INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana University Kokomo Volleyball team split a pair of matches at the Marian Knight Invitational on Friday afternoon to start their season. The  #24 Cougars fell to the host, #13 Marian, 3-0 before bouncing back to defeat Indiana Tech, 3-1. 
 
MATCH ONE RECAP
 
The Knights jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the opening set of the day, but a kill from Morgan Weir got the Cougars on the board. 
 
Trailing 6-1 early, IU Kokomo went on a 6-2 run powered by three Erinn Adam kills and two services aces from Weir, cutting into the Knights' lead, making it 8-6. 
 
Two points would be as close as the Cougars would get in the opening set. IU Kokomo finished the set with 13 kills and just three errors. 
 
In the second set, the Knights and Cougars went point-for-point to seven, but the Knights would take a slim lead with two straight points to make it a 9-7 set. Trailing 10-8, the Cougars would be on the wrong end of a back-breaking run as the Knights finished the set, outscoring the Cougars, 15-3 to take a 25-11 victory and a 2-0 match lead. 
 
Another large run for the Knights in the third set would be the difference. With the score even at three, Marian scored seven straight points to take a 10-3 advantage. 
 
IU Kokomo would eventually drop the third set 25-14. 
 
Adam led the Cougars with nine kills while Weir added eight and three service aces. 
 
Kendal Williams dished out a team-high 12 assists in the loss. 
 
MATCH TWO RECAP
 
After dropping the first set 25-21, the Cougars bounced back to win three straight to earn their first win of the 2021 season. 
 
A slow start in the opening set had the Cougars playing from behind. Trailing 15-5, IU Kokomo began to claw back into the set, chipping away at their deficit. The Cougars went on a 6-1 to pull within five points of the Indiana Tech lead. 
 
Staring at a four-point deficit, a kill from Adam and a Warrior attack error made it 20-18. Both teams traded the next four points making it 22-20 in favor of Indiana Tech. Indiana Tech would outscore the Cougars 3-1 over the next four points to take claim the opening set. 
 
Over the next three sets, the Cougars combined for 41 kills and just nine errors, winning all three to take down the Warriors. 
 
Adam finished with a match-high 17 kills while Jocelyn Hack added 11. Hack also had a match-high three aces. 
 
Alyvia Smith led the way with 19 digs while Williams tallied 23 assists. Kaley Lyons added 18 assists in the win. 
 
The Cougars will return to the court tomorrow for two more matches to close out the tournament. The first match will be against Kentucky Christian at 11 a.m. and the second against Lincoln College at 1 p.m.

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.