ROCHESTER, Mich. – The IU Indy volleyball team jumped out to a two-set advantage but ultimately fell to Oakland in a five-set battle on Friday night inside the OU Credit Union O'rena. The Golden Grizzlies came from behind to earn the 3-2 win (15-25, 20-25, 29-27, 29-27, 17-15).
With the loss, the Jaguars move to 8-10 overall and 3-2 in Horizon League play.
IU Indy controlled the opening two sets, beginning the night with a convincing 25-15 win in the first. After the teams traded points early, the Jaguars used an 8-1 run to build a 17-9 advantage. Bailey Sinish helped fuel the run with four kills, while Lauren White added a pair of service aces. IU Indy closed out the set on a Sinish kill to take the early lead.
The Jaguars carried the momentum into the second set, jumping out to an 8-2 advantage. Oakland responded with a run of its own and eventually took a 14-10 lead, but IU Indy battled back. With the Jaguars trailing 19-18, White went to the service line and helped spark a five-point run that put IU Indy ahead 23-19. The Jags went on to take the set, 25-20, and a 2-0 lead in the match.
Oakland answered in the third set as the two sides went back and forth in a frame that featured 20 ties and seven lead changes. IU Indy fought off multiple late opportunities for the Golden Grizzlies, tying the score at 27 on a kill from Ninah Miranda. Oakland, however, scored the final two points to take the set, 29-27.
The fourth set was another tightly contested battle. The Jaguars erased a five-point deficit to tie the score at 17 before the teams traded points down the stretch. IU Indy fought off set point multiple times and took a 27-26 advantage, but Oakland responded with three straight points to win another 29-27 decision and force a fifth set.
Neither team was able to pull away in the deciding frame. The Jaguars trailed 12-10 before kills from Sinish and Chloe Macias helped IU Indy take a 13-12 lead. The teams continued to trade points, with Sinish tying the set at 15-15, but Oakland scored the final two points to secure the 17-15 set win and the match.
Sinish led the IU Indy offense with a career-high 31 kills while hitting .359. She also collected 14 digs for a double-double. Lila Britt added 10 kills on a .500 hitting percentage and totaled seven blocks, including three solo blocks, while Elle Patterson finished with 12 kills.
Grace Purichia directed the offense with 57 assists to go along with 12 digs and five kills. Laura Roeder paced the back row with a 22 digs and added two service aces, while Miranda collected 16 digs. White finished with a match-high five aces.
As a team, IU Indy outhit Oakland .286 to .195 and held advantages in kills (73-63), digs (74-64) and total blocks (9-7).
The Jaguars and Golden Grizzlies will close out the weekend series tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 10, with first serve set for 2:00 p.m.
