The Online Reflector

 

The University of Indianapolis volleyball team’s historic season came to an end on Dec. 7, when the team lost to the University of Tampa Spartans 3-0.

The Greyhounds were led in the match by sophomore outside hitter Arielle Knafel, who hit .667 alongside 13 kills.

The Greyhounds defeated the University of New Haven Chargers 3-1 in the Elite Eight round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Championship on Dec. 6. Double-digit aces from the Greyhounds, combined with 59 kills and 82 digs, helped earn the victory.

On Dec. 6, the Greyhounds stepped onto the floor at the University of West Florida, in Pensacola, Fla. for the second time this year. The Greyhounds began their season at the UWF Fieldhouse earlier this year for the Hemingway’s Island Grill Invitational.

The Greyhounds were led in the match by senior outside hitter Kristina Kerrigan, who had 18 kills and 16 digs in the match. Junior middle blocker Brittany Anglemyer added 15 kills for the Greyhounds. Sophomore outside hitter Kimberly Trojan and senior libero/defensive specialist Amy Oldenburg controlled the back with 18 and 16 digs,  respectively. Sophomore setter Meghan Binkerd had 54 assists in the game, and junior outside hitter Kenzie Bruggeman posted four aces plus 12 kills, four blocks and eight digs.

The Greyhounds made the NCAA Elite Eight by defeating the Hillsdale University Chargers in the Midwest Regional Championship at the Ruth Lilly Center on Dec. 1.

UIndy was ranked No. 1 in the regional and so was granted the opportunity to host the eight-team tournament. Kerrigan said that she was excited that the team was able to host.

“We play so much better at home. Our record shows that,” Kerrigan said. “We love the support of all the fans. And from the experience of hosting regionals when I was a freshman, [I can say] it’s such an advantage when you have an entire crowd cheering for you.”

Going into the regional tournament, the Greyhounds were 10-1 at home and 7-4 at neutral sites.

“They [our home fans] pump us up,” said Head Volleyball Coach Jody Rogers. “It’s tough to beat us at home. The crowd is always so supportive, the university is behind us 100 percent and it’s something awesome to be a part of.”

The Chargers were ranked No. 6 in the regional, and the Greyhounds worked quickly to claim the match and the regional championship trophy.

The match followed in the footsteps of the first two of the tournament, with the Greyhounds winning three sets to the opponent’s zero.

Kerrigan posted 10 kills and five digs. Sophomore middle blocker Julia Watkins had seven blocks in the match while Anglemyer finished with nine kills on a .500 attack percentage.

Kerrigan and Anglemyer were named to the Midwest Regional All-Tournament Team.

In the second round of the tournament, the Greyhounds took on the Ferris State University Bulldogs, whom they had faced and defeated in the regular season. The No. 5 ranked Bulldogs defeated the No. 4 Lewis University Flyers the night before, 3-1.

Ferris State’s roster boasts five players above the six-foot mark, while the Greyhounds have none. Rogers’ opinion about the Bulldogs’ height advantage reflects her faith in her team.

“What team in America doesn’t have taller players than us?” she said. “I recruit them [her players] to play with no fear and just swing away, and that’s what they did. They have confidence in each other; they trust each other. When you have that, you’re going to win games.”

The Greyhounds beat the Bulldogs in three sets. The first set ended 25-23 with the Greyhounds on top. Although the Bulldogs kept it close, they did not lead in the set. Set two was a dogfight, with the final score 30-28 in favor of UIndy. The Greyhounds carried the momentum over into the final set, winning 25-17.

After the game, Rogers said she was proud of her team.

“I feel the way I felt in 2009 [the last time they won a regional championship],” Rogers said. “They’re hungry, they want it; the chemistry of the team right now is amazing.”

Anglemyer had 12 kills on the night, while Kerrigan finished the game with 17 kills and 14 digs. Binkerd tallied 42 assists on the night for the Greyhounds.

In the first round of the tournament, the Greyhounds faced the No. 8 Rockhurst University Hawks. The Greyhounds faced the Hawks shortly before the NCAA Tournament in the semifinals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, where they were defeated by the Hawks.

“When we saw we got to play Rockhurst in the first round and have a rematch, it was even more exciting,” Kerrigan said.

Rogers also looked forward to a rematch between the two teams at home.

The Greyhounds’ confidence led to a 3-0 set match victory. The Greyhounds outscored the Hawks in every category—totaling more kills, digs and assists than the Hawks—and posted more blocks and aces as well.

“This is the time of the year when you have to play well,” Rogers said. “You show up and work hard and get the job done or else you go home. There’s a sense of urgency in my team right now, and my team plays well when there’s a sense of urgency.”

Bruggeman posted a double double with 10 kills and 10 digs, while Binkerd also had a double double with 38 assists and 13 digs.

The Greyhounds’ final record of the 2012 season ended at 31-8, which was the third-most wins in school history. It was also the program’s first-ever trip  to the Division II final four.