INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI volleyball team fell in straight sets to undefeated Wichita State on Friday night (Sept. 1) on the opening night of the annual Hampton Inn Invitational inside the Jungle, 25-15, 25-15, 25-19. Wichita State (4-0) hit a blistering .350 while holding IUPUI to just .051 for the match.
The Shockers set the tone near the midpoint of the first set, running away with the initial portion of the match. IUPUI (2-3) went in front 12-11 with
Abby Boatman at the service line before WSU took control. Three straight Shocker points made it 14-12 and the guests never looked back. Wichita State closed the set, scoring 11 of the final 14 points, aided largely by six IUPUI attack errors. IUPUI hit -.258 in the first set while Wichita State hit .188.
The second set was similar in nature as IUPUI trailed 10-9 after freshman
Maddie Dean put home a kill. However, WSU answered with three points in succession before Dean briefly stopped the momentum with another kill. The Shockers responded with five straight points, getting three straight kills from Mikaela Raudsepp. IUPUI made things respectable with late kills from
Haley Hoffman and
Gabby Fisher before ultimately falling 25-15.
Senior
Kori Waelbroeck opened the third set well, staking IUPUI to a quick 7-4 lead before WSU pulled even with three straight points. IUPUI's final lead came at 8-7 after a WSU service error, but it was short lived. A quick three-point burst from the Shockers gave the guests the lead for good as they cruised to a 25-19 third set victory.
Wichita State continued their unblemished season with a fourth consecutive straight set win to start the year.
Waelbroeck had a team-high 13 kills on 39 attempts and Fisher added four kills in 14 attempts. Junior
Maggie Gibson chalked up 23 assists and senior
Jessica Helms had 13 digs from her libero spot.
Abbie Lehman had a game-high 14 kills and hit .619, committing just one error in 21 swings. Emma Wright was similarly efficient, hitting .636 with eight kills.
IUPUI will continue the Hampton Inn Invite on Saturday (Sept. 2), beginning with a 12:30 p.m. meeting with Miami (Ohio) before hosting Marquette at 7:00 p.m.. Admission to this year's Hampton Inn Invite is FREE of charge.
