INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The SVSU volleyball squad traveled to the University of Indianapolis for its second tournament to open the season, beginning with the first two of four matches on Friday (Sep. 9). The Cardinals opened play with a 3-1 victory over Lock Haven before falling to the host team, Indy, by a 3-0 count in what was a close match.

Saginaw Valley is now an even 3-3 overall on the season, posting splits on all three days of competition in 2016. 

Game One - Lock Haven (W, 3-1)

Set #1 - SVSU 25, Lock Haven 14
Set #2 - SVSU 25, Lock Haven 22
Set #3 - Lock Haven 25, SVSU 16
Set #4 - SVSU 25, Lock Haven 15 

Inside the Boxscore

• McKenzie Schuster posted a team-high 14 kills in the match, notching a .312 hitting percentage with four digs and two blocks. She earned Chili's "Player of the Match" honors for her performance. 
• Kaylee Schmitt hit .343 with 13 kills and a pair of blocks.
• Emily Nieman registered a career-high 27 digs to lead defensively for the Cards. 
• Tamara Heller added 15 digs to go along with her 13 kills in the match. 
• Abbie Toland matched her career-high with 15 digs.
• Andrea Brigham also had 15 digs with seven kills for SV.
• Kelly Vellucci had a season-high 46 assists with 13 digs.
• Saginaw Valley posted a match-best .375 percentage in the fourth and final set.

From Head Coach Will Stanton

"It was a solid effort in sets one and two, but then we let off the gas pedal in set three and gave them too much momentum. We were able to get our passing and attacking back in order for set four and closed it out. We passed their serve well overall and that usually leads to much more offense."

Game Two - Indianapolis (L, 3-0)

Set #1 - Indy 25, SVSU 20
Set #2 - Indy 27, SVSU 25
Set #3 - Indy 25, SVSU 23

Inside the Boxscore

• Kennedy Marker was named the Chili's "Player of the Match" after posting five kills and a pair of blocks.
• Nieman posted a match-best 14 digs against the Greyhounds.
• Heller had a team-high seven kills with five digs and two blocks.
• Schuster matched Heller's seven kills and added five digs.
• Vellucci had 23 assists in the contest with six digs.

From Head Coach Will Stanton

"We struggled with their serve early on, but then caught up with them in game two. We were able to battle, but just couldn't sustain our offense enough to finish a game out. The match was closer than the 3-0 score appears, but we have to learn to finish these tight games to take the next step this season."

Up Next...

Saginaw Valley competes on Saturday with another pair of matches at the UIndy Invitational. The Cardinals are set to square-off against Truman State at 9:30 a.m. before facing North Alabama in a 6:00 p.m. matchup. 

@SVSU_Volleyball | #svsuvball