Red Wolves - IU East

Getting a lead wasn't a problem.

Holding a lead, on this day, was.

The Indiana University East volleyball team fell 25-23, 25-22, 15-25, 21-25, 15-13 against Webber International University on Oct. 10 to open the second day of the Asbury College Invitational.

The Red Wolves couldn't hold an 11-6 advantage in the fifth game. IU East also saw leads slip away in Game 1 and Game 2.

The Red Wolves (17-7) dropped their third consecutive match. Webber International improved to 14-4.

"When we put ourselves in position to close out a match against a high-level team, we have to work even harder for the big points," IU East coach Charlie Brown said. "It takes a whole new level of focus to close out a match like that."

The first sequence of the match foreshadowed what was to come. IU East won the first four points. The Warriors answered with five in a row.

And back and forth it went.

The Red Wolves enjoyed a 19-7 lead in Game 2, but Webber answered with an 18-3 surge to steal the game.

"Once we lost the second one you could tell everyone was down and it was going to be tough to come back," said junior middle hitter Jessica White (Sheldon, Ill./Kankakee Community College). "But once we started playing our game you could feel the energy coming back."

IU East controlled Game 3 and Game 4. The Red Wolves appeared poised to earn the comeback victory when they built a five-point lead in the final game, but the Warriors won it on one last surge. Webber International claimed the last five points.

"We could have easily laid down when we lost the first two sets, but we didn't," Brown said. "We fought all the way back and were in position to win.

"Fundamentally, our ball control was up and down, and that's what left the door open for them."

Freshman outside hitter Breezy Strete (Troy, Ohio/Troy High School) had 13 kills for IU East. Junior middle hitter Jessica White (Sheldon, Ill./Kankakee Community College) had eight kills, 3 block solos and two block assists. Freshman setter Lauren Crump (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina Memorial High School) distributed 45 assists. Freshman outside hitter Brandie Sanders (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike High School) made 23 digs. Sophomore libero Madison Qualkenbush (New Castle, Ind./New Castle High School) made 22 digs.

Qualkenbush also became IU East's career leader in NAIA matches played. Qualkenbush has played in 56 matches for IU East, one more than a quartet of players who competed for IU East in 2007 and 2008.

"The girls are kind of bummed out because they don't like to lose, especially three matches in a row," Brown said. "But the way we played and the way we fought through, we're going to build off of that."