Red Wolves - IU East

The Red Wolves left the door slightly open, and the Lions came roaring through.

The Indiana University East volleyball team fell 23-25, 14-25, 25-22, 25-17, 15-11 against Bryan College on Oct. 9 in the opening round of the Asbury College Invitational.

The Red Wolves (17-5) had not lost a match after winning the first two games all season. IU East fell to 4-3 in five-game matches.

The Lions, who lead the Appalachian Athletic Conference, improved to 15-9.

"We got out of the gate really nice," IU East coach Charlie Brown said. "We played what we call 'IU East volleyball.' High level effort. Everything for the first two games was good.

"And then we left the door open."

IU East's best chance to close out the match came in the third game. The Red Wolves came back from a 20-14 deficit to tie things at 22, but lost the last three points.

Bryan rolled through Game 4 and surged to a 5-0 lead in Game 5. IU East would tie the final game at eight, but never led.

"I think mentally we relaxed and we gave them a chance and gave the momentum back," Brown said. "We got complacent and didn't stay focused enough to finish the match out.

"We had every chance in the world to close the door, and we didn't do that."

Junior middle hitter Jessica White (Sheldon, Ill./Kankakee Community College) led the Red Wolves with a season-high 15 kills. Freshman middle hitter Breezy Strete (Troy, Ohio/Troy High School) and freshman outside hitter Brandie Sanders (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike High School) added 12 kills apiece. Stacie Muir (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville High School) had 11 kills.

Freshman setter Lauren Crump (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina Memorial High School) matched her own single game school record with 52 assists.

Freshman defensive specialist Akeyta Mayes (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North High School) marked her 19th birthday with a team season-best 28 digs. Sanders also posted a season high in digs with 27.

IU East fell 25-23, 25-13, 25-22 against Marian University later Oct. 9.