INDIANAPOLIS - In its first five-game test this season, the 18th-ranked University of Indianapolis volleyball team held off a persistent Rockhurst squad in five games (30-24, 30-22, 26-30, 23-30, 15-12) at the Ruth Lilly Center Friday night.  The visitors fought back from a two-game deficit to force a fifth game before the Hounds closed out the match in front of the home faithful.

 

With a 2-0 lead, UIndy (22-1, 12-0 GLVC) looked well on its way to its 17th sweep win of the season.  The Hounds earned an eight-point lead late in each of the opening two games as neither frame looked in doubt.

 

The Hawks (15-8, 7-5 GLVC) would not relent, however, as RU out-hit the Hounds .271 to .145 in games three and four to even up the match.  The Hawks' rebound was aided by a stiff net defense, as nine of their 14 team blocks came in the third and fourth stanzas.

 

UIndy forced an early timeout by scoring four of the final game's first six points.  The Hounds upped the lead to five points at 8-3 and eventually a game-high six points at 13-7, just two points shy of the win.  The stubborn Hawks would again make a run with a 5-0 rally that cut the lead to one.  The run stopped there, however, as a Casey Chrzastowski kill and a Kyleigh Turner ace sealed the win for UIndy and extended its school-record win streak to 19 matches.

 

Both schools were strong at the net as they combined for 31 team blocks, easily the highest single-match total this season.  Jessica Breeden paced the Greyhounds with a career-high 13 blocks.  The back line remained staunch as well, as four Hounds reached double-digits in digs, led by Turner’s match-high 21. 

 

Though UIndy hit just .165 as a team, many Hounds compiled solid stat line.  Elizabeth Shuyler led the team with a .348 hitting percentage while tallying 11 kills and four blocks.  Lyndsay Callahan totaled 19 kills on 51 attempts while collecting 12 digs.

 

Freshman Cheneta Morrison recorded her best all-around match as the Fort Wayne, Ind. native registered 16 kills, 11 digs, seven block assists, three assists and two aces.  Beth Robbins added 63 assists, 15 digs and four blocks.

 

UIndy stays at home to face another West-Division foe Saturday afternoon.  Tomorrow’s match versus Drury begins at 3 pm.