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OXFORD, Ohio – In its final day of action prior to beginning Summit League play next weekend, the IUPUI volleyball team dropped a three-set affair to Ohio State before concluding the day with a four-set victory over UAB.

During the finale against the Blazers, junior Kaitlyn Hickey eclipsed 1,000 career digs. She needed just six entering the match and finished with seven while recording a team-high 14 kills. Hickey also led the way offensively in the opener with 11 kills against the Buckeyes.

Against UAB, Hickey was one of three players to reach double figures in kills as she was joined by Kelly Wachtel and Logan Walling with 13 and 11, respectively. It marked Walling's first double-figure kill performance since posting 13 in a season-opening win over Toledo.

To open the day, IUPUI took on its second Big Ten opponent of the week in Ohio State, but the Jags didn't have the same outcome as they did against the Hoosiers on Wednesday. The Buckeyes took an early five-point lead in the opening set and were never truly threatened as they went on to take the first set by a 25-18 margin.

The second set was a whole different story. Outside of three consecutive Gabby Fisher aces that put the Jags in front 8-5 in set two, the second set featured 21 ties and nine lead changes in total. IUPUI had three chances to put away the set late, but Ohio State spoiled each of those opportunities and capitalized on its second set-point opportunity using a block to win a tightly contested 29-27 second set.

In the third set, it was a six-point run midway through the set that put Ohio State in control. With the score tied at 11, the Buckeyes won those six straight points to take a 17-11 lead, but IUPUI made a last ditched effort to fight back as it closed within three at 22-19. However, Ohio State took the third set, 25-20, to pick up the win.

The Jags had a few hours to regroup before taking on UAB and that time off seemed to help them get off to a good start against the Blazers. Two kills from Walling, a kill from Hickey and a block fueled a five-point run that turned a one-point lead into a six-point lead as the midway point of the first set neared. The lead eventually grew to eight, 21-13, before UAB made a late push to close within three at 23-20, but kills from Walling and Kelly Wachtel closed out a 25-21 first-set win.

In set two the Jaguars found themselves trailing early, but a four-point run and a pair of three-point runs helped them double up the Blazers at 16-8. The rest of the way, IUPUI's lead never dipped below six and it cruised to a 25-18 win in set two.

UAB used a lengthy surge in set three to win set three, 25-16, and after it took a 2-0 lead in set four, IUPUI captured seven of the next nine points to jump in front, 7-4. It was during that run when Hickey recorded the 1,000th dig of her career. Hickey put down two more kills during a later run that helped the Jags open a 16-11 lead, and despite UAB closing within three a handful of times, IUPUI held on for a 25-20 win.

IUPUI begins Summit League play on the road next weekend when it travels to Omaha and North Dakota State. The Jags and the Mavs square off on Friday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m. ET, before IUPUI and NDSU meet on Sunday, Sept. 28, at 2 p.m. ET.