INDIANAPOLIS – IUPUI volleyball kicks off its season hosting the Hampton Inn Invitational on Friday (Aug. 30) and Saturday (Aug. 31). The Jags first match of the tournament will be on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. against South Dakota.

IUPUI enters the season looking to rebound from a 6-10 Horizon League mark a year ago that saw the Jags miss the Horizon League Tournament. Head Coach Lindsey Froehlich enters her first full season at the helm of the program after finishing last year in an interim capacity, winning both matches to close out the season.

The Jags are going to be led on offense by outside hitters McKayla Wright, Maddie Dean and Hannah Oehlberg. Oehlberg led the Jaguars last season in kills per set as a freshman with 2.67 per set. Oehlberg came on strong at the end of the season with double-digit kills in each of her last five matches, including a career-high 21 kills against Cleveland State.

Junior setter Rebecca Schlechte will guide the offense coming off a season of leading the Jags with 5.93 assists per set.

IUPUI's defense is going to be anchored senior Haley Hoffman. Hoffman led the Jaguars with 116 total blocks last season and set a school record with 11 blocks at Milwaukee. The senior currently sits eighth on the IUPUI all-time list for total blocks with 248.

SCOUTING REPORT
South Dakota
The Jaguars will face a familiar foe in South Dakota to kick things off in the Hampton Inn Invitational. When IUPUI was a member of the Summit League, the Jags and Coyotes met 13 times, with IUPUI holding an 8-5 record against USD. The last meeting between the two teams was a 3-0 South Dakota win back in 2016.

Last season, South Dakota finished 21-10 overall and 13-3 in conference play, winning the Summit League and earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament. South Dakota lost its top two offensive performers from a season ago as Elizabeth Loschen returns with the top kills per set mark at 2. 23.

Murray State
IUPUI will begin the second day of the tournament taking on Murray State in the first meeting between the two schools.

The Racers posted a 22-10 overall record and a 13-3 conference mark last season, winning the Ohio Valley Conference and making the NCAA Tournament. Rachel Gustino is the top offensive threat for Murray State having led the team with 3.05 kills per set as a junior. Gustino also finished second on the team with 3.31 digs per set.

Valparaiso
To close out the weekend, IUPUI will play in-state foe Valparaiso, meeting the Crusaders for the first time since 2014. Overall IUPUI has a 13-22 record against Valpo and the Jags have lost three-straight and 14 of the last 15 in the series.

Valpo lost in the Missouri Valley Tournament but did win two matches in the NIVC before falling to Tulane. The Crusaders finished the season with a 27-11 overall mark and an 11-7 conference record.

Valpo has lost a lot of offense from a season ago as the top three attackers are gone. Junior Peyton McCarthy returns having averaged 1.97 kills per set as a sophomore. McCarthy also led the team with 1.11 blocks per set.