Red Wolves - IU East

One winning streak ended, but a new one began for the Indiana University East volleyball team on Sept. 11 at the Cedarville University Invitational.

The Red Wolves (9-1) bounced back from their first loss of the season to defeat Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival Indiana University Southeast 25-17, 20-25, 15-25, 25-17, 15-13.

IU East had opened the tournament with a loss against Cedarville earlier in the day.

"We worked together and we showed heart," said freshman outside hitter Stacie Muir (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville High School). "Everybody played hard.

"We wanted to show that even though we lost a match, we still wanted to play. Everybody picked up their game."

Neither team led by more than two points in the fifth and final game. IU East took the lead for good at 11-10 on a block by Jessica White (Sheldon, Ill./Kankakee Community College) and Muir. The Red Wolves won the last two points to clinch the game. Brandie Sanders (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike High School) put away the kill on match point. Akeyta Mayes (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North High School) set up Sanders' big swing with a tough dig.

IU East coach Charlie Brown came into the match wanting to see how his team would respond to a loss. He got an encouraging answer in Game 1.

A seven-point run with Madison Qualkenbush (New Castle, Ind./New Castle High School) serving turned a 6-5 deficit into a 12-6 advantage. IU East maintained a comfortable lead through the end of the game.

The tide turned in Game 2. The Red Wolves led 19-15, but lost 10 of the next 11 points to drop the game. IU Southeast (5-5) took control of Game 3 with eight consecutive points to turn a 12-11 advantage into a 20-11 lead.

"The IU Southeast match we came out with more intensity and focus, but we relaxed," Brown said. "That's the sign of a young team still learning to put away matches. Once this team realizes the level they can play at, they're going to be an unstoppable team."

IU East regrouped and built a 15-7 lead in Game 4. The Grenadiers got within 16-15, but no closer. The Red Wolves took nine of the next 11 points the send the match to the fifth game.

"We picked up our energy and played a lot smarter," said Qualkenbush. "We weren't playing IU East volleyball. We knew how we could play, and we started playing to our potential."

Breezy Strete put away 15 kills for IU East. Sanders had 11 kills, including the match-clincher in the fifth game. National Trail graduate Courtney Flory added 10 kills. Qualkenbush made 23 digs.

IU East concludes the tournament Saturday with matches against St. Xavier University (at 9:30 a.m.) and the University of St. Francis (at 11:30 a.m.)

"One-and-one is not bad, but it's not what I wanted," Brown said. "We're still in this tournament. We'll have to bring our 'A' game and see what happens."