The Tiffin University volleyball team (3-1) swept day two in Indianapolis, earning a five-set win over IUP and a four-set victory over Daemen. The Dragons finished the weekend by winning three of four matches.
The Dragons defeated IUP 17-25, 25-22, 15-25, 25-13, 15-8 in the first match of the day as the two teams kicked off day two of the tournament at 9 a.m.
Trailing two sets to one, the Dragons rallied for the victory by dominating the final two sets, led particularly by the defense. TU started set four with a 5-0 lead thanks to four attack errors by their opponent and a service ace by Addison Conti. Kaylee Freund recorded a kill and Diana Heitkamp served up two aces as the Dragons won 12 of the first 14 points in the fourth set. Freund, Kenedi Goon, and Katelyn Owens all recorded blocks late in the set to force the deciding fifth set.
TU continued their momentum into the final set. After the two teams split the first four points, the Dragons won six straight to take control for an 8-2 lead. During the run, Wakaya Wilson and Goon recorded kills, Heitkamp added a service ace, and the defense recorded two blocks. The Dragons kept IUP at bay and closed out the win with a kill by Olivia Karhoff and a block by Freund.
Goon led the way in kills with 12 and Taylor Peterson added eight. Defensively, Freund led the team in blocks with 11 and three Dragons finished with double digit digs. Conti and Maggie Pavlansky had 20 assists each.
The 11 blocks for Freund is a new single match record as she breaks her own record of 10 that was set last season.
In match two, the Dragons took care of Daemen in four sets, winning 25-19, 15-25, 25-18, 25-21. Trailing 3-1 in set one, TU won four straight to take the lead and led the rest of the way. The Dragons took the lead for good on a kill by Goon. The Dragons extended their lead to 23-15 and Daemen clawed back to get within five, but Freund recorded a kill to clinch the set. The tables turned in set two and Daemen took advantage of the Dragons recording only five kills in 36 chances.
The Dragons bounced back and controlled the final two sets for the win. Leading 11-7 in set three, Taylor Peterson and Olivia Karhoff recorded two kills each during a six-point stretch to give the green and gold some breathing room and extended their lead to 17-7. Set four was a battle in the beginning and featured eight ties. Tied at 10, TU won the next four to distance themselves a bit and leading 20-15, survived a comeback attempt by their opponent. Kenedi Goon ended the match with her team-leading 11th kill.
Freund led the way with 10 blocks and Diana Heitkamp added 15 digs.
The Dragons return to action for another four-match tournament next weekend at Grand Valley State.
