Red Wolves - IU East

HUNTINGTON, Ind. -- The Red Wolves just blocked it all out and played.

The Indiana University East volleyball team used a Red Wolf-hearted effort -- and a big blocking night from the front row players -- to pull out a 23-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-19 win at Huntington University on Nov. 2.

"That was a great win to get with a tired bunch and a sick bunch," Red Wolves coach Charlie Brown said.

IU East had just one day's rest after a three-match road trip to Kentucky.

Two players were out with illnesses.

Sophomore libero Madison Qualkenbush (New Castle, Ind./New Castle High School) came to the match directly from her grandfather's funeral.

And the Red Wolves still found a way.

"I was scared because we played Friday and Saturday and then skipped a day and turned around and played today," Brown said. "To win was quite the feat."

The Red Wolves (24-11) defeated the Foresters (15-15) for the third time in three tries this season. IU East has won four in a row overall.

IU East won though sophomore outside hitter Kait Ervin (West Alexandria, Ohio/Twin Valley South High School) and Kristin Waechter (Muncie, Ind./Daleville High School) missed the match with illnesses.

They won though a late surge came too late to salvage the first game.

Freshman middle hitter Breezy Strete (Troy, Ohio/Troy High School) led IU East with 16 kills. Freshman setter Lauren Crump (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina Memorial High School) had 35 assists. Freshman outside hitter Brandie Sanders (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike High School) made 20 digs. Junior middle hitter Kristen Mahoney (Pendleton, Ind./Lincoln Community College) had two block solos and four block assists.

The Red Wolves got credit for just six blocks, but the IU East front row harassed Huntington into a .078 hitting percentage for the night.

The Red Wolves took the court with a message in memory of Qualkenbush's grandfather written on their wrists.

Perry H. Richardson would have been proud of their efforts.

"It was a 90 minute drive up here (from the funeral in New Castle) so there was a lot to think about, knowing grandpa had just passd away, but knowing this is where he would want me to be, on the court, with my mom in the stands cheering for me.

"I knew I couldn't let him down on the court, even though it was tough on me. I had to regroup and know he is watching over me right now and has my back on the court and is my No. 1 fan."

The Red Wolves play their final home matches of the season Saturday at 10 a.m. against Berea College and at 2 p.m. against Indiana University Southeast at the Richmond High School Tiernan Center.

The match against IU Southeast will determine the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season title.