YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The IU Indy volleyball team battled to a five-set victory over Youngstown State on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Penguins 3-2 (25-23, 27-29, 25-20, 19-25, 15-9) inside the Beeghly Center. The victory marked head coach Andrew Kroger's 50th win at IU Indy.
The Jaguars improved to 8-9 overall and 3-1 in Horizon League play with the win. IU Indy finished the afternoon with 66 kills while hitting .284 as a team. The Jags also held an 11-6 advantage in total blocks.
Bailey Sinish powered the IU Indy offense with a match-high 23 kills on 53 swings, hitting .358 while adding 14 digs for a double-double. Ninah Miranda joined her in double figures with 12 kills and 16 digs, while Chloe Macias added 10 kills on a .364 hitting percentage.
Grace Purichia directed the offense with 46 assists while putting together an impressive all-around performance. The setter added 20 digs, six kills and one service ace. Laura Roeder collected 19 digs, while Lila Britt helped lead the Jaguars at the net with six total blocks. Elle Patterson added nine kills.
IU Indy opened the match with a 25-23 victory in the first set, hitting .333 with 13 kills. The Jaguars built a six-point advantage at 20-14 before Youngstown State pulled within one at 24-23. A Penguin service error on the next point secured the opening set for IU Indy.
The second set proved to be a back-and-forth battle featuring 22 ties and 10 lead changes. Neither side was able to create much separation down the stretch as the teams traded points beyond 25. After Miranda tied the frame at 27-27 with a kill, Youngstown State scored the final two points to take the set, 29-27, and even the match.
IU Indy responded quickly in the third, jumping out to a 6-0 advantage and never trailing. The Jaguars hit .300 in the frame and collected 16 kills before Sinish closed out the 25-20 win with a kill, giving IU Indy a 2-1 match advantage.
Youngstown State forced a deciding fifth set with a 25-19 victory in the fourth. The Penguins hit .425 in the frame with 20 kills, pulling away after the teams were tied at 9-9.
With the match on the line, the Jaguars took control of the fifth. IU Indy held an 8-7 edge before rattling off five straight points, highlighted by kills from Miranda, Macias and Sinish, to build a 13-7 advantage. After Youngstown State briefly halted the run, the Jaguars finished off the match at 15-9 on a Penguin attack error. IU Indy hit .250 in the deciding set while holding Youngstown State without a positive hitting percentage.
The Jaguars will continue their four-match road trip next weekend when they travel to Oakland for back-to-back Horizon League matches.
