Red Wolves - IU East

The Indiana University East volleyball team makes its first public appearance of 2011 with a scrimmage at Taylor University on Aug. 16.

The scrimmage starts at 6 p.m.

Scores and statistics will not be recorded, per NAIA scrimmage regulations.

IU East is coming off of a 39-4 season that ended in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round.

Taylor was 35-8 last season and advanced to the NAIA National Championship final site. The Trojans were 10th in the final Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball Coaches Poll of 2010.

MILESTONE MARKER

IU East and Taylor last shared the court when the Trojans topped the Red Wolves in an NAIA National Championship Opening Round match in 2009.

LAST TIME OUT

IU East's 2010 season ended with a three-game loss at Shawnee State University in an NAIA National Championship Opening Round match.

Taylor went 1-2 in pool play at the NAIA National Championship final site, beating Shawnee State but falling against College of Idaho and eventual national champion Fresno Pacific.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

Taylor is expected to open the 2011 season ranked among the top 15 teams in the nation.

The Trojans return their top middle hitter (senior Bethany Beck), outside hitter (senior Kelsey Pritchard), setter (senior Betsy Brown) and defensive player (junior Courtney Herschberger).

Brown and Pritchard were NAIA All-Americans in 2010.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Four IU East players took part in the Red Wolves' NAIA National Championship Opening Round match at Taylor in 2009 - senior outside hitter Courtney Flory (New Paris, Ohio/National Trail High School), junior setter Lauren Crump (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina Memorial High School), junior middle hitter Breezy Strete (Troy, Ohio/Troy High School) and junior libero Kristin Waechter (Muncie, Ind./Daleville High School).

NUMBERS OF NOTE

IU East's 2010 team ranked ...

2nd in the NAIA in Hitting Percentage (0.323)

3rd in the NAIA in Kills per Game (14.270)

8th in the NAIA in Assists per Game (12.850)

18th in the NAIA in Blocks per Game (2.440)

Taylor's 2010 team ranked ...

20th in the NAIA in Assists per Game (12.210)

29th in the NAIA in Hitting Percentage (0.248)

30th in the NAIA in Kills per Game (13.040)

32th in the NAIA in Blocks per Game (2.280)

35th in the NAIA in Digs per Game (17.190)

FOLLOW THE SCRIMMAGE

Taylor University is located at 236 W. Reade Ave. in Upland, Ind.