IU East News
Destination: Taylor University.
The Indiana University East women's volleyball team will face No. 16 Taylor University on Nov. 21 in an NAIA National Championship Opening Round game.
"We're up for the challenge," IU East coach Charlie Brown said. "It will be a tremendous experience and an opportunity for us to represent ourselves and the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference."
Taylor (34-5) is the champion of the Mid-Central Conference.
IU East went 4-3 against Mid-Central teams this season. The Red Wolves lost three matches against Mid-Central runner-up Marian University. IU East won three matches against Mid-Central seventh-place team Huntington University. The Red Wolves also won a meeting against the University of St. Francis, which tied for third in the league.
Taylor is making its fifth appearance in the NAIA National Championship. IU East is making its first appearance. The Red Wolves won their first KIAC tournament title on Nov. 14.
IU East is one of three teams making its first appearance in the NAIA National Championships.
Brown has not seen Taylor play, but he already knows all about Trojans outside hitter Kelsey Pritchard, who leads the NAIA in total kills.
"She's dynamite," Brown said.
Taylor has won six matches in a row. IU East is riding a 10-match winning streak.
"This is what we've been fighting for all year," Brown said. "We'll go in with a positive attitude and put our best effort out there and see what happens."
Thirty-six teams qualified for the NAIA National Championship. Twelve advanced directly to the National Championship Final Site. The winners of the 12 Opening Round games on Nov. 21 will complete the 24-team field at Sioux City.
Click here to read the full announcement from the NAIA.
HELP HONOR THE RED WOLVES!
The Indiana University East volleyball team will be recognized at halftime of the Red Wolves' home men's basketball game on Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. The IU East volleyball team will play in an NAIA National Championship Opening Round match on Nov. 21 at Taylor University. The Red Wolves won the program's first Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament title this past weekend.
A send-off celebration for the Red Wolves volleyball team is planned for 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Graf Center in Springwood Hall on the IU East campus.
