The Wright State volleyball team lost a hard fought battle 3-2 to IUPUI Saturday evening (16-25, 25-20, 21-25, 25-19, and 12-15) at WSU's McLin Gymnasium.

First Set Highlights

IUPUI opened the match going on a 3-0 run before freshman right side hitter Natalie Santana put down a powerful kill to side out for the Raiders.  Wright State tied the game at 4-4 after a hitting error by the Jaguars, and quickly took the lead at 5-4 after a kill from senior middle blocker Megan Hopkins.  Both teams kept the score close tying the game at 5-5, 6-6, and 7-7 before IUPUI went on a 3-0 run, prompting Wright State to take their first timeout of the set.  Coming out of the timeout, the Jaguars continued their run before freshman middle blocker Teddie Sauer put down a kill for the Raiders.  Wright State called their second and final timeout of the set at 15-9 to try to slow down IUPUI after the Jaguars went on a 3-0 run extending their lead.  Out of the timeout, the Jaguars went on another 3-0 run before Wright State's Sauer was able to side out for the Raiders with a kill.  Wright State went on a 4-0 run late in the game pushing the score to 21-14, but IUPUI was able to finish the set with a comfortable lead and won 25-16.  Hopkins and freshman Abby Barcus both led the Raiders with three kills each of Wright State's ten total kills.

Second Set Highlights

Wright State took the early lead in set two at 4-1 before the Jaguars were able to side out with a kill.  Both teams traded powerful kills pushing the score to 11-8 with the Raiders still in the lead.  IUPUI took their first timeout with the Raiders in the lead at 13-8 after Wright State went on a 3-0 run.  Coming out of the timeout the Jaguars top hitter Kori Waelbroeck put down a powerful kill from the right side, but Hopkins answered back immediately with a kill to side out for the Raiders.  A hard fought rally with big kills from both sides at 16-10 ended with the Raiders winning the point and IUPUI decided to call their second and final timeout of the set.  Coming out of the timeout the Jaguars sided out with a big block on the right, but Sauer answered back immediately putting down a powerful kill on the right side.  Back-to-back kills by the Jaguars allowed them to go on a 2-0 run with the score at 18-13 before Wright State called their first timeout of the set.  Coming out of the timeout the Raiders went on a 2-0 run extending their lead to 20-14.  Wright State called their second and final timeout of the set at 22-17 to try and slow down the Jaguar's 2-0 run late in the game.  Coming out of the timeout the Jaguars continued their run with a kill from Waelbroeck on the right side making the score 22-18.  Wright State held their lead in the end and won the second set 25-20.  Sauer led the Raiders with six kills for an outstanding .417 hitting percentage.

Third Set Highlights

Wright State took another early lead in the third set at 6-1 with five consecutive kills followed by a service ace by Sauer.  IUPUI called their first timeout at 6-1 to try to slow down the Raiders 6-0 run.  Coming out of the timeout the Jaguars got a side out with a kill jump starting a 2-0 run, but the Raiders kept their lead.  Both teams continued to trade points back-and-forth with powerful kills and big blocks pushing the score to 11-9 with the Raiders in the lead.  The teams kept the score close throughout the middle of the set with the Jaguars pulling within one point every few points, but the Raiders were able to side out and keep their lead until IUPUI tied the game at 17-17.  Wright State called their first timeout after the Jaguars took their first lead of the set at 18-17.  Coming out of the timeout the Jaguars scored on a service ace and a block extending their lead to 20-17 over the Raiders.  With the score at 21-17 the Raiders called their second and final timeout of the set to stop the Jaguars run and try to shift the momentum back in their favor.  Coming out of the timeout the Jaguars scored again, but Hopkins was able to side out for the Raiders with a kill.  A service error by the Jaguars allowed the Raiders to pull within three points at 23-20, but a 2-1 run by IUPUI ended the third set with the Jaguars winning 25-21.  Santana led the Raiders in the third set with six kills for a .250 hitting percentage.  Hopkins was close behind Santana with five kills for a .300 hitting percentage. 

Fourth Set Highlights

Wright State's Santana posted the first point of the fourth set with a huge kill from the right side.  IUPUI answered back immediately with a kill of their own tying the game at 1-1.  Both teams kept the score close tying the game again at 2-2, 3-3, and 4-4 before the Raiders went on a 4-0 run to take the lead at 8-4.  With the game at 8-4 IUPUI called their first timeout of the set in hopes of slowing down Wright State's run.  Coming out of the timeout IUPUI was able to side out, but a service error from the Jaguars immediately after pushed the score to 9-5.  A 4-1 run by the Jaguars allowed IUPUI to pull within one point of Wright State at 10-9, and IUPUI quickly tied the game at 11-11 after an attack error by the Raiders.  With the Jaguars taking the lead at 12-11 Wright State decided to call their first timeout of the set.  Coming out of the timeout Hopkins put down a powerful kill from the middle tying the game at 12-12 and siding out for the Raiders.  Both teams traded powerful kills throughout the middle of the set tying the game multiple times at 13-13, 14-14, 15-15, and 16-16 before the Raiders went on a 3-0 run to take the lead at 19-16.  With the score at 19-16 IUPUI called their second and final timeout of the set.  Coming out of the timeout Wright State extended their lead to 20-16 after a hitting error by the Jaguars.  Both teams continued to trade points back-and-forth late in the game pushing the score to 23-19 before Wright State called their second and final timeout of the set.  Coming out of the timeout the Raiders sided out with a big kill on the right side by Sauer making it set point for Wright State.  A ball handling error by the Jaguars gave Wright State their final point with the Raiders winning the fourth set 25-19 and forcing a fifth set.  Sauer led the Raiders in the fourth set with five kills of Wright State's 11 total kills for a solid .300 hitting percentage.

Fifth Set Highlights

Wright State's Powers posted the first point of the fifth set with a big kill from the outside, but the Jaguars immediately answered back with a kill of their own tying the game at 1-1.  Both teams kept the score close in the beginning of the set tying the game again at 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, and 5-5 before the Raiders took the lead at 7-5 with powerful kills from Hopkins and sophomore Taylor Gibson.  A big block in the middle from Wright State pushed the score to 8-6 prompting the teams to switch sides and prepare for the final half of the fifth set.  Coming out of the break IUPUI put down a powerful kill on the right side pulling within one point of the Raiders at 8-7.  Wright State took their first timeout of the set after IUPUI tied the game at 8-8 after a kill by Waelbroeck.  Coming out of the timeout, IUPUI scored off of an attack error by the Raiders and they took the lead at 9-8.  Both teams continued to put down powerful kills and pick up big digs, but Wright State took back their lead at 11-9 after a 3-0 run.  With the score at 11-9 IUPUI called their first timeout of the set.  Coming out of the timeout IUPUI took a side out with a big kill on the right side by Waelbroeck jump starting a 2-0 run which allowed the Jaguars to tie the game again at 11-11.  Wright State called their second and final timeout of the set at 11-11, but IUPUI came out of the timeout going on a 4-1 run to win the fifth set 15-12.  Hopkins and Sauer both led the Raiders with three kills each of Wright

What Coach Clements is Saying

"I am very proud of everyone's effort today.  We had a lot of people step up and contribute.  Our middles were tremendous today and really lead the way to put us in a position to win.  You can see the competitiveness of the Horizon League, and we are right there with everyone.  We just need to keep meeting the challenge and have a strong finish at the end."

Next Up

Wright State continues conference play at home next weekend taking on Cleveland State on Friday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. and Oakland on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 4 pm.  Saturday is Senior Day for the Raiders.