IU East News
All the Red Wolves needed was some pizza and bonding time.
The Indiana University East volleyball team bounced back from a tough start to its weekend trip with a 25-15, 25-21, 25-14 win at the University of the Cumberlands on Sept. 19 in the first match of a doubleheader against the Patriots.
The Red Wolves (12-3) had lost in three games Sept. 18 at Union College. IU East has not lost consecutive matches this season.
The Red Wolves gathered in the lobby of their hotel following the Union match for pizza and a powwow to put the loss behind them.
They came out crisper than a well-baked pie crust against Cumberlands (6-9).
"It was a breath of fresh air," IU East coach Charlie Brown said. "The girls did a total 180. The girls got on the court and didn't stop once they started. That's the level they are capable of playing."
IU East cooked up early leads in Games 1 and 3. They turned on the heat late to win Game 2.
Breezy Strete (Troy, Ohio/Troy High School) led the Red Wolves with 12 kills. Brandie Sanders (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike High School) made 15 digs. Kristin Waechter (Muncie, Ind./Daleville High School) received 20 serves without an error in her first match as the Red Wolves' libero. Lauren Crump (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina High School) distributed 41 assists. She also had a five-point serving run late in Game 2 that turned a 20-18 deficit into a 24-20 lead. The Red Wolves stayed in control the rest of the match.
"We played with our hearts, and we played as a team, and it showed," said junior middle hitter Jessica White (Sheldon, Ill./Kankakee Community College). "We talked a lot about what needed to happen, and we made sure we executed this time.
"We're good at not getting two 'L's in a row, but we need to play our game. We showed up today and played our level."
