GARY, Ind. – Erica Packwood and Briah Strezo combined for 11 kills, but the Indiana University Northwest volleyball team dropped a three-set match to CCAC foe St. Francis Thursday evening inside the Savannah Center.
 
Strezo smashed a kill for the RedHawks (2-14, 1-2 CCAC) early in the opener to give them a slim 3-2 advantage, but the Saints responded with a 9-1 run. IUN, however, answered back by scoring four the next six points before USF killed the RedHawks momentum with a 7-0 swing.
 
A pair of bad Saints sets, and a Strezo ace along with a Roberts kill gave IUN a 7-4 lead during second set action. Later, the RedHawks and USF (4-8, 3-1 CCAC) would change the lead several times before a late 8-3 run pushed the Saints ahead for good.
 
In third stanza action, IUN struggled to gain its offensive footing, but did pick up a block by Baileigh Uporsky and Jaelyn Donald to bring its deficit to 10-6. The Saints though would end the RedHawks threat as would use another long run to create distance from the RedHawks.
 
IUN returns to the court Tuesday when IU South Bend pays a visit to the Savannah Center for a 7 p.m. first serve.