IU East News
The Red Wolves made their statement.
The Indiana University East volleyball team opened a Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tri-match Oct. 17 at Seton Catholic High School with a dominant first game against Cincinnati Christian University and went on to a 25-10, 25-16, 25-20 victory.
The Red Wolves (19-8, 3-0) had lost four of five matches leading up to Oct. 17. IU East didn't practice at all the day after a frustrating five-game loss against Urbana University on Oct. 13. The Red Wolves then held a marathon five-hour session on Oct. 15 that was part workout and part soul search.
IU East found something that worked. The Red Wolves looked sharp to start their match against the Eagles (7-9, 3-3), though several IU East players were under the weather.
The Red Wolves' level of play dropped a bit as the match went on, but IU East was never in real danger. CCU was within 17-15 in Game 2 and within 18-16 in Game 3, but the only true harm came when line judge and IU East student Nick Frank got smacked by a volleyball and needed a moment to shake off the pain.
"We looked good the first set," IU East coach Charlie Brown said. "Once we realized we were probably going to be OK in the match I think we got a little lax in our play.
"We played well enough to win, and that probably sums up the match."
Freshman outside hitter Breezy Strete (Troy, Ohio/Troy High School) led IU East against CCU with 12 kills. Sophomore libero Madison Qualkenbush made 16 digs.
The Red Wolves yielded just two aces against a lineup that included Cara Bakes, one of the NAIA's national leaders in aces. IU East served up five aces of its own.
"I'm really exciting with what were doing," said freshman outside hitter Stacie Muir (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville High School). "I think we improved after losing the previous matches and got things turned around."
IU East defeated Brescia University later Oct. 17.
