ST. LOUIS – The UIndy volleyball team (12-15, 8-7 GLVC) fell 3-1 at GLVC West Division-leading Missouri-St. Louis Friday night. Led by a team-best 16 kills by sophomore Lauren Cullison, the Greyhounds orchestrated an impressive rally to nearly force a fifth set, but the host Tritons (19-6, 12-2) ultimately held on for the win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The region's fifth-ranked squad, UMSL engineered a hot start to earn a 2-0 set lead, but the Hounds responded with a solid third set to get back in it.
 
With the score tied at 11-11 in the third, UIndy managed a 6-2 spurt to take control and force an UMSL timeout. Nevertheless, the Tritons fought to the take a 23-22 lead, but UIndy calmly scored four of the next five to take the set. Setter Alex Equihua fed Cullison on each of the final two points, part of the latter's nine kills in the stanza.
 
UIndy found itself down late in the fourth set as well, trailing 20-12 and later 24-17. But behind the serve of Equihua, UIndy shook off seven consecutive match points to knot it at 24 apiece. Junior middle Hannah Huppenbauer had a pair of kills and a block assist to lead the charge.
 
The conference rivals traded points from there, with addition ties coming at 25 and 26, but UMSL finally ended it with back-to-back kills from Paige Yoder to take the set, 28-26, as well as the match.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
- Grace Hegwood compiled 14 kills on a team-high 59 swings, adding 16 digs for her eighth double-double of the year.
- Huppenbauer amassed 10 kills and zero errors, hitting a lofty .526.
- Cullison reached double figures in kills for the fourth time in five matches.
- Libero MaKenna Barnhart's 29 digs led five Hounds in double figures in the category.
- Equihua totaled 40 assists, 12 digs and three kills.
 
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds will make a short trip across town to Maryville University tomorrow. Start time is set for 4 p.m. ET.