The Red Wolves' success, the message said, would not be defined by avoiding setbacks. It would be defined by how they responded to them.
Now you can define the Red Wolves as champions.
IU East won its second consecutive KIAC Tournament title with a 25-27, 25-16, 25-14, 25-19 win against Asbury in the tournament championship game Nov. 13 at Brescia University.
The 35th-ranked Red Wolves (39-3) avenged a five-game loss against the 32nd-ranked Eagles (32-3) in an Oct. 26 match that gave the KIAC regular season title to Asbury.
"A great win," said junior right side hitter Paige Lay (Bloomington/Normal, Ill/Parkland College), who led IU East with 21 kills in the title match.
"We were out to get them. This time everyone stepped up and came up big, and we showed what we have."
IU East advanced to the NAIA National Championships for the second consecutive season. The Red Wolves likely will play in an Opening Round game on Nov. 20. IU East will learn its tournament opponent and match site on Nov. 14.
"This is what college volleyball and college athletics is all about, getting a chance to go to the national tournament," said IU East coach Charlie Brown.
The Red Wolves earned that chance by bouncing back from both the setback against Asbury in the regular season and another setback against the Eagles in the opening set Nov. 12.
IU East built a 17-10 lead in the opening game, but the Eagles showed the resilience that helped the beat the Red Wolves in Richmond. Asbury stormed back to win the opening game 27-25.
No panic on the IU East sidelines.
The Red Wolves regrouped and romped through the next three sets.
"Our will to change what we were doing made the difference," said sophomore setter Lauren Crump (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina Memorial High School).
Added Brown: "We did a good job regrouping as a team. It's a tribute to them to be able to regroup and not give up.
"They could have shut down, but they got up and came fighting back."
Asbury's last gasp came when the Eagles tied things up at 12 in the fourth game.
IU East responded with seven consecutive points with Madison Qualkenbush (New Castle, Ind./New Castle Chrysler High School) serving.
A kill by junior outside hitter Courtney Flory (New Paris, Ohio/National Trail High School) got the Red Wolves to match points.
And a kill by freshman middle hitter Caitlin Burroughs (Richmond, Ind./Northeastern High School) clinched it.
"I knew the match was going to end on that point, and what a great play to finish on," Crump said.
The Red Wolves picked up additional hardware before the presentation of the team trophy.
Crump was named KIAC Player of the Year.
"It's proof hard work pays off," Crump said. "And now I know what I need to do for next year - work hard!"
Lay, Burroughs and sophomore middle hitter Breezy Strete (Troy, Ohio/Troy High School) joined Crump on the all-KIAC team.
IU East reached the championship match with a 25-12, 25-23, 25-13 win against Indiana University Southeast (19-19) in the morning semifinals.
Flory led IU East with 10 kills against the Grenadiers.
"We got through the biggest day of the season," Brown said. "The reward is tenfold.
"The girls will have so many memories, and we're not done. We've got at least one more stop, and we hope to get to Iowa."
Iowa, which would be defined as the NAIA National Championship final site.
-- Article courtesy of Indiana University East