INDIANAPOLIS - Facing a Green Bay Phoenix team that put up 55 kills to their 30, the IUPUI Jaguars went down 3-1 Friday night (Sept. 24) in the Jungle. IUPUI (2-11, 0-2 HL) saw action without three regular starters, as Allie Pogue, Maddie Haines and Alli Cook were all unavailable. Meanwhile, Green Bay (7-7, 2-0 HL) reached .500 on the year with its second consecutive victory.
 
"We served very aggressively, which was the whole game plan today," said head coach Lindsey Froehlich. "Our defense was outstanding, our blocking was great. I'm super proud of the effort that we put in there for sure."
 
Neither team could establish a big lead in the early going of a first set that included multiple long rallies. Froehlich crucially challenged a point originally awarded to the visitors, and IUPUI benefited from a lengthy review that put them up 15-14. The reversed call seemed to energize the home team, and a Corrissa Remter block won the set for the Jaguars 25-21.
 
"Our communication was awesome," Remter spoke about her team's effort in the first set. "Our serving was amazing, and overall, our blocking was really good."
 
The Phoenix ignited in set two, jumping out to a 10-5 advantage. Froehlich called timeout, but two more Green Bay points forced her to use another one moments later. The visitors built a daunting nine-point lead before Iro Chounta's attack went long, finally allowing IUPUI to side out. Brooke Phillips sparked a 5-0 run with two aces, but the Phoenix offense steamrolled its way to a dominant 25-17 set win.
 
"We had a little bit of a breakdown in our passing, and I think we just started getting a little too tense," said Froehlich. "[Assistant coach Jo'Lon Clark and I] keep trying to remind them to make sure they stay loose, stay focused and intentional."
 
Three Emily Alan kills and two Remter block assists helped IUPUI to an 11-7 lead in set three, but the Phoenix fought back to take a four-point advantage of their own. Froehlich used another coach's challenge after an opposing serve appeared to go long, but this time video review favored Green Bay. The Jaguars cut the deficit to one, but no closer as the Phoenix held them off with a 5-0 run to end the set 25-19.
 
In set four, Alan and Millai Madison put up two emphatic combo blocks that staked the Jaguars to a brief one-point lead. Yet Green Bay pulled away again, establishing a seven-point margin as the home team continued to struggle with consistent passing. A Zoi Sherolli ace late in the set derailed IUPUI for good as the Phoenix finished them off 25-16.
 
Remter led the Jaguars with nine kills while Briana Brown added eight. Phillips notched 25 assists, 20 digs and a team-high .286 hitting percentage. Still seeking its first win in conference play, IUPUI next faces the Milwaukee Panthers in a Sunday matinee (Sept. 26) at 1:00 p.m. inside the Jungle.