INDIANAPOLIS – The IU Indy volleyball team returns to Indianapolis this week for its 2026 home opener, welcoming Ohio, Marshall and Akron to The Jungle for the Hampton Inn Invitational Sept. 3-5.
 
The Jaguars enter the weekend 1-2 after opening the season at the Washington Tournament in Seattle, where IU Indy picked up a sweep of UC Irvine while battling both San Diego State and No. 3 Washington in four- and five-set contests.
 
IU Indy opened the tournament with a 3-1 setback to San Diego State despite taking the opening set and holding a 1-0 lead. The Jaguars bounced back in emphatic fashion the following night, sweeping UC Irvine, 25-23, 25-21, 28-26. IU Indy then pushed host Washington to five sets before falling 15-9 in the deciding frame. Sophomore Jillian Tippmann and freshman Bailey Sinish earned All-Tournament Team honors following the weekend.
 
Tippmann led the Jaguars with 37 kills across the three matches, including a team-high 16 kills against San Diego State and 12 more in the five-set battle with Washington. She also contributed six blocks against Washington. Sinish added 32 kills during the opening weekend. She posted a team-best 12 kills in IU Indy's sweep of UC Irvine and added nine kills against Washington.
 
Setter Grace Purichia, the reigning Horizon League Setter of the Year, directed the Jaguars' offense with 100 assists through three matches, including 38 in the five-set contest against Washington.
 
The Jaguars will look to carry that experience into their home-opening weekend, which features three challenging matchups against teams that also opened the season with winning records or competitive tournament results.
 
Ohio enters Thursday's matchup at 3-0, having swept Bucknell, Niagara and Marshall at the Marshall Invitational last weekend.
 
Marshall comes to Indianapolis at 2-1 after earning sweeps over Niagara and Bucknell before falling to Ohio. The Thundering Herd's Maddie Smith and Beatrice Ciccarelli were named to the All-Tournament team, with Smith totaling 27 kills and Ciccarelli hitting .429 with 19 kills and six blocks.
 
Akron enters the weekend at 1-2 after opening its season with a five-set victory over East Tennessee State before losses to Liberty and Auburn. The Zips were led offensively by Chidera Ozoh, who totaled 32 kills while hitting .482 over the three matches.
 
The Jaguars will begin the weekend Thursday at 7:00 PM against Ohio before facing Marshall Friday at 6:00 PM. IU Indy closes the invitational Saturday at 3:00 PM against Akron. All three matches will be played at The Jungle and streamed on ESPN+.
 
The Hampton Inn Invitational marks the beginning of IU Indy's 2026 home schedule, with the Jaguars scheduled to play 12 home contests this season.
 
Full Weekend Schedule
Thursday, Sept. 3: Akron vs. Marshall – 4:00 PM
Thursday, Sept. 3: IU Indy vs. Ohio – 7:00 PM
Friday, Sept. 4: IU Indy vs. Marshall – 6:00 PM
Saturday, Sept. 5: Marshall vs. Youngstown State – 1:00 PM
Saturday, Sept. 5: IU Indy vs. Akron – 3:00 PM