Box Score (html) | Box Score (.pdf) | Steve Payne Postgame Interview

INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI volleyball team capped off a busy week in impressive fashion on Sunday afternoon by handing first-placed Denver a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-22) loss at The Jungle, its first Summit League loss of the season.
 
The win improved the Jaguars to 12-11 overall and 6-2 in the conference, while Denver slipped to 18-4 overall and 7-1 in the league.
 
The Jags were led offensively by Kaitlyn Hickey's 10 kills, but it was the IUPUI defense that proved to be the difference. Led by Gabby Fisher's five total blocks and Ashley Hacker's four total blocks, the Jaguars posted 10 blocks compared to the Pioneers 5.0.
 
"Our team came out ready to play. We played with them point for point, followed the game plan against a really good Denver team that has a really explosive offense," head coach Steve Payne said. "We've been working on [our blocking] a little bit and we changed our defense around a little bit and it has made it easier for our blockers to know exactly where they are going to block that ball."
 
Denver controlled the action early in the opening set and its lead escalated to as many as five, 16-11, at the midway point. IUPUI inched within one point twice, but it took a pair of block assists from Fisher and Hacker to pull the Jags even at 21-21 forcing Denver to use a timeout. Out of the timeout, the duo of Hacker and Fisher delivered another block, which preceded a Hickey kill moving IUPUI on top, 23-21.
Following an exchange of side outs, a Pioneers attack error gave the Jaguars a 25-22 come-from-behind win in the opening set.
 
The momentum continued into set two as the Jags sprinted out to a 10-6 lead forcing the Pioneers to use an early timeout. The cushion grew to six points, 12-6, on a Hickey solo block and the lead remained between four and six until Denver closed with three at 20-17 forcing a Jags timeout. Out of the break, the Jaguars scored four straight points on two Kelly Wachtel kills, a Fisher solo block and an ace from Hickey. Three points later, Wachtel delivered a kill to finish off a 25-19 win.
 
Similar to set one Denver seized control taking a 15-11 lead, but IUPUI rallied to tie the score twice before a solo block from Meredith Farkas put the Jaguars in front, 21-20. Leading 23-22, a Hacker and Walling block gave IUPUI set point, and a Denver ball handling error ensued finishing off the 25-22 third-set win.
 
Defensively, Beth Howard led all players with 14 digs.
 
IUPUI's three-match homestand continues on Friday, Oct. 24, when the Jaguars welcome Fort Wayne to The Jungle for a 7 p.m. start. Thursday's match will be the second meeting between the two in-state rivals in 10 days.