BROOKINGS, S.D. – Refocused and rejuvenated with the opening of Summit League play, the IUPUI volleyball team (5-11, 1-0) kicked off League festivities by taking down South Dakota State (1-12, 0-1) in straight-sets (25-19, 25-23, 25-18) Friday (Sep. 23) on the road, ending a five-match losing streak.
 
One of their better offensive showings this year, the Jags combined to hit .289 as a team, with 46 kills and just 13 errors.  Kori Waelbroeck returned to form with another stellar outing, clubbing 18 kills on a .308 clip while adding seven digs and three block assists.  Gabby Fisher turned in another double-double performance with 12 kills and 14 digs, adding two aces to her team-high 19 this year.  Alexis Mapes came just three assists shy of tying her career-three set-best, as she amassed 39 assists along with 10 digs in a double-double night.  Abby Boatman tied her career-high with seven total blocks, tallying a solo blocks and six assists.  She'd add four kills on a .444 clip. 
 
Able to produce with a sense of offensive efficiency unmatched by the team this season, the Jaguars were electric in the opening set, firing 15 kills on 29 attempts to the tune of a .483 attack percentage.  The Jags committed just one attack error in the frame, while throttling the front and back lines of the Jackrabbits defense.  SDSU was held without a block in the opening set, while Waelbroeck paced the Jags with five kills.  Fisher added four kills, Boatman had two block assists, and IUPUI ran away with the first set, 25-19.
 
Although less polished than their opening act, the Jags flashed signs of defensive dominance in the second set.  While the team was limited to a respectable .211 attack percentage, the Jags picked up four blocks in the second set alone, keyed by Boatman who added two more block assists and a solo block.  Waelbroeck tagged on six more kills, Fisher duplicated her first set performance of four, and Mapes continued to distribute the wealth effectively as the Jags pulled out what was eventually a close set, 25-23.  The Jackrabbits committed seven attack errors in the set.
 
Refusing to let up, Waelbroeck continued to punish the Jackrabbits with seven more kills, part of the 17 total picked up by the Jags in the set.  Fisher demonstrated consistency with another four kill performance while the team added two more blocks to push the match total to eight.  SDSU was limited to three.  With the finish line in site, IUPUI swung .234 in the final set to eventually pull away from the Jackrabbits and seal the deal, 25-18.
 
With the win, the Jags will next face North Dakota State Saturday (Sep. 24) in Fargo, North Dakota.  The teams split their pair of matches last season, with the home team winning in each bout.
 
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