Head Coach Steve Payne Postgame Interview

INDIANAPOLIS – IUPUI's four-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday as the Jags fell in four sets to Cleveland State.
 
The loss puts IUPUI (13-12, 9-3 Horizon) in to a tie at the top of the standings with Cleveland State (16-7, 9-3 Horizon).
 
IUPUI was led offensively by Kori Waelbroeck who finished with 15 kills, hitting .406, and 14 digs for another double-double. Gabby Fisher added nine kills and Haley Hoffman finished with eight on .438 hitting.
 
On defense the Jags were led by Jessica Helms who had 20 digs and Abby Boatman who finished with eight blocks. Again, the Jags out-blocked their opponent finishing with 11 blocks to Cleveland State's seven.
 
Going up against one of the top offenses in the league proved to be too tall of a task for the Jags who allowed Cleveland State to hit .273 and finish with 72 kills to IUPUI's 44.
 
The Vikings had four players with double-figure kills led by Sara Skeens 19. Emily DeGeorge added 16 while Rachel Stover and Alexis Middlebrooks each had 12.


 
In the first set, both teams struggled stopping any offense as Cleveland State hit .390, while IUPUI hit .273. The action was back-and-forth until IUPUI was able to take a three-point lead after blocks by Boatman and #Elizabeth Scott#.
 
Cleveland State came back with a run of its own jumping back in to the lead at 15-14 after a kill from DeGeorge. The Vikings continued to dominate the set going up 22-17 after a kill by Sara Skeens. IUPUI would not get any closer losing the set 25-20.
 
The Jags came out with a new energy in set two with Scott on the service line. Kills from Waelbroeck and Hoffman as well as an ace from Scott put the Jags up 5-0 early. A Fisher kill put IUPUI up 10-2 but Cleveland State fought back.
 
After the Vikings used an 11-4 run to pull within one, the set seemed ready to slip through the Jags hands but Waelbroeck responded with a kill putting the Jags back up two.
 
IUPUI would hold the lead, but Cleveland State pulled within one again at 22-21. From there Maggie Gibson placed a beautiful ball in the back corner and Abby Boatman ended the set with a strong kill to tie the match.
 
The Jags took the first four points of the third stanza but the Vikings roared back to take a 12-7 lead after a kill by Stover. Cleveland State would extend the lead to eight in a set where the Vikings hit .341 and IUPUI was never able to get any closer than four, falling in set three 25-18.
 
With Cleveland State looking to close out the match, the Jags hung in the fourth set early but the offense for the Vikings proved to be too much.  With the score tied at four, Cleveland State went on a 13-3 run that proved too much for the Jags to overcome. The Vikings closed out the match with a 25-16 set win.
 
IUPUI is back in action next weekend with a trip up to Wisconsin. The Jags will play Green Bay on Friday (Nov. 3) at 7 p.m. before traveling to Milwaukee for a 5 p.m. match on on Saturday (Nov. 4)