The Online Reflector

 

The University of Indianapolis volleyball team defeated Kentucky Wesleyan on Sept. 24. The victory was the team’s sixth consecutive win.

Senior middle hitter Hannah Kelzer led the team with eight kills and senior outside hitter Kristina Hefferan added to the victory with seven kills during the game. She reached a high of 1,000 career kills and six digs for the Greyhounds.

After the Panthers scored the first point of set one, the Greyhounds took control and built a 10-3 lead. Although the Panthers came back within four, a kill by junior outside hitter Kristina Kerrigan boosted a 13-2 run closing out the set 25-10.

UIndy started the second set with a 12-0 lead as Kerrigan controlled the service line. The team gave up 15 points to the Panthers before a kill by sophomore middle hitter Brittany Anglemyer closed the set.

The third set proved challenging after KWC stopped a 6-0 run by UIndy to come within three. A kill by freshman outside hitter Kimberly Trojan helped the Greyhounds build the lead to 18-10. The set closed with a final score of 25-16.

The Greyhounds limited the Panthers to 26 kills. Junior libero Amy Oldenburg added to the win with 18 digs in all three sets and freshman middle hitter Julia Watkins made five blocks at the net, allowing the Greyhounds to sweep the Panthers.

UIndy’s fifth consecutive win came on Sept. 23, as the team defeated the University of Southern Indiana.

The Screaming Eagles started the first set with a 6-1 lead. The Greyhounds fought back within three but could not overcome the defecit. USI claimed the first set, 25-21.

Four consectutive errors  by USI in the second set and a kill by Kerrigan finished the set in the Greyhounds favor, 29-27.

After a 10-minute break  UIndy took a 10-4 lead to open the third set.  USI tied the game at 13-13, but could not get any closer than one the remainder of the game. The Greyhounds claimed the win, 25-22.

On Sept. 20, the Greyhounds defeated NAIA No. 13 Taylor.

Although the Trojans began the match with a 6-1 lead, numerous errors by Taylor helped UIndy claim the first set, 25-19.

In the second set, Hefferan offered up six kills which allowed the Hounds to take the second set, 25-22.

The final set saw a timeout by Head Coach Jody Rogers after the Trojans managed a two point lead. However, the Greyhounds came out of the break and went on a 6-1 run. UIndy finished the set, 25-21.

In the previous week, UIndy defeated three conference opponents in a row: the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Lewis Universtiy and St. Joseph College.

The Greyhounds completed the three-game winning streak on Saturday Sept. 17 versus the Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers.

According to Rogers, Wisconsin-Parkside has been a tough opponent in conference games.

The Greyhounds pounded holes in the Rangers’ defense, coming out of the first set with a 25-15 victory. This was followed by a more competitive 25-20 set.

The Rangers finished the match with a loss that was plagued by service errors and violations. They headed home after the Greyhounds took the final set 25-17.

Just one day earlier, the Greyhounds played at home against No. 17 Lewis.

“There’s always pride with them because they are our biggest rival,” Hefferan said.

Starting off with a 10-6 lead, the Greyhounds proceeded to give up a 13-3 run.

Led by timely kills from Hefferan and the consistency of Kerrigan, who finished with 15 kills and 12 digs, the Greyhounds fought off the Flyers.

The Greyhounds finished the set with a final score of 25-22.

The Flyers kept the match close, but the Greyhounds were able to battle it out, coming out of the next two sets ahead by a slim margin.

“They bring their best game every time so it was just awesome to take ‘em in three,”Anglemyer said.

The Greyhounds began the winning streak on September 13th with an attack on the St. Joseph Pumas.

UIndy put the Pumas down in all three sets. The Greyhounds’ defense logged nine blocks, four by junior outside hitter Kourtney Crawford.

Oldenburg led all players with 17 digs  on the defensive side.

Hefferan and Kerrigan led the Greyhounds with 13 kills and 12 kills, respectively.

According to Rogers, the success of previous teams keeps the team humble on the court. Rogers also said the team really wants to make it to the tournament in November.

The team will travel to the University of Illinois-Springfield (2-11, 1-6 GLVC) on Oct. 1.