Box scores
ROMEOVILLE, Ill.- The University of Indianapolis came into play Friday at the annual Lewis Flyer Festival having yet to play a five-set match. The Greyhounds could avoid such a match no longer as UIndy participated in two matches that went the distance, winning one of two. UIndy notched a five-set win against Nova Southeastern (25-22, 25-27, 24-26, 25-15, 15-12) before dropping a 3-2 decision to Western New Mexico (25-20, 25-15, 27-29, 19-25, 15-11).
In Friday’s first match, UIndy downed a talented Nova Southeastern squad in a close five-set affair. After advancing to the second round of last year’s NCAA tournament, the Sharks (2-3) earned a No. 24 ranking in the CBS College Sports Network/AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll, and currently sit just two spots out of the top 25 in the latest rankings.
The opponents traded wins in the first four sets, but the Greyhounds won the fifth set’s race to 15 to up their record to 5-1.
In the nightcap, Western New Mexico put the Greyhounds in a daunting 2-0 hole, including a convincing 25-15 win in the second set. The Mustangs (5-1) out-hit UIndy .320 to .027 in that set and looked to complete the sweep.
As the third set progressed, Indianapolis came closer and closer to a straight-set loss, but after being down 24-20, the Hounds rattled off four straight points to get back in it. A back-and-forth ensued and with the score knotted at 27, Fallos ripped off a pair of kills to give UIndy the set and extend the match.
UIndy kept the momentum rolling in the fourth set by quickly building an 18-9 lead. WNMU would cut the deficit to three but the Hounds scored four of the final five points to send it to a fifth set.
The Mustangs jumped out to a 5-0 lead but the Hounds battled back to tie it at nine. WNMU put the throttle down again and made it 13-10, forcing a Greyhounds timeout. UIndy would manage just one more point, however, to pick up just their second loss of the season.
Callahan notched a double-double with 14 kills and 17 digs wile Robbins totaled 55 assists and nine scoops.
Indianapolis (5-2, 1-0 GLVC) wraps up play at the annual invitational with a pair of matches Saturday. The Hounds play a 1:00 p.m. match against Northern Michigan before a 5:30 p.m. meeting versus Northern Michigan. Both teams are members of the rival Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
