INDIANAPOLIS – They've been tested by tough opponents and untimely injuries, but the UIndy volleyball team keeps finding ways to win, upping their current streak to five matches in a row in a gritty 3-1 (25-16, 22-25, 25-23, 31-29) victory against visiting Bellarmine Friday night.

After a slow 2-7 start to the 2016 campaign, the Greyhounds have now won nine of their last 12 – including a three match sweep at last week's Midwest Region Crossover – to improve to 11-10 overall and 6-4 in Great Lakes Valley Conference action.

Seniors Becca Lira (22 kills) and Shelby Ruffner (17) each finished just one kill shy of their respective career-bests to lead the Greyhound attack.

Like many of their recent contests, Friday's bout turned into a dogfight between the Hounds and Knights (14-8, 3-7), but not before a first set that UIndy handled with relative ease. After opening up a 10-3 lead, the Hounds led by as many as 17-7 before cruising to a 25-16 decision.

The Hounds hit .334 (14-3-32) as a team in the opening frame, getting five kills from Ruffner on just eight attempts.

Bellarmine finally awoke in the second, managing a much-needed 25-22 win in a set that held 15 ties and five lead changes.

The all-important third set was even closer, featuring 16 ties and eight leads changes before the Hounds took control of the match with a 25-23 win. With the set tied at 22-22, UIndy scored three of the final four points – ending on a combined block from sophomores Remi Bowman and Katie Voelz. Lira recorded seven of her team-high 22 kills during the set.

The Knights seemed poised to force a fifth set, jumping out to what felt like a wide lead in the close match, 15-11, midway through the set. Following a UIndy timeout, the Hounds rallied to score five in a row and swing the momentum back on their side.

Neither team was able to reel off a significant scoring run afterward, however, as the two swapped points until the end of the stanza neared. But 25 points wasn't enough to separate the GLVC East rivals, as both the Hounds and Knights fought off set-points to extend the frame.

Eventually Voelz delivered a clutch sequence, slamming home her 10th kill to make it 30-29, before rejecting Allie Muha's attack on the next point for her fifth and final block.

Less than one week removed from joining the 1,000-kill club, Lira again took on a heavy offensive load with 63 swings, adding eight digs and a block. The Granger, Ind., native, who has played a number of positions this season, is averaging 53 attempts over the last four matches.

Ruffner's 17 kills came on an efficient .429 (17-2-35) hitting percentage, and she also racked up six blocks for a season-high 20.5 points.

UIndy's sophomore setters worked well in tandem Friday. Bowman totaled 30 assists, 12 digs and six blocks, while Maggie Gibson finished with 29 assists, 11 digs and four blocks. The Hounds' 62 team assists marked a season-high.

Outside hitter-turned-libero Kate Bontrager co-led the Hounds with 16 digs, along with junior Kacee Salyers. Salyers added 14 kills for her team-leading eighth double-double of the season.

UIndy aims to win its sixth in a row tomorrow (Saturday) against Southern Indiana. First serve from Ruth Lilly Center is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.