KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The UIndy volleyball team had its eight-match winning streak snapped on Friday night, dropping a five-set heartbreaker to No. 23 Rockhurst in the barbecue capital of the Midwest.
 
The Greyhounds took the lead heading into the fourth set; however, the host Hawks forced a fifth and proceeded to attack at a .417 clip in the deciding frame to end the Hounds' hope at the upset.
 
Hannah Sabotin led the team with 19 kills on .340 hitting from the middle, while freshman libero Ellie Spang recorded 25 digs.
 
INS & OUTS
UIndy attacked at a steady rate throughout the first four frames, including a .262 mark between the second and third sets. Elizabeth Eads was on fire in the early going, finishing her 12th kill of the night to give the Greyhounds the 2-1 lead.
 

Big Eads with her 12th (!!) kill of the evening! The Greyhounds head into the fourth set up, 2-1, against the 23rd-ranked Hawks!

?? @GLVCSN pic.twitter.com/qOEXvkCzj1

— UIndy Volleyball (@UIndyVball) September 30, 2023

The Hawks posted three of their 14 blocks in the fifth game, limiting the Hounds to five kills. Sophia Parlanti finished with 14 kills on the evening, including one early in the fifth before Rockhurst pulled away.
 
Claire Morris, the lone Greyhound to record a double-double, tallied 59 assists and 13 digs, while defensive specialist Lauren Peal ranked second on the team with 16 scoops.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
- Four Hounds recorded double-digit digs, with Grace Hegwood joining the aforementioned Morris, Peal, and Spang with 14.
- Sabotin added four blocks, four digs, and one service ace to her team-high 19 kills.
- Morris' 59 helpers marked a new career-best for the Perry Meridian graduate.
- Lauren Cullison tacked on 10 kills to the UIndy attack.
 
MORE NOTES
Friday marked the first time since 2014 the Greyhounds have won a set at Rockhurst … the Hawks now lead the all-time series, 18-13, and have won 14 of the last 15 meetings.
 
HOUND BYTES
Head coach Jason Reed on the loss…
"I'm proud of our girls for their battle tonight. We showed that we belong in the conversation. Rockhurst played great down the stretch and we couldn't sustain our momentum in sets four and five. We will need to get some rest and refocus for a very important match tomorrow."
 
UP NEXT
UIndy looks to begin a new winning streak on Saturday, facing off with William Jewell at 2 p.m. ET in Liberty, Mo.