UIndy Greyhounds
vs. 10 Hillsdale Chargers
Thursday, Dec. 5, 3:30 p.m. ET, Romeoville, IL

ON TAP
The UIndy volleyball team returns to the NCAA Midwest Regional after a five-year hiatus, looking to avenge an early-season loss to Hillsdale on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in Romeoville, Ill. The Chargers swept the Greyhounds in September as part of a region challenge at Tiffin University. 

The Greyhounds have ended the Chargers' season on four occasions in the Midwest Regional, totaling a 4-1 record in NCAA postseason play against Hillsdale.

ABOUT HILLSDALE
Hillsdale is 26-3 this season after running through the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) unscathed, and winning its third straight league tournament title. The Chargers are currently on a 10-match winning streak, last losing to top-seeded Lewis at the Midwest Region Crossover on October 19. 

Allyssa Van Wienen was named the G-MAC Player of the Year, and is hitting .443 from the middle. The junior is averaging 4.02 kills/set, as well as 1.02 blocks/set. Two other Chargers are averaging at least 2.8 kills/set, including outside hitters Karoline Shelton (2.9) and senior Emily Lachmann (2.8).

Junior setter Lindsey Mertz is handing out 11.4 assists/set, directing an offense that is attacking at a .241 clip. Taylor Wiese, an All-G-MAC First-Team selection, is scooping up 6.1 digs/set for the Chargers, while Shelton (3.3) and Madie Schider (3.2) join the senior libero on the back line. 

Head coach Chris Gravel is in his 24th season at Hillsdale, and recently earned his 500th career victory with the team's win in the G-MAC quarterfinal. The Chargers have advanced to 11 NCAA tournaments under Gravel, which includes a trip to the national semifinal in 2011. 

LAST TIME OUT
The UIndy volleyball team wrapped up its weekend in Ohio on Sunday afternoon, falling to No. 14 Hillsdale in straight sets on the campus of Tiffin University.
 
Katie Furlong (12) and Elizabeth Eads (10) both recorded double-figure kills, while MaKenna Barnhart paced the team with 13 digs.

Hillsdale charged out to a 10-4 lead in the opening frame before finding itself with a set advantage after hitting .300 as an offensive unit. The Greyhounds showed some more fight in the second set, with Furlong totaling five kills. Hillsdale pulled away late, however, fending off a UIndy rally that saw a pair of kills from Emma Jones.
 
The Greyhounds appeared to force a fourth set, leading as late as 21-18 in the third. After calling timeout, the Chargers rattled off seven of the next nine points to finish off the sweep of the Greyhounds.
 
Hillsdale middle Allyssa Van Wienen dictated the Charger attack all day, as she tallied 19 kills on .731 hitting.

Hannah Huppenbauer came off the bench to record three kills and four blocks.

UNANIMOUS SELECTION
Junior outside hitter Katie Furlong and senior setter Alyssa Spears were unanimously selected by the GLVC coaches as all-league first-teamers prior to the GLVC Championship Tournament. Overall, it was Furlong's second nod to the top squad, while Spears earned her first first-team selection after claiming second-team honors her freshman and junior campaigns. 

Junior outisde hitter Taylor Jacquay was named to the All-GLVC Second Team, giving the Greyhounds three all-conference honorees for the first time since 2013.

DANCING QUEENS
The Greyhounds earned the seventh seed in the NCAA Midwest Regional this weekend, the program's first postseason bid since head coach Jason Reed's second season in 2014. UIndy has yet to win an NCAA tournament match under Reed, and last claimed victory in 2012 when it swept through the regional and advanced to the national semifinal.

MIDDLE OF SOMEWHERE
UIndy has gotten solid production out of the middle position in 2019, which has been taken over by underclassmen. Sophomore Hannah Huppenbauer leads the rookie pack of Elizabeth Eads and Kyra Simmons with 0.72 blocks/set in 39 frames of action, while the freshman duo have combined for 3.6 kills/set in the bulk of playing time.