Red Wolves - IU East

The Indiana University East volleyball team opens its regular season Aug. 20 and 21 at the Grace College Ramada Plaza Tournament.

The Red Wolves face Mount Vernon Nazarene University at 4 p.m. on Aug. 20. IU East will play Huntington University at 8 p.m. on Aug. 20.

The Red Wolves return to action at 9 a.m. on Aug. 21 against Bethel College (Ind.). Crossover matches are at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

MILESTONE MARKER

IU East is 2-1 in season openers since joining the NAIA.

LAST TIME OUT

IU East won the 2009 Grace College Ramada Plaza Tournament with a 4-0 record.

This will be the first meeting between IU East and Mount Vernon Nazarene.

The Red Wolves swept three matches against Huntington in 2009.

IU East is 0-1 all-time against Bethel.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

Mount Vernon Nazarene went 37-10 in 2009 and received votes in the final 2009 Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

Huntington went 16-16 last season.

Bethel posted a 17-18 record in 2009.

NOTABLE QUOTABLE

"Last season this was our first tournament, and we ended up winning it, and it started us off on a great season. That's our hope for this weekend. It's our first opportunity to get back on the court, and hopefully it will be a breakout like it was last year."

- Sophomore middle hitter Breezy Strete

PLAYERS TO WATCH

IU East sophomore middle hitter Breezy Strete (Troy, Ohio/Troy High School) was the Grace College Ramada Plaza Tournament MVP last season.

Red Wolves sophomore setter Lauren Crump (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina Memorial High School) made the all-tournament team.

IU East freshman Sarah Shilling (Warsaw, Ind./Warsaw Community High School) attended high school just a few miles from the Grace campus.

Mount Vernon Nazarene's Jackie Albrecht ranked 25th in the NAIA in kills per game (3.830) in 2009

Mount Vernon Nazarene's Caitlin Myles ranked 43rd in the NAIA in digs per game (4.940)

Bethel's Emily Henry ranked 47th in the NAIA in blocks per game (1.100).

NUMBERS OF NOTE

Mount Vernon Nazarene finished the 2009 season ...

6th in the NAIA in Digs per Game (19.990)

32nd in the NAIA in Hitting Percentage (0.246)

35th in the NAIA in Assists per Game (11.760)

37th in the NAIA in Blocks per Game (2.250)

45 in the NAIA in Kills per Game (12.580)

Huntington finished the 2009 season ...

47th in the NAIA in Service Aces per Game (1.790)

Bethel finished the 2009 season ...

10th in the NAIA in Blocks per Game (2.660)

36th in the NAIA in Digs per Game (18.070)

FOLLOW LIVE

Live stats for all of IU East's matches at the Grace College Ramada Plaza Tournament will be available at www.iueredwolves.com

Click on the "Live Stats" links under the "Scoreboard" on the top right of the page to access live stats.

IN THEIR WORDS

IU East's Breezy Strete looks ahead to the Grace College Ramada Plaza Tournament