Red Wolves - IU East

INDIANAPOLIS - The Red Wolves couldn't spoil Senior Night for a charged up team of Knights.

The Indiana University East volleyball team fell 25-15, 25-14, 25-20 at Marian University on Oct. 27. It was Senior Night at Marian.

The Red Wolves (20-11) fell against the Knights (26-7) for the third time this season. Marian also beat IU East in Richmond on Sept. 28 and at the Asbury College (Ky.) Invitational on Oct. 9.

"They're just a better team than we are," Red Wolves coach Charlie Brown said. "It was kind of weird. It would be something like 19-12 and we would be playing hard, but we weren't scoring points. That's a credit to their defense. They absolutely outhustled us and played great defense."

The Red Wolves' first match against the Knights went five games. The second match was three close games.

Marian dominated the "three-match" from start to finish.

IU East's pregame talk included encouragement to "take something away" from the Knights and to show enthusiasm after blocks and kills.

Marian didn't allow many opportunities.

A 13-10 Marian lead in Game 1 swelled to 22-12.

An early IU East lead in Game 2 evaporated by mid-game.

The Knights seized command early in Game 3.

The result spoiled a homecoming of sorts for four IU East players. Freshmen Brandie Sanders (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike High School), Lauren Crump (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina Memorial High School), Akeyta Mayes (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North High School) and Stacie Muir (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville High School) all attended high school in the Indianapolis area. All had sections of family and friends at the match. The Red Wolves dined at Crump's home after the match.

"It was nice to come here because we're usually in Ohio or Kentucky playing," Muir said. "My parents make it to most of the matches, but it was nice to have them close."

Several Red Wolves again played through illness and injury. Sanders, who usually plays all around, played only in the back row to conserve energy after a bout with the flu. One IU East player took the floor with her wrist wrapped. Several others had trouble speaking and breathing.

Freshman middle hitter Breezy Strete (Troy, Ohio/Troy High School) led IU East with nine kills. Junior outside hitter Kristen Mahoney (Pendleton, Ind./Lincoln Community College) added eight kills.

Sophomore libero Madison Qualkenbush (New Castle, Ind./New Castle High School) made 17 digs.

Crump distributed 29 assists.

Marian freshman Jaymee Schambers, a Cambridge City, Ind., native, made 10 digs.

The Red Wolves now have dropped three consecutive games overall and six in a row against teams with winning records.

IU East plays at Kentucky State at 7 p.m. Oct. 30.