FORT WAYNE, Ind. - A lethargic offense and timely miscues haunted the IUPUI volleyball team on Tuesday night (Aug. 29) as the Jaguars dropped a 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-23) decision to former league foe Fort Wayne (3-1) inside Gates Center. The Jaguars hit a collective .094 to drop a second straight match after opening the season 2-0. 

Senior Kori Waelbroeck had a team-high 11 kills, but hit just .068, and freshman Maddie Dean contributed six kills in her first collegiate start. Reigning Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week Jessica Helms had a team-high 17 digs while junior setter Maggie Gibson had 15 digs, 20 assists and four kills in six attempts. The Fort Wayne duo of Nicole Rightnowar (16 kills) and Natalie Seiler (11 kills) combined to hit .323 to pace the Mastodons attack. 

Fort Wayne inched away from the Jaguars in set one, building an early 8-4 lead it would never relinquish. The Jags pulled within one at 10-9 on a Waelbroeck block, but the hosts scored the next two points. Later, IUPUI pulled within one at 13-12 on an Abby Boatman block, but Fort Wayne responded with the next two points to maintain the advantage. IUPUI staved off set point three times before ultimately falling 25-22 in the opener. 

The second set saw Fort Wayne race out to a 6-2 lead with Rightnowar on the service line, but the Jaguars answered with an 8-1 burst, keyed by Rhiannon Schuenemann's service game. IUPUI maintained the lead until Fort Wayne went back in front at 18-17, taking advantage of an IUPUI service error and attack error for consecutive points. The teams traded side outs, leaving the score tied at 21 all before Fort Wayne closed with five of the set's final six points to take a commanding 2-0 lead. 

IUPUI built a 10-4 lead early in the third set, thanks in part to a pair of Elizabeth Scott kills. However, the 'Dons came back to knot the score at 13 en route to a third straight tight set. IUPUI led 19-18 on a Dean kill, but back-to-back Fort Wayne points put the hosts back on top. The set was tied at 20, 21 and 23 all before Fort Wayne closed it out with the final two points of the night. 

Katie Crowe led three Fort Wayne players in double-digit digs with 20 while also contributing 10 kills. 

IUPUI will return home to host the Sept. 1-2 Hampton Inn Invitational in the Jungle, beginning with Wichita State on Friday night (Sept. 1) at 7:00 p.m.. Full coverage of the tournament will be available on IUPUIJags.com throughout the weekend.