 kps and 3.38 kps, but the Jaguars defense will face the top attacker in the conference this weekend in USD's Kendal Kritenbrink. In Summit League play, Kritenbrink boasts a league-best 5.24 kps, while hitting an impressive .285.

While Kritenbrink is the only USD hitter ranking in the Top 15 in the conference in kills in conference-only matches, Denver brings a well-balanced offensive attack to the table with four players ranked in the Top 15 in the league in kills led by Colleen King's 3.05 kps.

Entering the second half of conference play, IUPUI, Denver and South Dakota all rank in the Top 3 in the league in kills per set, hitting percentage, assists per set and blocks per set.