SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The UIndy volleyball team (4-8, 2-1 GLVC) endured its first conference loss of the season Friday night, falling in straight sets (28-26, 25-15, 25-22) at Drury University. The Greyhounds hit just .117 on the night, good for its second-lowest total on the season.
 
After starting its conference slate with a pair of three-set wins at home last weekend, UIndy had the tables turned by the Panthers (10-2, 2-1) at the O'Reilly Family Event Center.
 
"We didn't come ready to play tonight," said Head Coach Jason Reed, "and I thought Drury really did a good job of dictating the tempo of the match all night. By the time we started to fight, it was too late.
 
"We have a quick turnaround tomorrow at Missouri S&T and we will have to refocus and come out stronger than we did tonight."
 
The Hounds trailed by as much as five midway through the opener and faced a 24-21 deficit late, but UIndy clawed back, tying it at 24 apiece. Kills by Kacee Salyers, Becca Lira and Natalie Wichern kept UIndy alive, but the final back-and-forth ended with a Greyhound attack error to give the home team a 28-26 victory.
 
The Panthers ran away with set No.2, hitting an even .500 to earn the 25-15 win. They closed it out with a 9-3 run, including scoring five of the set's final six points.
 
UIndy started the third by taking a 5-4 lead, but an 8-1 run by Drury quickly snatched the momentum back. The Panthers would go on to build a 20-11 advantage until a thunderous rally by the Hounds got the visitors back in it.
 
Three straight attack errors by the Panthers helped spark the surge, while freshman middle Katie Voelz had two kills down the stretch. Drury would ultimately hold off the Greyhounds' charge, however, taking the final frame, 25-22.
 
Freshman libero Bri Heffernan led all players with 13 digs. Wichern, the Hounds' junior setter, finished with 28 assists, eight digs and three kills. Freshman Sarah Skinner hit a team-high .294 with seven kills, Lira had eight kills on 32 swings, while senior Hayley Brown had 10 digs and four kills.
 
The Greyhounds continue their lengthy six-game road swing with a trip to Rolla, Mo., to take on the Missouri S&T Lady Miners Saturday, Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. ET.