IUP Claims Championship of Season Opening Tournament

IUP-Saint Vincent Boxscore
IUP-Pace Boxscore
IUP-Shepherd Boxscore
IUP-Gannon Boxscore

IUP swept four matches against Saint Vincent, Pace, Shepherd and Gannon to take the championship of the IUP Volleyball Tournament held Friday and Saturday at Memorial Field House.

The Indians (4-0) opened the tournament by rallying from an 0-2 hold to down Saint Vincent by scores of 31-33, 27-30, 30-23, 30-24, 15-12.

IUP then swept matches against Pace (30-22, 30-14, 30-21), Shepherd (30-22, 30-14, 30-15) and Gannon (30-19, 30-19, 30-27).

In the win over Saint Vincent, Brittany Gates led the way with 25 kills, eight blocks and seven digs.  Alicia Koches handed out 68 assists and added 10 digs, four aces and two blocks while Trisha Gerus had 14 kills and four blocks.

Krista Nordby had 33 digs and Carri Cole added 24.  Michelle Jones contributed 13 kills and three blocks, and Jackie Bishop had 18 digs and Kelly Wolff had 15 digs.

Gates again led IUP in the win over Pace with 11 kills, the same total as Gerus, who also had three blocks.  Koches had 41 assists, three aces and six digs.  Cole (13) and Nordby (12) combined for 25 digs.

Against Shepherd, Gates made 12 kills and made four blocks.  Koches had 41 assistsa nd three aces, while Bauer had five aces, two blocks and six digs.  Gerus had six kills and two blocks.  Nordby had 15 digs and Bishop made 10.

IUP wrapped up the tournament with a win over Gannon behind 12 kills by Jones.  Gerus starred at the net with eight kills and five blocks.  Gates had five kills and four blocks, Koches contributed 37 assists and 11 digs and Nordby and Jill Bixler both made 13 digs.

IUP takes its undefeated start into next weekend's tournament at Mercyhurst.  The Indians play Shepherd and Davis & Elkins on Friday and Fairmont State and the host Lakers on Saturday.