DENVER – A true test on the progress the team has made in recent weeks, the IUPUI volleyball team (11-14, 7-3) will face reigning Summit League Champion Denver (16-6, 8-2) on the road Saturday (Oct. 29) in a rematch from earlier this season. The Pioneers defeated the Jaguars in four sets (Oct. 1) in the Jungle.
It has been perhaps the finest hour for Head Coach Steve Payne and his squad, as the 20th-year leader has pieced together a five-match winning streak after starting the year 6-14. Coach Payne has continued his mastery in Summit League play, as the team is currently tied with Fort Wayne for third-place in the Summit League standings, falling just behind Denver and South Dakota.
On the year, the Jags have seen
Kori Waelbroeck continue carry a heavy offensive load, knocking 306 kills and averaging 3.56 kills-per-set.
Gabby Fisher has regularly produced on both the offensive and defensive sides, picking up 259 kills and 271 digs, while also leading the team with 30 service aces.
Perhaps one of the best surprises this year, and a testament to the developmental abilities of Assistant Coach Lindsey Buteyn, is the emergence of sophomore
Abby Boatman, who is coming off of back-to-back Summit League Defensive Player of the Week selections. Boatman leads the Jags this season with 93 blocks, averaging 1.13 blocks-per-set. She's also added 129 kills, having recorded a .444 attack percentage during the Jags recent 3-0 run last week (Oct. 17-23).
Picking up her third selection of her career, and the first offensive selection of the season for the Jags,
Alexis Mapes was named the Summit League Offensive Player of the Week following a stellar trio of matches, including a dramatic five set comeback against Fort Wayne in which the senior setter logged career-highs in assists (61) and digs (20). This season, Mapes has logged 832 assists, averaging 9.67 assists-per-set.
The Pioneers are currently riding a four-match winning streak, and have secured seven of their last eight matches. During the stretch, Denver issued South Dakota their first loss in Summit League play this season, a 3-0 match that took place in Denver, Colorado. The Pioneers are the second-highest ranked team in the Summit League according to the ratings percentage index (RPI), standing at 152nd out of 334 total teams. South Dakota is first at 84th in RPI.
The matchup with IUPUI will be heavily dictated by what IUPUI is able to do defensively to thwart the well-distributed offense of the Pioneers. The Pioneers lead the Summit League with a team .272 attack percentage, while also leading the League with 2.53 blocks-per-set. The Jags are second with 2.27 per set. A two setter offense, the Pioneers will rely on Monique Domme and Piyusha Boteju to quarterback the offense and dismantle what the Jags have been able to do at the net. Not just needing the efforts of Boatman, the Jags will also look to seasoned veteran
Logan Walling to stall the Pioneers. Walling has been particularly strong in recent matches, going off for four solo blocks and four block assists in a crushing victory over South Dakota State Sunday (Oct. 23).
The Jags will also look to improve upon some of their demons from this season, most notably offensive efficiency and good passes off the serve. As the offense has picked up in recent weeks, the team will still rely heavily on their ability to get a good first touch, and allow their hitters to have the time to find openings in the defense.
Following the Saturday matchup, the Jags will return to Indiana to face Fort Wayne on the road Tuesday (Nov. 1). That match will have live audio coverage available via IUPUI Live!, available on the Jags website.
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