INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI volleyball team dropped its Horizon League opener to UIC on Thursday night (Sept. 23), falling in four sets inside the Jungle, 25-14, 20-25, 25-22, 25-19. Freshman Atlantis Clendenin led the IUPUI offense with a career-high 10 kills and hit .333 while Millai Madison and Briana Brown had eight kills each. 

Brooke Phillips delivered 32 assists and defensively freshman Addie Evans had a career-high 17 digs. The UIC (5-9, 1-0 HL) offense hit .286 for the match and got double-digit kills from four sources. Becca Oldendorf put down 12 kills and hit .476 and Zahria Woodard had eight kills and hit .615 on the evening.

After being toppled in the first set 25-14, IUPUI (2-10, 0-1 HL), the Jags turned the tables in set two. Things were even early until IUPUI reeled off four straight points with Evans on the service line to take a 14-10 advantage. Emily Alan and Brown forced a UIC timeout with a block of a Paola Santiago attack attempt, giving the Jags a four-point edge. Each time the Flames crept within a single point, IUPUI came up with key sideouts to maintain the lead. Late in the set, Clendenin put home a kill, followed by a Phillips ace to give the Jaguars a 22-17 lead. IUPUI ultimately terminated the set with a Madison kill to draw even in the match. IUPUI hit .286 in the second set and Clendenin put down six of her seven attack attempts to hit a remarkable .857. 

The third was tougher sledding for the Jaguars as the hosts fell behind by three early in the set. However, the Jaguars responded with four-in-a-row with Rhiannon Schuenemann on the service line, getting a kill from Phillips and a kill from Corrissa Remter. Schuenemann followed with an ace to tie the score at 11 all and prompt a UIC timeout. The Flames nudged back in front, but things stayed tight until the very end. Clendenin put down a kill to cut UIC's lead to 21-20, but a service error gave the Flames a two-point lead. After a UIC kill pushed the lead to three, Alan gave IUPUI life with a kill. However, Oldendoft fired back with a kill of her own and UIC's Mikala Henderson ultimately ended the set with a service ace. IUPUI hit .290 in the third with five different players getting two kills, but UIC hit .350 in the three-point win. 

IUPUI went into a quick 7-3 hole in set four and never fully recovered. Clendenin got IUPUI within two at 9-7, but UIC got a sideout and a service ace to regain a four-point lead. IUPUI got within three at 15-12 on a Madison kill, but UIC responded behind Henderson's service game to extend to a 20-14 lead before coasting to the 25-19 win. The IUPUI defense limited UIC to just .129 in the fourth, but mustered just .086 offensively as Madison had a team-high four kills in the final set. 

IUPUI will continue the three-game homestand on Friday, Sept. 24 when the Jaguars host Green Bay inside the Jungle at 6:00 p.m.. That match will be broadcast on ESPN+ as Jonathan Matthes is on the call. In addition, tickets are available on-site at the Jungle on the night of the match or can be purchased in advance by contacting the IUPUI Ticket Office.