Red Wolves - IU East

Indiana University East's own "Spider-Woman" helped the Red Wolves volleyball team to a road victory Sept. 22.

Freshman outside hitter Brandie Sanders (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike High School) reached double digits in kills and digs a few hours after receiving treatment for an allergic reaction to a spider bite, helping IU East to a 25-18, 25-21, 21-25, 25-16 victory at Urbana University.

"A spider bite? I've never had a player have that," said IU East coach Charlie Brown, whose team improved to 14-3. "I've heard a lot of excuses for injuries. This one wasn't an excuse, but it was very interesting that she almost had to sit out because of a spider."

Sanders noticed the bug bite the morning of Sept. 21. The area around the bite had swelled to the size of a grape by Sept. 22, so Sanders went to the hospital to receive treatment. Sanders played against Urbana (8-8) with a large bandage near her ear.

The bite didn't hurt her play. She finished with 12 digs and 11 kills.

"She's tough as nails," Brown said. "It would take a snake bite to keep her out."

Freshman middle hitter Breezy Strete (Troy, Ohio/Troy High School) led IU East with 12 kills. Freshman defensive specialist Akeyta Mayes (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North High School) made a career-high 20 digs. Sophomore libero Madison Qualkenbush (New Castle, Ind./New Castle High School) added 19 digs. Freshman setter Lauren Crump (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina High School) also reached double figures in digs with as IU East's scrappy defense consistently stymied the Blue Knights' offense. The Red Wolves won most of the long points to maintain the momentum.

"Everybody followed the ball," Sanders said. "On every point, everyone was hustling after it."

Jessica White (Sheldon, Ill./Kankakee Community College) made a timely kill in Game 2 after Urbana had whittled a 22-16 IU East lead down to 22-21. The Red Wolves won the next two points to wrap up the game.

The only IU East lapse came late in the third game. The Red Wolves led 21-20, but lost the next five points and the game.

IU East reasserted control by jumping ahead 4-1 and 12-5 in the fourth game. Urbana never got any closer than 20-14.

"We had a lull, but we picked it back up," Sanders said.

IU East returns home Sept. 26 to open Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a match against St. Louis College of Pharmacy at 5 p.m. in the Richmond High School Tiernan Center.