KOKOMO, Ind. - The 20th-ranked IU Kokomo volleyball team continued its dominant run Saturday, sweeping IU Columbus to notch a ninth consecutive win and seventh sweep in eight matches.

FAST FACTS

• LOCATION: Student Activities & Events Center | Kokomo, IN 
• UPDATED RECORDS: IU Columbus - 11-6 (2-3), IU Kokomo - 14-5 (5-0)
• NAIA TOP-25 RANKINGS: IU Columbus - N/A, IU Kokomo - #20

THE RUNDOWN 

• IU Kokomo came out strong in the first set, jumping ahead with a 7-0 run. IU Columbus fought back, narrowing the gap to 10-9, but the Cougars quickly regained control with a decisive 6-0 run. The Cougars maintained their momentum down the stretch and closed out the set 25-17.
• Set two saw a tight battle early, with both teams trading points back and forth. IU Kokomo held a slim lead at 10-9, before pulling away behind kills from Mya Grigsby and Lexi Broyles. After trading a few errors and sideouts, IU Kokomo went on a run, building a comfortable lead late on their way to a 25-15 set two win.
• IU Kokomo started the match strong, jumping out to a 7-0 lead behind the serving of Grigsby. Despite a brief rally from IU Columbus, the Cougars kept control and extended their lead to double digits, eventually closing out the set 25-16.

LEADING THE CHARGE

• Lexi Broyles had a big day, setting a career high and program three-set match record with 10 blocks. She also led the team with 12 kills and hit .400.
• Setter Allison Richman turned in a solid performance with 22 assists, while Macy Chafin chipped in seven more.
• Avery Littrell was a force in the back row, posting a match-high 19 digs from the libero spot.
• Grigsby tallied six kills and led the team with four aces, with Niekamp contributing seven kills of her own.

INSIDE THE HUDDLE

• "Our team played very clean volleyball today, averaging only 3.3 unforced errors per set. Playing clean was something we struggled with earlier in the season, but it's an area where we continue to grow and improve each week. Our blocking, which we emphasized in practice all week, really showed again today — especially in set three, where we recorded an astounding nine blocks." - Head Coach Heather Hayes
• "We had a really strong weekend of IUK volleyball. I felt like we played clean, and we did a great job blocking and digging against our opponents. We really focused on what we could control—our communication, positivity, and energy—and that made a huge difference in how we showed up. One thing we've been working on is mental resets and building confidence on the court. So when we came into huddles or timeouts, we'd take that reset, which helped us refocus and regroup for the next point." - Sophomore Avery Littrell

THE ROAD AHEAD

• Next Match: 10/3 vs Midway (Ky.) - 7:00 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. Print Friendly Version