KOKOMO, Ind. - The newly 15th-ranked IU Kokomo volleyball team faced their toughest River States Conference test Thursday night. Having already defeated Saint Mary-of-the-Woods 3-1 on the road earlier this season, the Cougars completed the season sweep in dominant fashion, winning in straight sets to secure their third consecutive RSC regular season title — and with it, an 11th straight NAIA Opening Round appearance, their seventh conference crown overall.

FAST FACTS

• LOCATION: Student Activities & Events Center | Kokomo, IN 
• UPDATED RECORDS: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College - 29-3 (12-2), IU Kokomo - 24-5 (14-0)
• NAIA TOP-25 RANKINGS: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College - N/A, IU Kokomo - #15

THE RUNDOWN 

• The Cougars controlled the pace throughout the first two sets, using timely scoring runs to create separation and take command early.
• After Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) scored the opening point, IU Kokomo answered with seven straight to set the tone early and take a 7-1 lead. The Pomeroys briefly cut the margin to four, but the Cougars stayed in control and cruised to a 25-14 win in the opening set.
• Veteran head coach Heather Hayes's squad jumped out to another 7-1 lead in set two before SMWC battled back to make it 9-8. Despite the early challenge, the Cougars regained control and pulled away once more, closing out a 25-14 victory for a 2-0 lead.
• Jumping out to an early lead, IU Kokomo saw SMWC tie the third set at seven-all, but the Cougars held a 14-11 advantage at the midway point. The No. 15-ranked Cougars went on to defeat Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in straight sets, marking their 52nd consecutive regular-season RSC win and securing another conference regular-season title.

LEADING THE CHARGE

• Senior middle Lexi Broyles willed her team to victory Thursday night, turning in a dominant performance with a match-high 12 kills on 16 swings for an impressive .688 hitting percentage.
• Fellow senior Allison Richman, the lead setter in IU Kokomo's two-setter system, impressed with 27 assists and six kills on 11 attempts for a .455 hitting percentage. Her teammate, Macy Chafin, contributed 11 assists and two digs in the win.
• Sophomore libero Avery Littrell was outstanding defensively, racking up 17 digs for an average of 5.6 per set. Ava Rundle and Chloe Carpenter each added seven digs to round out a strong back-row effort for the Cougars.
• Cali Cummings turned in a potential breakout performance, posting nine kills on 12 swings for an impressive .583 hitting percentage. Mya Grigsby added to the attack with 11 kills and seven digs.

INSIDE THE HUDDLE

• "I'm incredibly proud of this team for the way they showed up tonight. We knew this would be a high-pressure situation against a very good team, but our players stayed composed and performed with great poise. We came out strong and maintained that intensity from start to finish—it was a complete team effort. The way our players have been pushing and challenging each other in practice really showed through in our consistent, high-level play. We executed well in every aspect of the game. We're proud of what we've accomplished so far, but we know our journey isn't over. This group still has more to achieve, and we're focused on continuing to raise our standard every time we step on the court." - Assistant Coach Sarah Morin
• "With the meaning of what this game provided, we knew we had to be locked in and focused in all aspects of our game. Tonight was a reflection of the hard work that we have put in during the season and especially in practice.  Everyone on our team contributed to our win tonight and it was amazing to feel the energy in the gym with a big crowd!" - Senior Lexi Broyles

THE ROAD AHEAD

• Next Match: 10/31vs Saint Xavier (Ill.) - 6:30 PM ET

For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.