Red Wolves - IU East

The Indiana University East volleyball team heads to the University of Rio Grande Aces in August Classic on Aug. 27 and 28.

The Red Wolves (5-0) are scheduled to play five matches in less than 24 hours.

IU East opens the tournament against the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) at 5 p.m.

The Red Wolves face tournament host Rio Grande at 7 p.m.

IU East concludes round-robin play against Martin Methodist College at 9 a.m. on Aug. 28.

Semifinal action starts at 11 a.m. The final round is at 1 p.m.

MILESTONE MARKER

IU East puts a 12-match regular season winning streak on the line this weekend.

LAST TIME OUT

IU East is coming off of a five-game win at Marian University on Aug. 25. The Knights are ranked 32nd in the Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Poll.

IU East swept two matches at Rio Grande in 2009. The Red Wolves rallied from a 14-11 deficit in the fifth game in the latter victory.

IU East also swept two matches against Cumberlands in 2009. The Red Wolves erased an 8-2 deficit in the fifth game in their second match against the Patriots.

This is the first meeting between IU East and Martin Methodist.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION

Rio Grande went 18-19 in 2009. The Red Storm was scheduled to play its season opener Aug. 26. Rio Grande is picked to finish second in the Mid-South Conference East Division.

Cumberlands went 17-21 in 2009. The Patriots were picked to finish fourth in the MSC West Division.

Martin Methodist was 14-15 in 2009. The Redhawks were picked to finish sixth in the TranSouth Conference.

NOTABLE QUOTABLE

"Last year we played Rio on a Friday and beat them in three games, and we had to play them the second time Saturday morning. They came back after us like every team did last season. We were down 14-11 in the fifth game, and we came back and beat them 16-14. We proved that we don't give up, we don't quit.

"This year we just have to make sure everything is on key and everyone plays as a team, and we should be pretty good."

- Junior defensive specialist/libero Madison Qualkenbush

PLAYERS TO WATCH

IU East's Lauren Crump ranks fourth in the NAIA in Assists per Game (11.610)

IU East's Breezy Strete ranks sixth in the NAIA in Hitting Percentage (0.459)

Strete Ranks ninth in the NAIA in Kills per Game (3.940)

IU East's Caitlin Burroughs ranks 21st in the NAIA in Blocks per Game (1.000)

Burroughs ranks 24th in the NAIA in Hitting Percentage (0.343)

IU East's Kristin Waechter ranks 34th in the NAIA in Service Aces per Game (0.440)

IU East's Allison Nicley ranks 37th in the NAIA in Kills per Game (2.940)

Burroughs ranks 39th in the NAIA in Kills per Game (2.890)

Waechter ranks 40th in the NAIA in Digs per Game (3.390)

Nicley ranks 47th in the NAIA in Hitting Percentage (0.274)

Rio Grande's Ashley Bloom ranked 29th in the NAIA in Service Aces per Game (0.570) in 2009

Rio Grande's Erin Sherman ranked 33rd in the NAIA in Blocks per Game (1.160) in 2009

Sherman ranked 36th in the NAIA in Hitting Percentage (0.338) in 2009

Martin Methodist's Jhessica Martins Ranked 3rd in the NAIA in Kills per Game (4.600) in 2009

Martin Methodist's Caroline Santos ranked 32nd in the NAIA in Service Aces per Game (0.560) in 2009

Santos ranked 47th in the NAIA in Assists per Game (9.440) in 2009

Martins ranked 50th in the NAIA in Hitting Percentage (0.326) in 2009

NUMBERS OF NOTE

IU East is ...

6th in the NAIA in Kills per Game (14.390)

7th in the NAIA in Assists per Game (12.780)

9th in the NAIA in Hitting Percentage (0.301)

18th in the NAIA in Blocks per Game (2.000)

29th in the NAIA in Digs per Game (13.000)

31st in the NAIA in Service Aces per Game (1.220)

Cumberlands finished the 2009 season ...

49th in the NAIA in Digs per Game (17.600)

Rio Grande finished the 2009 season ...

26th in the NAIA in Blocks per Game (2.360)

Martin Methodist finished the 2009 season ...

45th in the NAIA in Service Aces per Game (1.800)

47th in the NAIA in Hitting Percentage (0.234)

FOLLOW LIVE

Live stats for IU East's matches at the University of Rio Grande Aces in August Classic are scheduled to be available at www.iueredwolves.com.

IN THEIR WORDS

IU East junior defensive specialist/libero Madison Qualkenbush (New Castle, Ind./New Castle Chrysler High School) previews the University of Rio Grande Aces in August Classic.