INDIANAPOLIS – IUPUI volleyball took the first set against South Dakota but could not pick up another set win, falling to the Coyotes 3-1 on Friday in the first day of the Hampton Inn Invitational (Aug. 30).

Senior McKayla Wright finished the game with a double-double, putting down 13 kills and picking up 15 digs. Sophomore Hannah Oehlberg also tallied a double-double with 11 kills and 13 digs. Haley Hoffman ended the night third on the team with eight kills and picked up seven blocks, including four solo blocks.

On the defensive end, Rhiannon Schuenemann finished with a team-high 21 digs and the Jags finished the match with 11 total blocks.

In the first set, IUPUI hit .235 and forced South Dakota in to a -.114 hitting percentage to take the first set 25-20. The Jags jumped out early, taking an 8-2 lead after a 4-0 run capped by a back-to-back kills by Hoffman and a block by the senior middle. Another block by Hoffman later in the set put the Jags up 12-6 and capped another 4-0 run by IUPUI. South Dakota pulled within three at 23-20 but a kill by Oehlberg and an error by the Coyotes gave the Jags the set.

Early in the second set, IUPUI used a 4-0 to take a 10-4 lead with a kill by Wright but South Dakota scored five-straight points to get within one. IUPUI remained in the lead until South Dakota scored six of seven points to jump ahead 16-14. IUPUI would get within two a couple of times but never got closer as the Coyotes tied the match.

The third set began with IUPUI giving up a point by getting a card for delay for not getting their lineup in, putting South Dakota up 1-0 before a serve was hit. Another big run by South Dakota with the Jags down one put the Coyotes up 18-12 and IUPUI was again not able to get back in the set as the Jags hit a match-low -.154 in the third.

IUPUI looked to keep the match going and both offenses were on fire as both teams hit over .300 for the final set. After a kill by Allie Pogue, an ace by Rachel Hickey and kill by Wright, the Jags were up 7-2. Another 4-0 run put IUPUI up 12-4 but the Coyotes would battle back pulling within one at 22-21. A Pogue kill and Remter ace gave the Jags set point but three-straight points for South Dakota tied the set. IUPUI would have two more set points but each time South Dakota fought it off. The Jaguars then fought off two match points for South Dakota but the Coyotes eventually would close out the match with a 30-28 set win.

IUPUI will continue play in the Hampton Inn Invitational with a match on Saturday (Aug. 31) against Murray State at 12 p.m. and will finish play in the tournament against Valparaiso at 7 p.m.