Red Wolves - IU East

The Red Wolves are No. 1 in at least one national ranking.

IU East rose to the top of the NAIA team hitting percentage standings during the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament on Nov. 12-13 in Owensboro, Ky.

IU East has a team hitting percentage of .327, just ahead of traditional powers like Columbia College (.324) and reigning national champion Fresno Pacific University (.323)

"No. 1 in the nation is a tremendous accomplishment and is credited to the all-around balance of the team, passers, setters and hitters," said Red Wolves coach Charlie Brown, whose team (39-3) plays at Shawnee State University (34-9) in an NAIA National Championship Opening Round match at 2 p.m. Nov. 20.

The Red Wolves entered this past weekend trailing Walsh University by one-ten thousandth of a percentage point in the national hitting percentage standings.

IU East moved to the top of the national attack percentage standings by hitting at a .399 clip during the KIAC Tournament.

IU East has two hitters among the NAIA's individual top 50 in hitting percentage.

Sophomore middle hitter Breezy Strete (Troy, Ohio/Troy High School) ranks third in the NAIA in hitting percentage at .422.

Junior right side hitter Paige Lay (Bloomington/Normal, Ill/Parkland College) ranks ninth in the NAIA in hitting percentage at .422.

"Regardless of the outcome of this weekend," Brown said, "This year's team has taken IU East volleyball to the next level of our progression of being a nationally ranked volleyball program."