Red Wolves - IU East

This is the day the Indiana University East volleyball team has pointed to all season long.

One day to determine the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season champion.

The Red Wolves (24-11, 6-0 KIAC) host Berea College at 10 a.m. and Indiana University Southeast at 2 p.m. on Nov. 7 in the Richmond High School Tiernan Center.

The match against IU Southeast (21-10, 6-0) will determine the KIAC regular season title. It would be the first KIAC title for the Red Wolves volleyball program and the second for the IU East athletics program. The men's golf team won the KIAC tournament in 2008.

"It's the biggest day of the season by far," IU East coach Charlie Brown said. "If we can manage the pressure and the nerves and just play volleyball, then we've got a fighting chance to win the conference."

IU East enters the weekend riding a four-match winning streak. The Red Wolves also defeated the Grenadiers in two non-conference matches earlier this season. IU East beat IU Southeast in four games at the Grace College Ramada Plaza Tournament on Aug. 21. The Red Wolves nipped the Grenadiers in five games Sept. 11 at the Cedarville Invitational.

"We've got some wins under our belts, so it's a boost for us," said sophomore libero Madison Qualkenbush (New Castle, Ind./New Castle High School). "But we know this weekend is conference and will determine if we've got (the regular season title) or not, so we've got to bring our ‘A' game and be ready to play."

IU East and IU Southeast rank first or second in the KIAC in all hitting categories. IU East also is second in the league in digs per game.

The Grenadiers had won seven in a row prior to a loss Nov. 3 at Campbellsville University. IU Southeast is No. 24 in the NAIA in team attack percentage at .258. Senior middle blocker Vanessa Stauble is No. 10 in the NAIA in attack percentage at .387. Senior setter Stacey Flatt is No. 27 in the NAIA in assists per game with 10.1.

"IU Southeast is a very smart team, a very mature team," Brown said. "We've got to control their offense. If we can contain them and do what we do offensively, we'll be OK."

Berea (1-13, 0-6) has dropped its last 12 matches. Senior middle hitter Debra Bullock is the Mountaineers' top hitter. Sophomore defensive specialist Kristin Waits leads Berea in digs.

IU Southeast will play Berea at noon. A loss against Berea would not affect the conference title aspirations for IU East or IU Southeast.

IU East freshman setter Lauren Crump (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina Memorial High School) ranks 38th in the NAIA in assists per game.

Saturday's matches will be broadcast live on Whitewater Community Television (WCTV), Comcast Channel 20.