INDIANAPOLIS - The UIndy women's volleyball team kicked off its 2024 campaign by splitting day one of the UIndy Invitational. Facing two in-region rivals, the Hounds first dropped to No. 24 Grand Valley St. The Greyhounds then grabbed their first win of the season with a five-set thriller against Tiffin.
 
Sophia Parlanti was a standout on the court. The senior finished with 22 kills on the day and averaged 2.75 kills per set. Claire Morris is also climbing her way up to 1,500 career assists, having 59 today and trails the career milestone by 57.
 
MATCH 1 | Grand Valley St. 3, UIndy 0
 
The UIndy freshmen class made an impact in the Greyhounds' first match of the day. Madeline Lynch grabbed five kills against the Lakers while recording three digs.
 
Claire Morris also had a successful match on offense dishing out 23 assists. Greyhound libero Ellie Spang scooped up 21 digs.
 
During the second set, UIndy finished with a hitting percentage of .216. The Greyhounds collected 13 kills during the set and only committed five errors.

The UIndy defense limited 2x All-American Jordan Gates to just .050 hitting and three kills.
 
MATCH 2 | UIndy 3, Tiffin 2
Parlanti set the pace for with five first-set kills, as the Greyhounds sprinted out of the gate to snag the early lead. The teams traded frames before UIndy pulled away in the fifth, earning six of the final eight points. Allie Wuestenfeld capped the victory with her fourth service ace of the evening, following a monster kill from Kayla Guthrie.
 
The Hounds hit an astounding .400 in the fifth set, with Parlanti knocking three of her 13 kills in the deciding game. 

UIndy recorded 14 total blocks, its most since Sept. 15, 2018, in its four-set win over Bellarmine. Riley Laine was in on seven of those blocks, while Maddie Berger and Madline Lynch each tallied a solo stop. Morris, who finished with 36 assists and 11 digs, also assisted on five blocks.
 
UP NEXT
UIndy concludes invitational action tomorrow with matches against Indiana (PA) and in-region rival Kentucky Wesleyan. The matches will start at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively, in Ruth Lily Fitness Center.