INDIANAPOLIS - In a match-up between divisional powers, the University of Indianapolis volleyball team downed nationally-ranked Northern Kentucky in four games (30-18, 30-19, 32-34, 30-21) at the Ruth Lilly Center on Saturday afternoon.  The win puts a two-match cushion between the Hounds and the 22nd-ranked Norse in the GLVC East Division standings.  UIndy now touts a spotless 6-0 conference mark and has increased its win streak to a program record 12 straight.

 

Though the Norse came into the match as the conference leaders in hitting percentage, UIndy (15-1, 6-0 GLVC) dominated the first two games, out-hitting NKU by a collective .329 to .017.  The Hounds held the Norse to under 20 points in each of the first two, the only time they have not reached the 20-point mark in back-to-back games this season.

 

Game three was quite the contrast, however, as the game saw 20 ties while its winner needed 34 points to garner the victory.  With the score knotted at nine, the visitors surged to a five-point lead before the Hounds battled to even the count at 22.  From there, neither team managed back-to-back points until, with the score at 32 apiece, the Norse earned a kill and then blocked the Hounds' next attack to finally take the game, 34-32.

 

Game four began much like its predecessor, as the rivals traded points through the early going.  With the score tied a 10, UIndy ran-off six straight points thanks to the play of its two seniors.  Casey Chrzastowski and Elizabeth Shuyler each had two kills and combined on a double block during the mini-run.

 

NKU (15-4, 4-2 GLVC) closed the margin to two at 17-15, but would not get any closer as the Hounds finished the game by scoring 13 of the final 19 points to take the game and the match.

 

Four Greyhounds hit double-digits in kills, led by Chrzastowski’s 18.  Freshman Cheneta Morrison garnered personal bests in kills (17) and assists (8) while adding five digs.  Sophomore Jessica Breeden killed 16 balls and added five blocks and Shuyler added 14 kills on a .444 hitting percentage.

 

Other contributions included Beth Robbins' 60 assists and eight digs, Lyndsay Callahan's nine kills and 15 digs, and Kyleigh Turner's match-high 18 digs.

 

UIndy begins a streak that includes five straight GLVC West opponents, starting with a Sep. 27 match against Southern Indiana.  Action from the Ruth Lilly Center is scheduled to start at 7 pm.