IU East Volleyball Season Ends After Loss to Top Ranked Concordia
IU East Volleyball Season Ends After Loss to Top Ranked Concordia
SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The Red Wolves exited the NAIA Volleyball National Championship with their heads held high.
The Indiana University East volleyball team concluded its season with a four-set loss against top-ranked Concordia University on Nov. 29, the final day of pool play in the Tyson Events Center Gateway Arena.
The 12th-ranked Red Wolves (44-6), who lead the nation in total wins, stayed neck-and-neck with the Eagles for more than two sets before falling 28-26, 21-25, 25-15, 25-15.
Concordia, the nation's lone unbeaten team, improved to 35-0. Concordia and Georgetown advanced from the Red Wolves' Pool A to the elimination portion of the tournament. IU East finished 0-3 in pool play with two five-set losses and a competitive loss against the nation's top team.
IU East was playing the No. 1-ranked team for the first time in the volleyball program's history. The Red Wolves were mathematically out of contention for a spot in the tournament's final 12, so they entered match with a nothing-to-lose mindset.
"It was a fun match tonight," said junior middle hitter Caitlin Burroughs (Richmond, Ind./Northeastern High School). "We played our hearts out, and we're leaving with no regrets. That's all you can ask for - a great end against a great team."
IU East stayed even throughout the first set and led throughout the second set with an efficient offense and a decided advantage in blocks.
Junior outside hitter Sarah Shilling (Warsaw, Ind./Warsaw Community High School) played another strong match with a team-high 16 kills. Shilling led IU East in kills in all three of the Red Wolves' Iowa matches.
"If we had played like this in our first two matches, we would be playing tomorrow (in the tournament's final 12)," said IU East coach Charlie Brown. "We out-blocked the No. 1 team in the country, we stayed strong in serve and serve receive, and we hit .262 against the top team in the country.
"The goal for tonight was to show up, and we showed up and went out on a good note. We just got beat by a better team. Not many teams can say they played the No. 1 team in the county, and not many teams can say they competed against the No. 1 team in the country, and we competed with them."
Concordia took control of the match with a 17-4 run that bridged the end of the third set and the start of the fourth set.
The Red Wolves witnessed a monster night from Concordia's Maddie Ekis, who put away 26 kills.
It was the final match for IU East seniors Lauren Crump (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina Memorial High School), Breezy Strete (Troy, Ohio/Troy High School) and Kristin Waechter (Muncie, Ind./Daleville High School), who took part in 150 wins in their IU East careers.
"I'm glad Lo, Breezy and Waech got to have the season of a lifetime during their senior year," Burroughs said.
The Red Wolves were making their first appearance at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship Final Site.
IU East-Concordia box score
--- article courtesy of IU East