Volleyball Splits Opening Matches At UIndy Invitational

Ashland University's volleyball team split a pair of matches on Day 1 of the University of Indianapolis Invitational on Friday (Sept. 8).
 
The Eagles began the tournament with a 3-1 (25-22, 20-25, 25-17, 25-18) loss to McKendree in the morning, then rallied for a 3-2 (25-21, 20-25, 12-25, 25-16, 15-10) victory over Northwood in a rare non-conference matchup against a Great Midwest Athletic Conference rival.
 
Ashland's 5-1 start through six matches is its best since a 5-1 beginning in 2019.
 
NOTABLES

• In Friday's opener against McKendree, sophomore outside hitter Tristen Gierhart hit at a .414 clip and had 14 kills, while junior outside hitter Makenna Belcher led AU with 16 kills. Four Eagles – senior libero Katie Thompson (19), freshman outside hitter Henlie Krause (17), Belcher (12) and freshman setter Kylee Urban (10) – each finished with double-digit digs.
• Urban (29 assists) and junior Georgi Moody (15 assists) continued to split setting duties.
• Friday's first match featured 29 tie scores and 15 lead changes.
• The match against the Timberwolves featured 20 kills and a .409 hitting percentage from Belcher, and 11 kills from Gierhart. Thompson recorded a team-high 16 digs, Urban (26 assists) and Moody (23 assists) split setting again, and junior middle blocker Bailey Ruth, the reigning Great Midwest South Division Offensive Player of the Week, collected nine kills, two solo blocks and five block assists.

 
UP NEXT
Ashland will finish play at the UIndy Invitational on Saturday (Sept. 9) against the host Greyhounds at noon and vs. Central State at 6 p.m.