Red Wolves Sweep RedStorm, Run Win Streak to Five

RICHMOND, Ind. – The IU East volleyball team won their fifth in a row and 11 of their last 12 as they defeated Rio Grande on Tuesday night, 25-21, 25-16, 25-18.

The win gives the Red Wolves a 14-6 record and a 7-1 conference mark. Jessica Swimm led the Red Wolves with a game-high 17 kills. Brooke Lepper was next with nine. Reece Shirley had 32 assists with 20 digs.

The RedStorm held a late lead in the first set. An attack error from the Red Wolves gave them a 20-17 lead. Back-to-back points from IU East made Rio Grande call a timeout. Out of the timeout, the Red Wolves scored the next two points to take a 21-20 lead. The RedStorm tied the set 21-21 but the Red Wolves scored the next four points for the win. Kills from Swimm and Tia Cooper, along with two RedStorm errors wrapped up the win for IU East.

IU East never trailed in the second. They were tied with Rio Grande just once at 2-2. The Red Wolves closed out the second set much like the first. Winning 20-16, IUE scored the last five points. Rio Grande certainly helped out with three errors. Loretta Pelkington and Lepper teamed up with a block for the 25^th point.

In the third set, both teams exchanged leads early on. Trailing 7-6, the Red Wolves went on a run and never trailed the rest of the way. Brooke Lepper scored the next four points with four kills to give IU East a 10-7 lead. Rio Grande clawed back and trailed by one multiple times throughout the set but it was another run from the Red Wolves that clinched the game. Leading 18-16, IUE went on a 5-0 run, as they were just two points away from winning. In those five points, three of them came off errors from the RedStorm. Kills from Lepper and Teah Barrett Matthews sealed the deal for the Red Wolves.

The Red Wolves held Rio Grande to .024 percent. They committed 25 errors in the match. The Red Wolves had an attacking percentage of .205 with 17 errors.

IU East is back at Lingle Court this Saturday as they host Bresica at 2 p.m. and then UNOH at 6 p.m.