ROCHESTER, Mich. – The IU Indy volleyball team earned a straight-set road victory over Oakland on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Golden Grizzlies, 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 26-24), inside the OU Credit Union O'rena. The Jaguars improve to 9-10 overall and 4-2 in Horizon League play with the win.
IU Indy put together an efficient offensive performance, finishing the match with 52 kills while hitting .374 as a team.
Jillian Tippmann and Bailey Sinish paced the Jaguar attack with 14 kills apiece. Tippmann was especially efficient, hitting a match-high .524, while Sinish added seven digs, two block assists and an ace. Lila Britt chipped in eight kills on a .462 hitting percentage, while Chloe Macias and Ninah Miranda each recorded seven kills.
Grace Purichia directed the offense again with 46 assists and added two service aces, four digs and two kills Defensively, Laura Roeder led the Jaguars with 12 digs, while Miranda followed with 11. IU Indy also held the advantage at the net, totaling seven blocks.
The Jaguars set the tone early, hitting .440 in the opening frame. IU Indy used a 6-0 run late in the set, highlighted by kills from Tippmann and Britt and a Sinish service ace, to build a 21-12 advantage before closing out the first set, 25-16.
Oakland challenged the Jaguars throughout the second set, taking a 16-13 advantage midway through the frame. IU Indy responded with six straight points to move ahead, 19-16. The Golden Grizzlies later pulled within one at 23-22, but Tippmann delivered a kill before Britt finished the set with another to give the Jaguars a 25-22 win and a 2-0 match lead.
The Golden Grizzlies threatened to extend the match in the third, building leads of 16-10 and 20-16. IU Indy battled back, using a 5-0 run to take a 21-20 lead. Oakland eventually reached set point at 24-23, but Tippmann answered with a kill to tie the frame. Sinish followed with a kill to give the Jaguars match point before Macias sealed the sweep with the final kill for a 26-24 victory.
IU Indy will now return to Indianapolis to host Wright State next weekend. The series begins Friday, October 16 at 6:00 PM.
