INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indy volleyball team returns home Wednesday night for an in-state showdown with Butler before heading to Muncie this weekend for a pair of matches against Northwestern and Ball State.
The Jaguars will open the week against the Bulldogs at 7:00 PM Wednesday, Sept. 16, at The Jungle. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
IU Indy enters the matchup at 4-6 overall after competing in three tournaments and a midweek match at Purdue during the opening weeks of the season. The Jaguars are looking to build momentum after earning a 3-1 victory over East Texas A&M and pushing Gonzaga to five sets last weekend in San Antonio.
Wednesday's matchup marks the 33rd meeting between IU Indy and Butler. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 20-13, but the Jaguars have won the last two meetings. IU Indy captured the most recent matchup, a 3-2 victory on Sept. 19, 2025, at the Fishers Event Center.
PURICHIA CONTINUES TO RUN THE OFFENSE
Senior setter
Grace Purichia has continued to anchor the Jaguars' offense early in the 2026 season. The reigning Horizon League Setter of the Year leads IU Indy with 363 assists through 10 matches, averaging 9.31 assists per set. She also has 67 digs and 15 service aces. She is one of three active Division I players with over 3,000 career assists and 1,000 career digs.
TIPPMANN, SINISH LEAD JAGUAR ATTACK
Sophomore
Jillian Tippmann has emerged as IU Indy's leading offensive weapon. Tippmann leads the Jaguars with 145 kills, averaging 3.72 kills per set, while hitting .261. The Fort Wayne native was named to the Horizon League All-League Second Team and All-Freshman Team in 2025 and was recently selected as the Horizon League Player of the Week on Sept. 8.
Freshman
Bailey Sinish has also made an immediate impact in her first collegiate season. The Fort Wayne native has recorded 109 kills, 55 digs and a team-high 14 blocks through the first 10 matches. Sinish arrived at IU Indy as the Indiana Miss Volleyball, following a decorated career at Carroll High School. She helped Carroll capture back-to-back state championships and earned MVP honors in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Sophomore libero
Laura Roeder has been a key presence defensively, leading the Jaguars with 111 digs, an average of 2.85 per set.
JAGUARS HIT THE ROAD FOR TWO IN MUNCIE
Following Wednesday's rivalry matchup, IU Indy will make the trip north to Muncie, Indiana, for a pair of matches Friday and Saturday.
The Jaguars face Northwestern at 6:00 PM Friday, Sept. 18, before closing the weekend against Ball State at 6:00 PM Saturday, Sept. 19.
Only the Ball State matchup will be broadcast.
The weekend road trip comes as IU Indy prepares for the start of Horizon League play. The Jaguars were selected to finish third in the 2026 Horizon League preseason poll after finishing fourth in the league standings in 2025. Wright State was picked first, followed by Northern Kentucky.
MATCH INFORMATION
IU Indy vs. Butler
Wednesday, Sept. 16 | 7:00 PM
The Jungle | Indianapolis, Ind.
Watch: ESPN+
IU Indy vs. Northwestern
Friday, Sept. 18 | 6:00 PM
Muncie, Ind.
No broadcast
IU Indy at Ball State
Saturday, Sept. 19 | 6:00 PM
Muncie, Ind.
Broadcast: ESPN+
Wednesday's Butler match: The first 200 IU Indy students through the doors will receive a free Chick-fil-A sandwich.
