DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Indiana University South Bend volleyball team extended its record-breaking winning streak on Saturday to eight after defeating Graceland (3-1) before falling in a tough five-set match to host school, Clarke University. After the weekend, the Titans are now 9-6 overall and 5-1 during conference play.

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In game one against Graceland, the Titans took set one 25-16 before the Yellow Jackets took the 25-23 second set. In that second set loss, IUSB registered just eight kills off 35 attempts with eight errors. IU South Bend turned around in the third and fourth set, attacking at clips of .267 and .158, sealing the eighth straight victory for the Titans.

Senior Robbie Berg tied for a game-high 15 kills against the Yellow Jackets and added a team-high 21 digs for her third double-double this year. Sophomore McKenzie Powell led all players with assists as the Rolling Prairie, Ind., native dished out 36. Junior Hannah Marchand added another double-digit kill match, adding 14 for the Crimson & Cream.

Defensively as a team, IUSB added 11 total blocks against Graceland. Junior Julie Brown and Berg each registered one solo block while Marchand added six block assists.

In the second game on Saturday, IUSB looked for revenge in its earlier match this season against Clarke after falling 3-0 on Aug. 24 at the Viterbo Holiday Inn Express Tournament in La Crosse, Wisc. Both teams traded set victories as the match came down to the deciding fifth. The Titans jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage and would lead 4-3 until the Pride used a 7-2 rally to seal the 15-10 set, handing the Titans its first loss since Sept. 6.

Once again Berg led the Titans with 18 kills, tying with Clarke's Amber Cooksley, while also added 29 digs for her fourth double-double of 2019. Senior Samantha Hockstra led all players with 31 digs for the afternoon. Powell added a game-high and season-high 44 assists for IUSB.

The Titans continue Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference action next week with three matches. IUSB travels to Trinity International on Tuesday, Oct. 1 before welcoming CCAC leader Trinity Christian on Oct. 3 and Cardinal Stritch on Oct. 4 inside the Student Activities Center.