Mastodons Remain Unbeaten at Home with 5-Set Win Over Coyotes

Saturday, October 26

Fort Wayne, Ind.

7 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

13-12, 5-4Summit

South Dakota

16-8, 7-2Summit

South Dakota

IPFW

Photo by: Lucas Carter

Mastodons Remain Unbeaten at Home with 5-Set Win Over Coyotes

10/26/2013 9:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

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FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The IPFW women's volleyball team knocked off the league leading South Dakota Coyotes in a thrilling 5-set match 3-2 (25-18, 19-25, 25-17, 20-25, 16-14) to remain perfect at the Gates Sports Center at 8-0. The 'Dons (13-12, 5-4) trailed late in the fifth set, but used a three point swing, two of which came from Kendall Wienkes, to seal the Mastodon victory in their annual 'Pink Out' match to benefit the Vera Bradley Foundation.

Emily Spencer finished with her seventh double-double of the season, leading the 'Dons with 26 kills while adding 13 digs and three blocks. It was her second most kills on the season while tying her season-high in digs. Wienkes also added a double-double, her third of the year, tying a season-high with 16 kills to go along with 13 digs and four blocks.

IPFW would trail early on in the first set but rallied back with five straight points to take a 12-9 lead and never look back. The 'Dons would then use a five point rally to extend their lead to 19-11. South Dakota would cut the lead the five at 19-14, but the Mastodons would close out the set on a 5-3 advantage.

After trailing early in the second set, the 'Dons used back-to-back kills by Spencer and Wienkes to take their first lead of the set at 9-8. South Dakota would go on a rally of their own scoring three straight points to recapture the lead and then extend it to 16-11. The 'Dons fought back to pull within two at 20-18, but the Coyotes closed out the set with five of the final six points to tie it at one set a piece.

Coming out the break, South Dakota took the first three points but the Mastodons fought back, scoring five straight to hold an early lead. The two sides would battle it out exchanging leads until IPFW began to pull away using a six point run to lead 13-7. The Mastodons would go on another big run of seven straight to push their lead to 20-9. The Coyotes would cut the lead to seven before the 'Dons closed things out on a kill by Wienkes.

It would again be South Dakota jumping out to the early lead in set number four taking the 4-1 advantage. But once again the Mastodons would rally, tying the score at 7-7. Neither team was able to get any separation. As soon as one team would take the lead, the other would tie things right back up. The teams would exchange three lead changes along with knotting things up 10 different times in the set. South Dakota would take a two point lead as the 'Dons attempted to close the gap, but the Coyotes closed out the set scoring five of the final six points to force the fifth and deceive set.

Once again the 'Dons would need to battle from behind in the fifth set as the Coyotes took the early lead at 8-4. The Mastodons would answer back with four straight points to pull even the score at 8-8. The battle was on from there as the 'Dons took their first lead of the set at 11-10. The two sides then exchanged points with the Coyotes retaking a 13-12 lead. Spencer would tie it at 13-13, but once again South Dakota answered to regain the lead and give them match point. IPFW would respond with a kill from Wienkes, followed by a Coyotes error before Wienkes delivered her only solo block of the night to send the Gates Sports Center into celebration.

Madison Spence would finish the night with 47 assists while Jen Milligan led IPFW with 14 digs. Hailie Ripley led the 'Dons with a match-high six blocks to go along with seven kills while Sarah Heckman added in six kills of her own.

IPFW now heads out on the road to face Western Illinois on Friday, November 1 with first serve going up at 8 p.m.