INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI volleyball team put up an efficient offensive performance in its 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-22, 25-19) win over Youngstown State inside the Jungle on Friday night (Oct. 29). Freshman Briana Brown put down 19 kills and hit .545 and Emily Alan connected on 12 kills, hitting .417. 

The Jaguars hit .239 and had 57 kills to Youngstown State's 40 in the victory. 

"It felt really good to play today. I think offensively, we've kind of been on a roller coaster throughout the year. (Tonight), we showcased what we can do as a team today," Brown said. "I think that felt nice to get that win today.

"It was super important (to take an early lead). I think, throughout the year, we've had some sets where we've kind of given up a little and tonight we did a pretty good job of pressing them and really keeping it going."

IUPUI (4-21, 2-12 HL) surged out to a 10-2 lead in the opening set, in part thanks to early aces from Brooke Phillips and Alli Cook. The Jags' lead was 13-5 after an Alan kill, but YSU ripped off four straight to make things interesting. YSU cut the lead back to three on multiple occasions, but IUPUI repeatedly came up with pivotal side outs to stay in front before slamming the door at 25-21. Allie Pogue put down two late kills to seal the win. IUPUI hit .545 in the opening set with five different players getting multiple kills. 

In the second, IUPUI fell down early, trailing 9-4 before battling back within one with Phillips on the service line. However, YSU continued to fend off the Jaguars, even after IUPUI cut it to 23-22 after a Phillips ace. However, a service error and a YSU kill from Paula Gursching polished off a 25-22 win. 

With the match even at 1-1, IUPUI ceded the first six points of the third set before Sidney Veatch powered home a kill. The Penguins maintained the lead, extending to a 16-9 edge before the hosts roared back. Briana Brown got a side out off a Darragh Dixon assist and and Phillips followed with an ace. After a YSU side out, Cook delivered three points from the service line as IUPUI nudged closer. The Jags finally went in front at 20-19 on a Pogue kill. Later, Alan came up with a key kill and Atlantis Clendenin came off the bench with some strong serves to help hem up a 25-22 win. 

IUPUI led from the outset in set four, scoring well with Rhiannon Schuenemann on the service line. Brown, Phillips, Brown and Alan put down four straight kills as the Jags built a quick 7-3 lead. The lead ballooned to 13-5 before YSU cut it back to 16-15. The Jags finished off a 25-19 win as Brown had eight kills in the fourth. 

The victory came on the heels of a tough three-game road trip that took the team from Chicago to Milwaukee and ultimately to Green Bay before heading home. 

"Being at home after a long road trip just feels so nice. Serving and passing in our own gym felt good and we just had some really aggressive serving tonight," head coach Lindsey Froehlich said. "I think when we were passing well, we were really telling the setters to push the tempo in practice and both Darragh and Brooke did a good job of that.

"It put them in some good positions to hit the open shots on the court, instead of finding areas where they couldn't score."

Haines also finished with double-digit kills with 10 and Pogue put down seven. Schuenemann had 19 digs from the libero spot and the Jaguars dialed up 12 aces. Phillips had four aces and 37 assists and Cook added three aces. 

IUPUI will continue the homestand when it hosts Robert Morris at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 29).