Red Wolves - IU East

OWENSBORO, Ky. - The Red Wolves are all on board.

One of the defining moments from the Indiana University East volleyball team's 25-16, 25-16, 25-11 win against St. Louis College of Pharmacy on Nov. 12 in the opening round of the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament took place before the match even started.

The 13 Red Wolves players had a players-only meeting on their team bus after arriving at tournament host Brescia University to make sure everyone was focused on the task at hand.

"They talked about what today means and what this weekend means," said IU East coach Charlie Brown. "It's a tribute to our team's leadership and the leaders of our team to emphasize that this is the pinnacle of our season and making sure they are focused on what needs to be done."

The 35th-ranked Red Wolves (37-3), the No. 2 seed for the KIAC Tournament, will face No. 3 seed Indiana University Southeast in the tournament semifinals on Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. (IU East time).

The tournament championship match is at 4 p.m. (IU East time).

"The goal is three wins, and today was one of them," Brown said.

The Red Wolves reached their goal with a fast finish against St. Louis College of Pharmacy (6-18).

IU East won 35 of the last 48 points after the Eutectics got within 15-14 in the second set.

The surge included a 19-4 run that wrapped up the second set and staked the Red Wolves to a comfortable lead in the third set.

"Our attitudes changed," said freshman defensive specialist Meagan Stoker (Celina, Ohio/Celina High School). "Coach pumped us up during a timeout. He basically said when we get pumped up we play our best and to get more pumped up and focus on the game."

Sophomore middle hitter Breezy Strete (Troy, Ohio/Troy High School) and junior right side hitter Paige Lay (Bloomington/Normal, Ill/Parkland College) led IU East with 14 kills apiece and a combined .586 hitting percentage.

Junior defensive specialist Madison Qualkenbush (New Castle, Ind./New Castle Chrysler High School) led the defense with 12 digs.

"One match down," Brown said. "That's the approach we took."

Click here for the IU East-St. Louis College of Pharmacy box score