INDIANAPOLIS - Facing a strong field at this year's Hampton Inn Invitational, Saturday (Sept. 2) was a day of close but no cigar for the IUPUI volleyball team. The Jaguars opened the day dropping a 3-2 marathon to Miami (Ohio) before capping the event with a 3-1 defeat to Marquette. Senior Kori Waelbroeck earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team for the Jaguars. 

Wichita State (6-0) swept its three matches en route to the title, followed by Marquette, Miami and the Jaguars. 

"The whole weekend, we were learning what we're doing against some really good competition," Head Coach Steve Payne said. "These are some of the best teams we'll face all year long in non-league play. There was a lot of high level ball being played out there."

Marquette 3, Jaguars 1
IUPUI (2-5) fell behind in the nightcap, dropping the first set to Marquette, 25-19. The Jaguars used a variety of offensive options from the start as McKayla Wright, Maddie Dean and Kori Waelbroeck all registered double-digit attempts in the opening set. However, the IUPUI defense had no answer for the Golden Eagles attack, which hit .310 in the initial set. Jenna Rosenthal and Allie Barber both had five kills with the former doing so in just nine swings. Marquette blew out to a 14-7 lead and was never truly threatened as IUPUI crept no closer than four. 

The Jaguars turned the tables in the second set, with Waelbroeck asserting herself offensively. IUPUI crafted a quick 6-2 lead with Waelbroeck recording three kills during that stretch, and never succumbed the advantage. Marquette closed within 8-7, but some timely hitting from Haley Hoffman proved vital. The teams traded point after point before things got dicey late. The Golden Eagles trailed 21-20 on an attack error, but Waelbroeck countered with another kill. IUPUI later closed the set with a block from Abby Boatman and Maggie Gibson, followed by a Gabby Fisher ace. 

The all important third set went the way of the Golden Eagles, even after the Jags had a late 18-17 lead. Marquette scored the next three points, but the Jags battled back to knot the set at 21 all. However, Marquette scored the next three points before hemming up the set 25-22. 

The third set loss seemingly took the air out of the Jaguars as Marquette raced to a 25-16 fourth set lead. 

"Sets two and three, we showed some good energy and great defense," Payne said. "I thought we really hung in there with a tough foe and played them tough."

Waelbroeck had a team-high 14 kills while Dean and Wright had nine apiece. Helms had a team-high 21 digs while Maggie Gibson delivered 46 assists. 

Miami (Ohio) 3, Jaguars 2
Even the fans were tired after the early session of the Hampton Inn Invitational on Saturday (Sept. 2) inside the Jungle. After IUPUI's match started 30 minutes late due to a Wichita State-Marquette five-setter, the Jaguars and Miami upped the ante with a five-setter of their own. Miami outlasted the Jaguars 3-2 (22-25, 25-20, 25-20, 16-25, 21-19). 

Both teams staved off multiple match points in the decisive fifth set before the Redhawks sealed it. Miami was on the cusp at 14-12 before Maddie Dean put down a kill and Maggie Gibson followed with an ace. The Jags then got the verge with a third straight point before the two sides traded points. Another kill from Dean had the Jags on the cusp, but Miami responded with a kill and an ace to regain momentum. This time, six straight sideouts led up to back-to-back Miami points to end it. 

Senior Kori Waelbroeck finished with 20 kills and hit .309 while Abby Boatman had 10 kills and hit .308. Collectively, the Jaguars hit .201 while Miami hit .198. 

Katie Tomasic led four Miami players with double-digit kills with 21 while Margaret Payne turned in 15 kills. 

IUPUI got the start it wanted, outgunning Miami (4-2) 25-22 to start. The Jaguars led 22-17 and was primed for an easy first set before Miami tallied five points in succession to draw even. After a timeout, IUPUI sealed it, taking advantage of three straight attack errors to gain an early advantage.

IUPUI led the second set 17-16 before Miami reeled off six straight points to take command en route to a 25-20 victory.

The third started ominously for the hosts as Miami built a quick 5-0 lead and maintained the advantage throughout. IUPUI crept within two at 10-18 on a Waelbroeck kill and later closed within two at 12-10 on another kill. Miami finished with a flurry though, eventually winning 25-16. 

Needing the fourth to stay in the match, IUPUI surged out to a 6-2 lead and went ahead 13-6 on Maggie Gibson's strong service game. Gibson dialed up four straight points with Waelbroeck putting home two kills. IUPUI was up 17-9 when the Redhawks began closing the gap, tallying seven of the set's next eight points. Clinging to an 18-16 lead, junior Elizabeth Scott pulled the Jaguars even with seven straight service points. Scott dialed up four aces, including three-in-a-row to finish at 25-16. 

Defensively, Jessica Helms and Gibson led the Jags with 25 and 21 digs, respectively, while Boatman had five blocks. 

"We fought hard," Payne said. "If a few points could've gone our way differently, we could have had that match locked up. I was proud to see how we play hard through five sets and continued to fight."

IUPUI will be back in action on Tuesday night (Sept. 5) when it hosts Ball State at 7:00 p.m. inside the Jungle. That match will be broadcast on ESPN3 as Greg Rakestraw (pxp) calls the action. Tickets are just $5 for adults and $2 for youth (12-and-under) while IUPUI students are admitted for FREE with a valid Crimson Card.