Hoosiers Drop Heartbreaker to Western Michigan in Five Sets

Friday, September 3

Kalamazoo, Mich.

7:00 PM

Indiana University

Western Michigan

Hoosiers Drop Heartbreaker to Western Michigan in Five Sets

9/3/2021 10:35:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Indiana Volleyball kicked off its stint at the Discover Kalamazoo Classic on Friday night against Western Michigan. Despite bouncing back in sets two and four, the Hoosiers dropped the match, 3-2 (12-25, 25-20, 24-26, 25-11, 11-15).

KEY MOMENTS
• Western Michigan took a 14-4 lead to begin the first set of action on Friday night. Indiana saw a spark when Mady Saris went for it and had back-to-back kills. Savannah Kjolhede followed with a slam of her own, but the Broncos wouldn't give up the lead. Western Michigan went on to win the opening frame, 25-12.
• Kari Zumach received the first kill of the second set as the Hoosiers took the advantage early. Saris along with Breana Edwards strung together two straight strikes to keep the Hoosiers momentum going.
• Up 10-9, Zumach sparked a 6-1 run for Indiana which included an ace by Carly Mills and kills from Kaley Rammelsberg, Saris, and Edwards. The Broncos tried to inch their way back in it with a small 4-0 run but a timely slam by Morgan Geddes ended Western Michigan's comeback. Saris scored the final two points of the set to give the Hoosiers the 25-20 set two victory.
• It was a back-and-forth battle between the two teams early in the third set as the Hoosiers and Broncos exchanged the first 13 points. Making the score 13-8 Hoosiers after two attack errors by the Broncos, Western Michigan was forced to call a timeout.
• The Broncos scored five unanswered points which led to them storming back and winning the third set, 26-24.
• Bouncing back in the fourth frame, the Hoosiers took a 10-4 lead to begin the set. Tallying nine kills, Indiana forced a Western Michigan timeout. Out of the break, Zumach and Kjolhede led a 6-1 run as the Hoosiers felt a shift up 14-5.
• Brooke Westbeld and Edwards went up for a block that made the score 21-10 which led to a kill by Rammelsberg and two aces from Haley Armstrong. Saris shut the door on the fourth set with back-to-back spikes.
• Indiana was down early in the fifth set. Rammelsberg and Kjolhede tried to put the Hoosiers back in it but the Broncos were able to come up with the set five win, 15-11.

NOTABLES
• Indiana falls to 3-1 on the season after the loss to Western Michigan on Friday night.
• Mady Saris recorded a new career high 17 kills to the lead the Hoosiers. The freshman also added six digs, an assist, and a block.
• Savannah Kjolhede matched her career-high eight blocks which led the squad. She also tallied 10 kills.
• Paula Cerame led Indiana in digs with 20.
• Kaley Rammelsberg saw double-digit kills with 11.

IU Head Coach Steve Aird

"Congrats to Western Michigan. I thought they competed the whole night and made plays when they had to. For us, its' early in the season. We are still searching for best line up and mix of players going forward. It's a long year but we will regroup and be better tomorrow." – Head Coach Steve Aird

UP NEXT

The Hoosiers return to action on Saturday morning with a match against Purdue Fort Wayne beginning at 11 a.m. They will conclude the Discover Kalamazoo Classic with Southeast Missouri State at 4 p.m.

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