INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI Jaguars opened the Hampton Inn Invite with a win over UC Riverside on Thursday night, 3-2. Freshman Maia Long led the Jaguar attack with 21 kills while Kate White added 14.
 
"I continue to be impressed and proud of this team's grit and fight," said head coach Andrew Kroger. "There are certainly technically aspects that we continue to work on and get better at as a team, but you want out of your team is to continue to fight and be aggressive."
 
IUPUI took a two set lead after winning the first two sets, 25-22 and 25-23. The Jags outhit the Highlanders 14 kills to 13 in the first set, but the highlight of the set was the Jags five blocks. IUPUI kept that momentum in the second set with three blocks, 11 kills and two service aces.
 
The third set was a back-and-forth battle with UC Riverside coming out on top, 31-29. Three kills by freshman Maia Long late in the third set kept the Jags in the fight but the Highlanders outlasted the Jags.
 
IUPUI couldn't hang on to the 2-1 lead, falling in the fourth set, 25-23. The Highlanders had set point at 24-21 but back-to-back kills by Ava Harris led the Jags to threaten at 24-23. Ultimately, IUPUI couldn't hold on and the Highlanders forced a fifth set.
 
In the fifth and deciding set, UC Riverside held an 8-5 lead when the teams switched sides. IUPUI fought back to tie the game at 10-10 with a kill from Emily Alan then tied the game once again at 12-12. The Jags took command and went on 3-1 run with kills from White and Harris to close out the match, 15-13.
 
IUPUI's young squad shined as freshman Grace Purichia led in assists with 45 and added 15 digs and six kills. Long led the kill category with 21 while adding 13 digs. Fellow freshman White was right behind her with 14 kills and four blocks. Junior Addie Evans kept the ball in the air with a team-leading 20 digs.
 
The Jaguars are now 3-1 to start the season and 1-0 during the Hampton Inn Invite. They will next face Oral Roberts tomorrow, September 1 at 6:00 PM in the Jungle.