IU Kokomo sweeps Point Park in "KIAC Game of the Week"
(By Abigail Banan, IU Kokomo Sports Information Director)
KOKOMO, Ind. – The Indiana University Kokomo volleyball team took on the Point Park University and Bethel (Ind.) College in a tri-match at home on Saturday, October 17. The Cougars took down Point Park, 3-0, in the KIAC Game of the Week, and then defeated Bethel, 3-1.
When asked about the back-to-back wins, IU Kokomo head coach Heather Hayes said, "What a great weekend for our team! I am so proud of them. We were focused, battled hard and played crazy-good defense. Everyone did their job today."
In the 25-15, 25-20, 25-18, conference victory over Point Park, sophomore Lindi Thomas (Parker City, Ind.) and freshman Nicole Sandmann (West Harrison, Ind.) led the Cougars in kills with eight each. Thomas also had 17 digs and an ace, and Sandmann put up 6 block assists.
Junior Kaleigh Ensley (Fort Wayne, Ind.) put up 19 digs and an ace. Sophomore Casey Colgate (Wannamaker, Ind.) led the Cougars in assists with 19, and senior Cortney Hanson (Logansport, Ind.) recorded 18 assists.
The IU Kokomo defense did not let Point Park have much room for the offensive attack. The Cougars totaled 71 digs, 7.0 total team blocks and held Point Park to an attack percentage of 0.025.
Megan Branchick and Isabella tied for the Point Park team lead with six kills, and Shiloh Simonson had five. Nikki Inquartano contributed nine points on five blocks and four kills.
The Cougars have now won 16 matches straight. They are 8-0 in the KIAC and 26-2 overall for the season to remain in first place in the conference.
Point Park dropped to 12-15 overall and 7-2 KIAC. The Pioneers had a chance to overtake first place in the conference with a win over IU Kokomo but instead fell to fifth place.
The top five teams KIAC volleyball are separated by just 1.5 games with IU Kokomo (8-0 KIAC), IU East (8-1), Asbury (6-1), IU Southeast (8-2) and Point Park (7-2).
During the 23-25, 25-16, 25-18, 25-20 win against Bethel, junior Keeana Walton (Peru, Ind.) had 10 kills and 7 block assists. Thomas added 9 kills as well as 23 digs. Senior Rachel Allen (Lizton, Ind.) had 9 kills along with 13 digs. Ensley led the Cougars in digs with 29. Hanson had 25 assists, and Colgate had 18 assists.
IU Kokomo will travel to Upland, Ind. on Friday, October 23 to face Taylor University at 7:00 p.m. ET.