INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy volleyball team (1-1) earned a five-set victory over Anderson University (1-1) to cap the first day of competition in the 2022 season, salvaging Friday with a split.
 
Following the Greyhounds' loss to Montevallo in the morning, the host squad rallied from down 2-1 to pick up the thrilling victory over the Trojans. UIndy now holds advantage in the all-time series between the programs, winning the last two contests.
 
During the win over Anderson, senior MaKenna Barnhart entered the top five in the program's all-time digs list. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native currently has 1,356 career scoops in a Greyhound uniform.
 
Montevallo 3, UIndy 0
The Falcons handed the Greyhounds a straight-set loss in the season opener, overcoming 23 ties and 11 lead changes.
 
Freshman utility player Sara Spalding led the Greyhounds in the box score, adding seven digs to her 13 assists and 11 kills. The Bardstown, Ky., native totaled seven kills in the final set, upping her attack percentage to .318 for the match.
 
UIndy hit .290 in the second set, topped by Hannah Sabotin's three kills during the frame. Lauren Cullison, Kayla Guthrie, and Sophia Parlanti joined Spalding with two successful attacks.
 
UIndy 3, Anderson 2
Trailing by a set on two separate occasions, the Greyhounds rallied back in the final frame to win, 16-14, on the heels of a .481 attack clip. UIndy scored its first 15 points on kills, as Hannah Sabotin knocked down six of her career-best 20 in the fifth set.
 
Grace Hegwood also added four of her 10 kills in the deciding game, while Gillian Santana joined Barnhart with three digs.
 
Elizabeth Eads and Sabotin dominated the middle throughout the match, combining for 32 kills on .379 hitting and eight blocks in the victory.

?? | Hear from @UIndyVball libero MaKenna Barnhart following the dub, who entered the program's ??5?? career digs list during the match ?? pic.twitter.com/JQC4CUfzv7

— UIndy Athletics (@UIndyAthletics) August 27, 2022

 NOTES
- Anderson has advanced to the last four NCAA tournaments, including the 2019 season when the Greyhounds knocked off the Trojans in four sets in Cedarville, Ohio.
- Backed by the monstrous mark in the fifth set, UIndy finished the match with a .211 attack percentage compared to Anderson's .190 mark.
- Seven of the Hounds' 13 blocks came in the fourth frame, with the middles Eads and Sabotin each chipping in a solo stop.
- Spalding added another 31 assists to her daily total, while also finishing with six digs, five kills, and three block assists.
 
HOUND BYTES
"We really had to battle tonight and it was great to see," said head coach Jason Reed. "My hat's off to a great Anderson team.
 
"We are proud of the turnaround today; it's early and we know there will be ups and downs as we learn a lot about ourselves. Even though it's early in the season, this was an important benchmark for us."
 
On Barnhart's accomplishment: "This is very impressive by a special player, especially when you think about some of the defensive players who have come through UIndy. I'm proud of MaKenna's growth as a player, and even more as a person."
 
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds wrap up its first weekend tomorrow afternoon with an in-region contest with the Findlay Oilers, who dropped a pair of contests on Friday. Serve is scheduled for 4 p.m. from inside the ARC.