INDIANAPOLIS – The Greyhound volleyball squad ran into a hot-hitting Minnesota Duluth team Saturday morning, dropped a 3-0 (25-21, 25-13, 25-23) decision to the third-ranked Bulldogs in the UIndy Volleyball Tournament.

Minnesota Duluth (6-1) hit a blistering .407 as a team, led by Mariah Scharf's 13 kills and .611 (13-2-18) percentage. The No. 3 Bulldogs improved to 3-0 in the UIndy Tournament behind their season-high attacking mark.

The Hounds (2-6), facing their third consecutive top-ten opponent, went toe-to-toe with the Bulldogs in the opening set. After hanging in throughout the game, a kill from junior Shelby Ruffner brought UIndy to within one at 22-21. But Minnesota Duluth scored three in a row to take the set 25-21.

UIndy's second-set struggles continued Friday morning, as the Hounds dropped the second game for the seventh time this season. The Bulldogs hit .607 as a team, as well, helping them take a 2-0 lead with a 25-13 set win.

Despite trailing the third-ranked Bulldogs by two sets, UIndy continued to fight and nearly earned a hard-fought third set. Up 21-19 late in the set, the Hounds appeared poised to force a fourth set until Minnesota Duluth used a 6-2 run to take the match.

Junior Becca Lira led the Greyhounds with nine kills, followed by Ruffner's eight, and junior Natalie Wichern totaled 30 assists. Freshman libero Bri Heffernan recorded 10 of the Hounds' 24 digs.

UIndy wraps up the weekend with a 7:00 p.m. match versus regional opponent Ashland. The Eagles defeated the Hounds 3-1 last week in Clarion, Pa.

For more information on the UIndy Volleyball Tournament, click here.

NOTES
- Minnesota Duluth is now 3-0 all-time versus UIndy.
- The Greyhounds are 1-7 in second sets in their eight matches this season, after going 5-3 in opening sets.