INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indy volleyball team fell to Horizon League leader Wright State in four sets Friday night, 25-19, 18-25, 25-19, 25-20. The match marked the first event held inside the new James T. Morris Arena.
The Jaguars (9-11, 4-3 HL) finished with more kills and digs than the Raiders but were unable to overcome Wright State's advantage at the net. IU Indy totaled 57 kills and 57 digs, compared with 53 kills and 48 digs for Wright State (12-5, 7-0 HL). The Raiders outhit the Jaguars, .285 to .250, and held a 9-3 advantage in blocks.
The opening set featured 13 ties before Wright State broke away late. The teams were even at 19 when the Raiders scored six straight points to secure a 25-19 victory.
IU Indy answered emphatically in the second set. The Jaguars used a seven-point run behind Laura Roeder's serve to build an 8-1 advantage and never trailed again. IU Indy hit .419 in the frame, recording 16 kills with just three errors, to even the match with a 25-18 win.
The Jaguars erased an early deficit in the third set and took a 16-15 lead on a Grace Purichia kill. The teams traded points until the score reached 18-all, but Wright State closed the set on a 7-1 run to reclaim the match lead with another 25-19 decision.
IU Indy held a 9-8 edge early in the fourth before Wright State responded with five consecutive points. The Jaguars pulled within four late in the frame, but the Raiders held on for a 25-20 win to close the match.
Jillian Tippmann led the IU Indy attack with 14 kills and a .265 hitting percentage. Bailey Sinish added 12 kills and matched her career high with four service aces, while Chloe Macias finished with 11 kills on .292 hitting.
Ninah Miranda rounded out the Jaguars' quartet of double-digit attackers, putting down 10 kills on a team-best .400 hitting percentage while adding 11 digs for a double-double. Purichia directed the offense with 42 assists and recorded 15 digs, six kills and a block assist. Roeder led the back row with a match-high 16 digs.
The Jaguars and Raiders will close out the weekend series Saturday at 2:00 p.m. inside James T. Morris Arena.
