KOKOMO, Ind. - The IU Kokomo volleyball team played their first two home matches of the season Saturday afternoon inside the Student Activities and Events Center. The Cougars opened up River States Conference play by taking down IU East in four-sets, before beating non-conference foe Trinity International University in four-sets.

Head coach Heather Hayes's squad is now 11-3 on the year and 1-0 in RSC play.

Match One Recap

IU Kokomo won the opening point of the match via a Sidney Gerig kill, but IU East won the next three points for an early 3-1 lead. The match was tied at 12 halfway through the set, but the Cougars took a 19-15 lead to force an IU East timeout. Trailing 23-19, the Red Wolves reeled off three straight kills to force a Cougar timeout, but consecutive IU East attack errors gave IUK a 25-22 first set win.

The Cougars won the first point of the second set, but it would be their only lead of the set. IU East maintained a small lead throughout for a 25-21 set-two win.

IUK responded well, building a 13-8 lead to force an IU East timeout. Out of the timeout, the Cougars went on a 7-0 run to take a commanding 20-8 lead. The Cougs would close out the set on an Allison Richman kill, taking a 2-1 lead in the match.

After a dominating 25-12 third-set win, the Cougs continued their strong play. Tied at six, IUK won three straight points for a 9-6 lead, forcing a Red Wolves timeout. IU Kokomo extended their lead to six at 16-10, forcing a second timeout by IU East. IU East would cut the deficit to four at 19-15, but IU Kokomo won the set 25-18 and the match 3-1.

Freshman Lexi Broyles played well, leading IUK with 14 kills. Sidney Gerig had 12 kills of her own. 

Alyvia Smith continued her strong play, tallying 29 digs in the match. Kaley Lyons led the team in assists with 24, and also totaled 13 digs. Allison Richman had 17 assists.

Match Two Recap

The opening points of the match were tightly-contested, but the Cougars took an 11-8 lead midway through. Trinity International would do well to respond however, winning the next three points to force an IUK timeout. TIU would take a three point lead of their own at 17-14, but IUK rattled off three-straight to force a Trojan timeout.

IU Kokomo closed the first set on an 8-2 run to win it 25-19.

Trinity International faced an early second-set deficit, but had an answer. The Trojans settled in and battled back for an entertaining set. TIU took a 21-17 lead to force a Heather Hayes timeout, but the Cougs eventually tied the match at 23. Tied at 25, back-to-back Nadia Wheeler kills gave the Trojans the set, tying the match at one.

The Cougs maintained a lead throughout the early parts of the third set, and would extend the lead to six thanks to four-straight Trojan errors. Trinity International did well to trim the IUK lead to one at 17-16, but the Cougs would close out the set 25-19.

The fourth set was neck-and-neck for a while, but IU Kokomo would find another gear to close out the win. Leading 15-14, the Cougs would end the set on a 10-3 run to win the match 3-1.

Audrey Strawsma was the lone Coug with double-digit kills, notching ten in the match. Alyvia Smith had her second 25-plus dig performance of the afternoon, as she had 25 digs against Trinity International.

Allison Richman had a team-high 18 assists, while Kaley Lyons followed with 17. Mya Shively and Julia Sanders each had 11 digs.

The Cougars will return to the court Tuesday evening, as they welcome IU South Bend to the Student Activities and Events Center. First serve is set for 7:00 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.