GREEN BAY, Wis. – It was a perfect weekend at the Kress Center for the Green Bay volleyball team as they took down the IUPUI Jaguars in five sets (25-14, 25-19, 27-29, 16-25, 15-13) Saturday after taking down Purdue Fort Wayne last night. The Phoenix is now tied at the top of the Horizon League with a 2-0 record.
The Phoenix was led by a double-double from Cora Behnke, who registered 10 kills and 10 digs on the day. Hannah Vanden Berg led the team with 13 kills while Tiffany Paalman also chipped in with 12 of her own. On the defensive end, Abby Gardner led the team with 14 digs while Ellie Kurpeikis had six blocks. Emma Johnson finished with 36 assists for GB.
Briana Brown was strong for the Jaguars, finishing with 17 kills on a .387 attack percentage. Grace Purichia had 48 assists to help the IUPUI offense.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | Green Bay was strong out of the gates, jumping out to a 14-6 lead after a Vanden Berg ace. The Phoenix continued that hot start, eventually building the lead to as large as 12 before cruising to a 25-14 set win. GB supplemented their offense with three aces in the opening set.
SET 2 | Green Bay was on the verge of a sweep after a 25-19 second set victory. The Phoenix never trailed in the set, and opened up as much as a 10-point lead at 21-11 before closing it out, 25-19. The front row was solid, blocking four IUPUI attacks in the stanza.
SET 3 | IUPUI showed some resolve in the third set after trailing the majority of the frame. The Jaguars hung around within three points and eventually went on a 3-0 run on a Green Bay set point to take the set 29-27.
SET 4 | The Jaguars used that momentum and made quick work of GB in the fourth set, tying the match at 2. IUPUI never trailed en route to the 25-16 win.
SET 5 | Green Bay responded themselves by jumping out to a 4-0 run that was key in the fifth set win. The Phoenix built up a 14-8 lead before the Jags would make it interesting with a 5-0 run to make it 14-13 Green Bay, but the Phoenix got a clutch kill from Kurpeikis to seal their second Horizon League win of the season.
GAME NOTES
» Green Bay had four players in double figures in kills.
» Green Bay had three players in double figures in digs.
» Behnke had a team-high four aces in the win.
» Behnke recorded her fifth double-double of the season, and second straight.
» Green Bay was stronger offensively on Saturday, outhitting IUPUI .248 to .168.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Phoenix will hit the road next weekend, starting with Youngstown State on Friday, Sept. 29 at 5 p.m., and Robert Morris on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 3 p.m.
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