SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The UIndy volleyball team (18-9, 11-4 GLVC) secured a 2-0 lead on Saturday afternoon at Illinois Springfield (21-6, 12-3 GLVC) before fending off a late run to win in four sets.
 
Three Greyhounds recorded double-figure kills in the win, including a match-best 25 from Katie Furlong.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Furlong and Taylor Jacquay each had six kills in the first-set win, with Alyssa Spears dishing out 15 of her match-high 58 dimes. Julia Kruzan and Katie Voelz also teamed up for a double stuff in the frame.
 
A kill by Spears gave the Hounds a 22-18 lead in the second set, but the Prairie Stars forced extra points once again. Kruzan and Emily Ellis tallied consecutive kills immediately after to put it away and give UIndy a 2-0 lead. Furlong tallied another nine kills in the set.
 
After dropping the third game, the Greyhounds opened up a 19-11 lead in the fourth set to all but seal the victory. The Prairie Stars got within one at 23-22 before a Furlong kill and host error to win it for the Hounds.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Olivia Martin scooped up 38 digs on Saturday, inching her way closer to second in program history as a sophomore in the category. The Fort Wayne native picked up 11 in the crucial first-set victory.
 
Furlong posted 25 kills in the win, the first time the sophomore has recorded at least that many since last Friday night against Rockhurst. The Galena, Ill. native has now reached at least 20 terminations on seven occasions this season, including four times in conference action. Furlong is now in the program's top five in kills as a second-year player.
 
Jacquay also stepped up on Saturday, finishing with 16 kills on .316 hitting, marking the second time in four matches the sophomore has hit above .300. Jacquay has reached double-digit kills 18 times this season.
 
Spears' 58 assists sets her conference-leading average to 11.84 per set, more than one full helper than Abby Becker of Lewis. The junior has recorded at least 50 assists eight times this season.

Kruzan finished with 17 kills and has now reached double digits the past three matches. The junior averaged 4.12 kills/set in three contests this past week.
 
HOUND BYTES
Sophomore Taylor Jacquay: "I think Tuesday was very humbling for us. We worked hard all week and knew what this weekend meant for us before the conference tournament."
 
Junior Julia Kruzan: "These were two really big wins this weekend. It gave us the confidence to know that we can keep winning against these good opponents on the road."
 
UP NEXT
The Hounds have just three matches before the GLVC Championship Tournament in two weekends. UIndy will travel to Lewis this coming Tuesday for an 8 p.m. contest in Romeoville. The Greyhounds took down the Flyers in five sets on September 29 in Indianapolis.