Box Score DENVER – After falling behind two sets to none, the IUPUI volleyball team rallied for a third set win only to have Denver regain its form in the fourth set to claim a 3-1 win over the Jaguars Friday evening.
 
The Pioneers offense, which came into the final weekend as the top hitting offense in the league, put down 66 kills and hit at a .267 clip compared to just 49 kills for the Jags on a .154 hitting percentage.
 
Kaitlyn Hickey led the way for IUPUI with a match-high 17 kills and Kelly Wachtel added 10 kills, but Denver had four hitters post double-digit kills and the balanced attack proved to be the difference.
 
The loss snapped IUPUI's 10-match win streak and dropped it into a three-way tie for first place in the Summit League with Denver and South Dakota with one match remaining. The Jags finish the regular season at the Coyotes on Sunday, Nov. 16, while Denver hosts Fort Wayne on Sunday.
 
The Jags didn't get off to the start they had wished for in the opening set as a lengthy Denver run opened a lead for the Pioneers that the Jaguars could not overcome. With the score tied at 8-8, Denver scored eight of the next nine points to seize a 16-9 cushion. IUPUI cut its deficit to six at 18-12, but another Pioneers run fueled them to a 25-14 opening-set win.
 
The momentum continued for the Pioneers in set two as they took a 10-6 cushion, but the Jags offense was starting to hit its stride. The only problem was they could not string together points as both teams exchanged a handful of side outs before consecutive Denver kills moved its lead to 16-11 forcing a IUPUI timeout. Out of the timeout, the Pioneers continued to put on the pressure and they extended their lead to 22-13 before finishing off a 25-18 second-set win to put the Jags in a two sets to none hole.
 
Things continued to go Denver's way with the Pioneers taking a 7-2 lead to start the third set, but three blocks from the Jaguars helped spur a run in which IUPUI took 12 of the next 17 points to catapult in front, 14-11. The lead grew to four at 16-12, but the Pioneers retaliated and recaptured a one-point lead at 18-17 thanks in part to some IUPUI attack errors. Several ties ensued, but the Jags were able to force a fourth set after posting a 28-26 win in set three.
 
Unfortunately, Denver regained its form in the fourth set and never let the Jaguars get into a rhythm. With the Jags trailing by one, 13-12, the Pioneers slowly extended their lead to four at 21-17, before using a late run to close out a 25-18 win.