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INDIANAPOLIS – In a battle of two of the Summit League's unbeaten teams, the IUPUI volleyball team jumped out to a two sets to one lead over South Dakota only to have it slip away as the Coyotes rallied for a 3-2 (25-27, 36-24, 25-19, 23-25, 13-15) win at The Jungle Friday evening.
 
The loss snapped IUPUI's 18-match home conference winning streak dating back to 2011 and dropped its conference record to 2-1. South Dakota remained perfect in league play at 4-0 while upping its overall record to 10-6.
 
Four Jags finished with double-figure kills led by Kelly Wachtel's 16, but it wasn't enough to overcome Kendal Kritenbrink and Sydney Dimke's combined 42 kills. Joining Wachtel in double figures was Meredith Farkas with 14, Kaitlyn Hickey with 13 and Logan Walling with 10.
 
A slow start that featured several uncharacteristic errors allowed the Coyotes to take a 9-4 lead in the opening set resulting in IUPUI head coach Steve Payne using the first of his two timeouts. After both sides exchanged side outs, it was a block from Farkas and Walling that eventually evened the score at 14-14. With the score tied at 17, consecutive kills from Hickey moved the Jaguars lead to 19-17, forcing a USD timeout. South Dakota found its way back in front at 23-22, but the Jags managed to fight off two set points leaving the score tied at 25. Unfortunately, IUPUI couldn't get over the hump and the Coyotes emerged with a 27-25 opening-set win.
 
The Jags came out and seized control in set two using kills from five different players to help them take a 16-12 advantage just past the midway point. After USD closed within three, 17-14, consecutive kills from Hickey and a South Dakota hitting error opened a 20-14 IUPUI cushion. Three straight Coyotes kills cut their deficit in half, but back-to-back kills from Hickey and Farkas kept the margin at five, 22-17. USD clawed all the way back to tie the score at 23, but a South Dakota service error gave the Jags set point. After an exchange of side outs, a Farkas kill gave IUPUI another crack at the set and it took advantage. Farkas went to the service line and delivered a great serve that forced USD out of system and after an over pass, Walling put down a powerful kill on the 10-foot line to secure the 26-24 win.
 
An early run in set three gave IUPUI a three-point lead and the margin remained between two and four for most of the set until three straight Jags points off Kori Waelbroeck kills aided a run that out it on top, 17-12. The advantage grew to seven at 21-14 and from that point USD never really threatened as IUPUI pulled away with a 25-19 third-set win.
 
South Dakota won some lengthy rallies in the beginning stages of the fourth set to capture a three-point lead, but the Jags earned back a few points of their own on some long rallies to take their first lead of the set at 10-9. The lead switched hands multiple times and several ties occurred before a kill from Dimke and a USD block gave it a 23-21 lead. USD had two set point opportunities and after the Jags spoiled the first one, an Audrey Reeg kill gave the Coyotes a 25-23 fourth-set win to extend the match to a fifth set.
 
Four of the first five points in the fifth set fell South Dakota's way forcing IUPUI to take a timeout. The USD lead grew to four at 5-1, but the Jags quickly fought back within one only to watch the Coyotes move their lead back to four at 11-7. The Jaguars again closed all the way within a point, 13-12, on a Gabby Fisher ace, but three side outs resulted in South Dakota claiming the 15-13 win.
 
The Jags are back in action on Sunday, Oct. 5, when they head to Tulsa, Okla., to take on Oral Roberts. The match is set to start at 3 p.m. ET.