IUPUI Volleyball sweeps Oakland, stays unbeaten in conference play

The IUPUI volleyball team swept Oakland on Saturday, voyaging to a 2-0 start in conference play. After two close sets to start, the Jaguars pounced on the Golden Grizzlies to take the match by scores of 26-24, 25-21, and 25-13. After facing a barrage of tough teams during tournament play, it was vital for the Jaguars to get off to a tremendous start in conference play.

“It feels great,” senior McKayla Wright said. “Especially starting out conference so strong, it’s the best feeling. It’s not easy to do, we prepared all week super hard.”

Wright boasted a terrific all-around effort with 11 kills, 2 aces, and 5 blocks, contributing 15.5 points. With a presence on both sides, the senior understands what it is to be a leader of the team.

“Being a senior and being a leader on this team, vocally at least, it’s the best feeling, I love it,” Wright said. “We have such a great group of girls and we all get along so well.”

The first set proved to be the most difficult for the Jaguars, coming down to the wire. Midway through the set, down 22-16, the Golden Grizzlies ripped off a 7-0 run to take the lead. Facing adversity, the Jaguars’ defense prevailed, coming up with a key block to finish off the set 26-24. Wright shined in the first set, coming up with 4 kills, an ace, and combined with freshman Corrissa Remter on the final block to seal the set. Remter, who recorded three kills and an ace in the set, was also remarkable.

After being down 3-2 early in the second set, the Jaguars took ahold of the lead and never looked back. The Golden Grizzlies were often within reaching distance of putting themselves ahead, only for the Jags to spark a 3-0 run, which happened six times throughout the set. Leading 18-14, the Golden Grizzlies fought their way back to tie it up at 18 apiece. The Jaguars answered by going on a 7-3 run led by Wright, who racked up three kills and a shared block. During the run, a slew of errors proved fatal for the Golden Grizzlies, who gave away three points in that time.

The Jaguars were explosive in the final set, starting off on a boisterous 11-1 run. The Golden Grizzlies showed some fight by bringing the set to within seven points, but the Jaguars stepped on the gas thereafter. Countless errors by the Golden Grizzlies, as well as some stellar defense (and offense) by the Jags, propelled the Jaguars to a monstrous 25-13 win and a 3-0 sweep.

Lindsey Froehlich, first year head coach of the Jaguars, was impressed by the way her team handled the weekend.

“We’ve been through a lot of challenges this preseason with injuries and with figuring each other out,” Froehlich said. “But this group has been really close, they support each other, and that level of maturity really showed up this weekend.”

Remter, who had a mighty presence, finished with 9 kills, 1 ace, and an outstanding 7 blocks.

“She [Remter] has been really impressing me with her blocking movement,” Froehlich said. “At first, the game was really fast for her and now she’s starting to see it in a different way. She’s being a lot more efficient in her work and closing on a lot more blocks.”

Wright (11), Remter (9), and senior Haley Hoffman (5) led the way in kills. The trio also led in blocks with Hoffman and Remter totaling 7, and Wright with 5. Freshman Regan Trueblood led in assists with 21. Sophomore Rachel Hickey had 11 digs with Trueblood not far behind, totaling 10.

The Jaguars next travel to face Wright State on October 5.