EAST LANSING, Mich. - The IUPUI volleyball team's offense struggled to find footing as the Jaguars dropped a pair of matches at the Green & White Volleyball Classic, hosted by Michigan State on Saturday (Sept. 18). The Jags dropped the opener to host Michigan State, 25-18, 25-21, 25-17, in the morning before then falling to Central Michigan in game two, 25-13, 25-21, 29-27. 

Freshman Briana Brown paced the IUPUI attack with 11 kills on the day. 

Michigan State 3, IUPUI 0
In game one, Michigan State (6-2) held the IUPUI attack at bay while hitting an efficient .239 overall. Three different IUPUI players finished with a team-high four kills while Rhiannon Schuenemann had a team-high 10 digs. Darragh Dixon delivered 12 assists while Brooke Phillips had eight as the pair split setter duties. The Spartans controlled the opening set early, building a 9-5 lead and never letting up. 

A Corrissa Remter kill helped IUPUI sneak within a point at 10-9, but Michigan State countered with the next two points to maintain the lead. Brown had a service ace to cut the lead back to two at 16-14, but the hosts got a much needed sideout and never looked back. 

Michigan State was in control of the second set from the outset, building an early 8-5 lead that prompted head coach Lindsey Froehlich to call timeout. Her team responded with a kill from Millai Madison, but was unable to string together any scoring runs. A late flurry with Schuenemann at the service line made things respectable before IUPUI fell 25-21. 

Michigan State hit .333 in the third set and kept the Jags at arm's length for the duration. An Atlantis Clendenin kill got the Jags back within four at 16-12, but the hosts rattled off three straight from there and never looked back. 

Rebecka Poljan had 10 kills and hit .667 for the match to pace the Spartans offense. 

Central Michigan 3, IUPUI 0
Brown had a team-high nine kills and hit .280 in game two, but it wasn't enough as the Chippewas rolled in straight sets. CMU shared the wealth as six different players had at least five kills, led by Sierra Gray's nine. 

Schuenemann led the IUPUI defense with 12 digs and Emily Alan had a team-high four blocks. 

The first set was tied at 5-5 early before CMU tallied seven straight points to seize control. IUPUI got within six on a Madison kill, but ultimately the Chippewas cruised as they hit .333 for the set and forced 11 IUPUI attack errors. 

Like the first set, CMU used a lengthy run to take control as an 8-8 tie went to 15-8 before Allie Pogue stopped the bleeding with a kill. IUPUI repeatedly got within three points late in the set, but got no closer as Central Michigan had the answer each time. IUPUI hit .200 in the second set, largely behind Brown and Pogue, but saw CMU hit .282 offensively.

IUPUI controlled the third set from the opening serve, building a lead midway through the set behind Alli Cook's work at the service line. The Jags got to the precipice with a 24-17 lead, but was unable to seal the deal. CMU fought off seven straight set points to pull even at 24 all before a Pogue kill made it 25-24. The Jags also led at 27-26, but was unable to close as CMU ultimately won the set, 29-27. Brown and Alan combined on seven kills in the set and Phillips delivered four service aces and eight assists. However, it wasn't enough as CMU improved to 6-5 on the year. 

IUPUI will now open Horizon League play on Thursday, Sept. 23 when the Jaguars host UIC at 6:00 p.m. inside the Jungle.