UIndy Athletics

WILLIAMSVILLE, Ill. – The UIndy volleyball team opened up the 2026 GLVC Championship Tournament in spectacular fashion on Thursday, sweeping the eighth-seeded Upper Iowa from Williamsville High School Fieldhouse.
 
The Greyhounds entered the postseason ranked No. 22 in the AVCA national coaches' poll, as well as the top seed in the GLVC bracket after earning a share of the league's regular-season title.
 
Makenzie Pflederer led the impressive offensive attack, totaling 16 kills on .500 hitting from the outside. All-GLVC First Team selection Maddie Lynch followed suit with 11 kills herself, while freshman Grace Portwood chipped in nine. The trio combined to attack at a .395 clip.
 
UIndy proved its top-seed status with a dominant first-set victory, hitting .542 as an offensive unit, before quickly looking for the sweep. The Peacocks used a 7-0 run early in the third frame before the Hounds strung together points to eventually knot the game up at 15 apiece. The teams traded points until it was 21-all, with Pflederer scoring three of the team's final four points to advance the Greyhounds to the semifinals. Pflederer tallied seven of her 16 kills in the final set.
 
As impressive as the offense was, the defensive effort from UIndy matched the output. Three Greyhounds finished with double-digit digs, led by libero Macy Bruton and the outside Portwood. Pflederer recorded 11 scoops for her ninth double-double of the fall. Senior middle Allison Jansen, who was voted to the All-GLVC Second Team on Wednesday, totaled seven blocks to go along with her six kills.
 
This marks the third straight GLVC quarterfinal victory for the Greyhounds, who previously ended Maryville's season each of the past two Novembers.
 
UIndy returns to action Friday in the league semifinals against the winner between Maryville and Drury. At time of release, the fourth-seeded Saints led the fifth-seeded Panthers in the first set.