INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy volleyball team (10-3, 5-0 GLVC) wrapped up its nine-match home stand on Saturday afternoon in Ruth Lilly Fitness Center, downing the visiting Bellarmine Knights (7-6, 1-4 GLVC) in four sets.
 
The Greyhounds went 7-2 over the past two weeks at home, and are currently on a six-match winning streak. UIndy recorded 14 blocks as a team in the win, the most since October 20, 2017 against Wisconsin-Parkside.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Neither team attacked especially well in the opening set, as Bellarmine grabbed the early 1-0 lead on .122 hitting. Julia Kruzan and Katie Voelz, who were bright spots for the Hounds all day long, led the team with three kills apiece in the first set.
 
The Greyhounds exploded in the second game, attacking at a .406 clip. Taylor Jacquay added five kills in the set, as did Kruzan. Middle Emily Ellis knocked down three kills on .600 hitting.
 
The UIndy defense was on full display in the third set, totaling 10 blocks as a team and limiting the Bellarmine attack to .040 hitting. Voelz stopped two herself in the third, while Ellis and Kruzan also recorded a solo block. Ellis was also in on four other stops, while Alyssa Spears, Kruzan, and Voelz recorded a pair of assist blocks.
 
Holding the Knights to under .100 hitting for the third consecutive set, Katie Furlong got in on the action with a solo block of her own. The sophomore tallied 13 of her 16 kills in the final two sets. Voelz also capped her day with three more kills in the fourth frame before finishing with eight in the victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
The team's 14 blocks is the second-highest total since 2013, while Saturday marks the third time this season the Hounds have reached at least five solo stops. The solo block by Katie Furlong in the third set gives her 10 so far this season, while Katie Voelz is right behind the sophomore with nine.
 
Julia Kruzan's 13 kills against Bellarmine is the seventh time this season the junior has reached double figures. The Schererville, Ind. native attacked at a .345 clip in the team's three wins this week.
 
As well as dishing out another 41 sets in the win on Saturday, Alyssa Spears scooped up 20 digs for the second time this season. It is fifth time in 2018 the junior has posted double-digit digs and the first time since the GLVC opener against Quincy she has done so.
 
Emily Ellis hit .438 against the Knights, totaling eight kills. The junior transfer also played a major factor defensively, totaling six blocks and picking up four digs.
 
Furlong led the team with 16 kills, the 12th time this season the sophomore has done so. Taylor Jacquay also tallied 13 kills, while totaling seven digs.
 
The win over Bellarmine marks the sixth straight win for UIndy, the first time since October 2016 that the team has won so many consecutively. The last time the Greyhounds have reached double-digit wins in as little as 13 matches was 2012.
 
HOUND BYTES
Senior middle blocker Katie Voelz on the team's sixth-match winning streak and recent success: "It feels so good to be undefeated in the GLVC so far. Bellarmine played a great first set, but our coaches were able to pick up on their tendencies so we could be in the right position. The coaches put in so many hours to prepare us for every match and each opponent, and it doesn't go unnoticed."
 
Voelz on the team's success on the block:
"Our assistant coach Julie Street makes blocking so easy for our team. The middle don't even have to think much; all we have to worry about it executing the game plan that she lays out for us."
 
Voelz on the team chemistry:
We couldn't be winning without every single girl on this team. I love being on the court, but I love being on the bench just as much helping MG (Mary Grace Ertel) lead the cheers to bring energy to the other girls on the court and our fans."
 
Junior right-side Julia Kruzan on the team's recent success:
"We're feeling good. It's nice to have these wins to back up all the work we put in the gym."
 
Kruzan on coming back from the first-set loss:
"We all felt good coming into today. Our scouting was well-planned and we knew how to take advantage of their weaknesses, allowing us to execute."
 
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds will travel west for their first GLVC road matches of the season, heading to No. 17 Drury next Friday night in Springfield, Mo. UIndy will take on Missouri S&T the following day at 3 p.m. local time.