KOKOMO, Ind. - The IU Kokomo volleyball team fell in five sets to IU East Saturday in the River States Conference Championship match, their first loss since the August 31st loss to current #1 Northwestern (Iowa).

The Cougars will now await their location and opponent for next Saturday's NAIA Opening Round match, as the NAIA Selection Show is set for Monday atv 1:00 PM ET.

With the two sides even thru 20 points, it was IU East who gained separation first, taking a 21-14 lead in the opening set. IU Kokomo trimmed the deficit to three and two, but the Red Wolves closed out set one 25-22.

IU Kokomo trailed 4-2 before a 5-0 run gave the Cougars a 7-4 lead. Back even at 13 apiece, the Cougs took a 16-13 lead to force an IU East timeout. The Red Wolves pulled within two on several occasions, but IUK evened the match by winning set two 25-20. 

12th year head coach Heather Hayes's squad carried the momentum over from the set two win, jumping out to a 10-4 lead. The Cougars extended the lead to eight at 18-10, but IU East slowly climbed back into the set, cutting their deficit to one at 23-22.

Maggie Connell floored a kill to make it 24-22, before the Red Wolves and Cougars traded kills, with Cali Cummings closing out a 25-23 third set win for a 2-1 lead over IU East.

The Cougars led both early and midway through set four, leading 18-16 after an Allison Richman kill. The Red Wolves recorded kills on each of the following three points, taking a 19-18 lead. After a Lexi Broyles kill for IUK evened the score at 19-19, IU East scored six of the final seven points of set four to win it 25-20 and force a decisive fifth set.

IU East jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the race to 15, leading by three at 10-7 as well. Consecutive kills from Cali Cummings and Julia Sanders pulled IU Kokomo within one, before the Cougars eventually pulled even at 13 apiece. 

The Red Wolves turned to Teah Barrett Matthews and Jessica Swimm on the final two points, giving them a 15-13 fifth-set victory and a River States Conference Championship.

River States Conference Player of the Year Mya Grigsby led the Cougars with a double-double of 15 kills and a team-high 13 digs. Three other Cougs finished with 10+ kills, as Lexi Broyles and Cali Cummings each tallied 12 and Alexis Baney recorded 10.  Broyles finished with a team-high eight blocks while Baney and Cummings each added six.

Kaley Lyons had a double-double of 27 assists and 12 digs, while Allison Richman had 22 assists, five blocks, five digs, and three kills. Ellie Garland and Julia Sanders each totaled 11 digs, with Chloe Carpenter chipping in 10.

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.