Story courtesy of Indiana University Kokomo Athletics
SIOUX CITY, Iowa. - The 14th-ranked, No. 13 seed Cougars powered through a tough four-set victory over Cornerstone in Pool D action, knocking the Golden Eagles out and punching their ticket to a winner-take-all clash with No. 4 seed Indiana Wesleyan on Friday, where a trip to the National Quarterfinals awaits the victor.
FAST FACTS - 3-1 Win vs #21 seed Cornerstone University
LOCATION: Tyson Events Center | Sioux City, Iowa
UPDATED RECORDS: Cornerstone 27-9, IU Kokomo - 32-5
NAIA TOP-25 RANKINGS: Cornerstone - RV, IU Kokomo - #14
THE RUNDOWN
IU Kokomo opened the match strong by taking the first two points, but Cornerstone quickly found their rhythm and forced a Cougar timeout with a 12-8 lead. In a back-and-forth set defined by scoring runs, Mya Grigsby sparked a 7-0 run that featured three service aces, giving IUK a 16-14 advantage. The Golden Eagles saved two set points to tie it at 24 late in the first, but a Lexi Broyles kill followed by a Cornerstone attack error sealed the set for the Cougars, 26-24.
Cornerstone set the early pace in the second set, but IU Kokomo battled back to tie it at 10 and force a timeout, eventually taking a 19-18 lead. The two teams battled well past 25 in what became the longest set of Pool Play so far. Despite the Cougars having three set points, the Golden Eagles ultimately edged IU Kokomo, evening the match at one set apiece with a 34-32 win in set two.
While 13th-year head coach Heather Hayes' squad displayed resilience throughout the match, it was especially evident in the final two sets. IU Kokomo dominated set three, the least competitive of the match, with the Cougar attack firing on all cylinders. IUK forced a Cornerstone timeout while leading 9-4 and, despite the Golden Eagles closing to 18-16 to prompt an IUK timeout, the Cougars closed out the set by winning seven of the final 10 points to take a 2-1 lead.
The Golden Eagles came out firing in the fourth set, winning the first five points and making it seem as if the match might go five. However, the mental toughness of the IUK squad shone through, as the Cougars drew within one point multiple times before taking their first lead of the set at 19-18. With Cornerstone ahead 23-22 late, IU Kokomo won the next three points to secure a 25-23 fourth-set victory and a 3-1 match win.
LEADING THE CHARGE
The Cougars showcased a balanced attack Thursday, with four players hitting double figures in kills. Mya Grigsby powered the effort, posting a team-best 15 kills to go along with 13 digs and four blocks, while torching Cornerstone for four aces in the opening set to ignite a big run.
Junior Cali Cummings was named the NAIA Volleyball Report Player of the Game, turning in a standout performance by hitting .355 with 14 kills, six digs, and five blocks.
Senior Lexi Broyles added a huge performance of her own, posting 14 kills with a .464 hitting percentage and three blocks, while Mia Niekamp contributed 12 kills.
At setter, Allison Richman and Macy Chafin guided the offense with 28 and 27 assists, respectively, while Chafin also added seven digs.
Defensively, sophomore libero Avery Littrell anchored the back row with a team-high 22 digs, while Chloe Carpenter added 13 digs, including several key plays.
Freshman Ryleigh Hamilton made an impact in her Sioux City debut, leading the team with six blocks and adding nine kills.
INSIDE THE HUDDLE
"It was a fight from the first whistle to the last—every point mattered. I'm incredibly proud of the way this team battled." - Head Coach Heather Hayes
"This wasn't competition we face often, but we rose to it. We fought from behind, trusted each other, trusted our coaches and the game plan, and played true IU Kokomo volleyball. We stayed together, kept our offense balanced, and battled until the scoreboard said 25." - Junior Cali Cummings
THE ROAD AHEAD
Next Match: Friday, December 5th vs #4 seed Indiana Wesleyan - 12:00 PM CT/1:00 PM ET