The Online Reflector

The No. 23 University of Indianapolis volleyball team (12-4; 10-1 GLVC) shut-out the University of Missouri-St. Louis (12-6; 7-4 GLVC) on Oct. 9.

“It’s a little past halfway [in the season], so these games are crucial to solidify first place,” Rogers said.

The win was the teams 10th consecutive win and keeps UIndy in first place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Junior libero Amy Oldenburg led the team in digs while senior and freshman middle blockers Courtney Anglemyer and Julia Watkins each had three blocks.

Senior and junior outside hitters Kristina Hefferan and Kristina Kerrigan helped the team to the 3-0 match victory with nine kills each.

In the first set, the Greyhounds built a 9-2 lead off a kill by junior opposite hitter Kourtney Crawford and an ace by  freshman setter Meghan Binkerd.

Binkerd contributed to the win with 33 assists, eight digs, two blocks and two kills.

After the Tritons fought back within three 19-16, back-to-back blocks by UIndy sparked a 6-0 run and the Greyhounds claimed the set at 25-16.

In the start of the second set, UMSL tried to hang close but the Greyhounds started a 9-4 run and a kill by Hefferan put the score at 13-7.

Sophomore outside hitter Kenzie Bruggeman closed the set at 25-15 with a trio of kills.

UMSL scored the first point of the third set but UIndy responded by taking the lead back and a match point by freshman outside hitter Kimberly Trojan  finished the match with a final score of 25-12.

On Oct. 8, the Greyhounds won their ninth consecutive game after defeating the University of Maryville, 3-0.

Kerrigan reached 1,000 career kills during the game.

A block by Hefferan and Watkins opened the match with a 4-1 lead.

The Greyhounds took the set with a final score of 25-16.

Watkins and Crawford blocked the Saints again in the second set which gave UIndy a seven point lead, 14-7.

The team finished the set at 25-14.

Maryville did not give up in the third set.

The Saints tied the Greyhounds nine times and the lead changed five times.

After the Saints managed a three point lead, 11-8, the Greyhounds came back,14-13.

UIndy finished the set and the match at 25-21.

UIndy traveled to Illinois on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 to compete against the University of Illinois Springfield and Quincy University.

UIndy won both games, which gave the team their eighth consecutive victory of the season.

“We want to keep our winning streak going,” Hefferan said.

On Oct. 2, the Greyhounds played against Quincy and defeated the Hawks with a 3-1 match score (25-17, 25-20, 19-25, 25-15).

Hefferan led the team with 18 kills and 12 digs. Kerrigan and Crawford each added 10 kills for the Greyhounds.  Binkerd totaled 38 assists and 10 digs.

Oldenburg led the team with 18 digs during the four matches.

Head Coach Jody Rogers was pleased with her team’s performance on the road.

“It’s a tough trip, but we did well,” Rogers said.

In the first set, UIndy scored the first three points and created a 15-7 lead. The Greyhounds took the victory after a Quincy attack error ended the set at 25-17.

The Hawks managed to tie the Greyhounds nine times in the second set.

However, UIndy scored four consecutive points and took a lead score of 13-9.

Quincy attempted a comeback, but a service error prevented the Hawks from advancing.

Hefferan contributed a kill that brought UIndy back up to an 18-14 lead before taking the win, 25-20.

In the third set, Quincy took the lead right from the beginning.

The Hawks started out with a 9-4 lead. The Greyhounds came back, with a score of 10-9 later in the game.

However, Quincy won the third set with a final score of 25-19.

With the match leading into the fourth set, the Greyhounds started a 6-1 lead early in the fourth set. Kills from Watkins and Crawford closed the match with a final score of 25-15.

During the game against Springfield on Oct. 1, Crawford led the team with 18 kills and four blocks.

Binkerd had five kills, 26 assists  and two digs.

Anglemyer and Hefferan both totaled five kills each against UIS.

“It’s a team effort to win,” Anglemyer said.

UIS started the first match of with a 5-1 lead.  UIndy responded with  kills by sophomore outside hitter Arielle Knafel, Hefferan and Binkerd.

The trio helped UIndy steal the lead and the victory, 25-19.

In the second set, three errors put UIndy in a 5-2 lead.

Kills by Kerrigan, Hefferan and Crawford ended the second set with a UIndy win of 25-13.

The Greyhounds took a strong lead in the third set as well, leading 20-9.

The final score of  25-15 came after a kill by senior middle hitter Hannah Kelzer.

Rogers said that after wins like these they like to celebrate but then move on to focus on the next game.

The Greyhounds next trip on the road will be at Aurora, Ill. to participate in the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover on Oct. 14-15.