CLARION, Pa. – The UIndy volleyball team returned to action in the Tony Banner Memorial Tournament Friday evening, falling 3-0 (25-21, 29-27, 25-20) to Gannon University to earn a 1-1 split in the first day of the 2015 regular season.

After hitting a stellar .310 in the morning match, the Greyhounds (1-1) managed to hit just .067 as a team, and did not have any individual record double-digit kills.

The Greyhounds struggled out of the gate, finishing with an even .000 attack percentage and just nine total kills in the first set. Junior setter Natalie Wichern was forced to leave the match early with an injury, prompting true freshman Maggie Gibson to come in off of the bench and dictate the attack.

Gibson and the rest of the Greyhounds settled in a bit more in the second set, racing out to an early 8-3 lead. Gannon battled back, however, and eventually tied the game at 22 apiece. The teams then began trading points, but the Golden Knights stole the hard-fought set, 29-27.

UIndy continued to fight, but couldn't muster a comeback in the third and final frame, losing 25-20.

Gibson performed well after being called on early in the match, finishing with 18 assists, six digs and five kills in her collegiate debut. Wichern's status for the remainder of the tournament is still undecided.

Junior Becca Lira, sophomore Kacee Salyers and freshman Bri Heffernan each had double-figure digs, and Lira totaled three solo blocks.

The Greyhounds have a quick turnaround, facing in-region Ashland Saturday at 9 a.m. before wrapping up the weekend against host Clarion at 5 p.m.

NOTES
- The one previous meeting between the teams was a 3-0 UIndy win back on Sept. 14, 2013.
- Gannon fell in three sets to Hillsdale in its first match at the Tony Banner Memorial Tournament.
- Freshmen Maggie Gibson and Sarah Skinner played in their first collegiate game at UIndy.