The Online Reflector

The No. 21 University of Indianapolis volleyball team finished the regular season by capturing the regular season GLVC Conference Title and earning the right to host the 2011 GLVC Conference Tournament at Ruth Lilly Fitness Center beginning this Friday.

The Greyhounds [19-7, 15-3 GLVC] fell at No. 19 Lewis University [23-5, 15-3 GLVC] Saturday, Nov. 5 with a score of 1-3.

Despite the loss, the team still earned the right to host the conference tournament, since it is 4-3 overall this season in sets vs. Lewis.

“Hosting the GLVC tournament will be huge,” said Head Coach Jody Rogers. “A lot of UIndy’s other athletic teams will come support us.”

Senior outside hitter Kristina Hefferan led with 16 kills and 17 digs, while junior outside hitter Kristina Kerrigan followed with 14 kills and 12 digs. Senior middle hitter Courtney Anglemyer finished with 11 kills and two blocks, and junior opposite hitter Kourtney Crawford also had 11 kills with six digs and three blocks. Freshman setter Megan Binkerd had 49 assists and nine digs.

“We get extremely excited to play Lewis because they are our biggest rival,” Kerrigan said. “Playing them isn’t only about the win but also about the bragging rights.”

Earlier this season, UIndy defeated the Flyers 3-0 at Ruth Lilly Center. Lewis and UIndy will possibly meet again in the conference tournament this weekend, with the Greyhounds having home court advantage.

Just one day earlier, the Greyhounds defeated Wisconsin-Parkside University [15-15, 11-7 GLVC], 3-2, to hold on to their first place lead in the GLVC East.

Hefferan once again led with 18 kills and a career-high 18 digs. Kerrigan had 14 kills and eight digs. Anglemyer totalled 11 kills and Binkerd had 44 assists, 12 digs, five kills and two blocks.

“I love playing the tough opponents because it shows if they [UIndy’s players] can play under pressure,” Rogers said. “I want my kids to be able to handle it.”

The Greyhounds defeated Bellarmine University (13-12, 7-11 GLVC) in three sets on Senior Night on Oct. 19.

Hefferan hit .441 percent with 17 kills, nine digs and two blocks while Kerrigan hit 13 kills with a .332 hitting percentage. Anglemyer had a season-high 12 kills and hit .556. Binkerd amassed 48 assists along with 10 kills.

“Our success has definitely been because of our offense, but also because of the communication between the players,” Rogers said. “That’s what gets you through. Communication is huge.”

Just one day earlier, UIndy defeated No. 14 Northern Kentucky University, (24-4, 14-4 GLVC) 3-1. Hefferan once again led the team with 15 kills and 12 digs while Kerrigan followed with 13 kills and four digs. Binkerd’s performance saw 50 assists, 11 digs and six blocks, earning her the Baden/GLVC Volleyball Player of the Week. She is the first Greyhound this season to receive the honor.

“You live and die by your setter,” Rogers said. “She [Binkerd] can handle absolutely anything. Pressure doesn’t bother her.”

The win, which solidified UIndy’s first-place GLVC ranking, also bumped the team from fourth to third in the regional rankings.

Kerrigan described how important the win was for them since it put them in prime place to host the conference tournament.

“It’s definitely important to have home court advantage and host conference because while playing at home, we have great support from the rest of the school,” Kerrigan said. “Nothing would be better than winning conference on our home court.”

The conference tournament begins Nov. 11 and features the top 10 of 16 GLVC teams competing for the conference title.

If the winner is not already ranked in the top 8 regionally, that team wins an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.

“In NCAA, everyone is 0-0,” Rogers said. “Previous wins and losses don’t matter and anyone can win on any given day. I think we could go to the Elite 8 again.”