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Indiana University Kokomo

Official Website of Indiana University kokomo Athletics Indiana University Watermark
Niekamp at URG
3
Winner IU Kokomo IU KOKOM 20-5, 10-0
1
Rio Grande RIO GRAN 20-8, 8-2
Winner
IU Kokomo IU KOKOM
20-5, 10-0
3
Final
1
Rio Grande RIO GRAN
20-8, 8-2
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
IU Kokomo IU KOKOM 22 25 25 25 (3)
Rio Grande RIO GRAN 25 13 15 20 (1)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

No. 16 Volleyball Rallies After Slow Start, Dominates Final Three Sets to Earn 15th Straight Win at Rio Grande

RIO GRANDE, Ohio. - The 16th-ranked IU Kokomo volleyball team stretched its win streak to 15 on Thursday night, storming back for a 3-1 victory over the RedStorm at Newt Oliver Arena in Rio Grande.

FAST FACTS
  • LOCATION: Newt Oliver Arena | Rio Grande, OH 
  • UPDATED RECORDS: IU Kokomo - 20-5 (10-0), University of Rio Grande - 20-8 (8-2)
  • NAIA TOP-25 RANKINGS: IU Kokomo - #16, University of Rio Grande - N/A

THE RUNDOWN 
  • IU Kokomo jumped out to an early lead in set one, but the frame quickly turned into a battle of runs. Trailing 19-14, the Cougars responded with a 5-0 stretch to tie it up, but Rio Grande closed strong to take the set 25-22.
  • Veteran head coach Heather Hayes's squad wasted no time shaking off the opening-set loss, surging to a 12-5 lead in set two. The Cougars dominated throughout, rolling to a 25-13 win to even the match.
  • The Cougars took control midway through set three, turning a three-point edge into a 16-8 lead with a 5-0 run. From there, they stayed in command, closing out a dominant 25-15 win.
  • Needing one more set to complete a comeback in a tough road environment, No. 16 IU Kokomo traded blows with Rio Grande early in the fourth. Down 13-12, the Cougars seized control with a 4-0 run, capitalizing on back-to-back RedStorm errors to build a 20-14 lead. IU Kokomo held strong the rest of the way, with a Lexi Broyles kill sealing a 25-20 set win and a 3-1 victory on the road.

LEADING THE CHARGE
  • Mia Niekamp paced the IU Kokomo offense with 16 kills on 46 swings, adding four block assists and four digs. Mya Grigsby chipped in with nine kills and 10 digs.
  • Ryleigh Hamilton recorded a career-high seven blocks and added seven kills, finishing with a personal-best 11 points. Cali Cummings contributed seven kills and three total blocks.
  • Allison Richman continued her dominant play as an offensive-minded setter, delivering seven kills on a .417 hitting percentage while leading the team with 30 assists and adding seven digs. Macy Chafin added 11 assists and four digs in the win.
  • Sophomore libero Avery Littrell continued to dominate on defense, recording a match-high 23 digs and averaging over 5 digs per set.

INSIDE THE HUDDLE
  • "Tonight was an important match in a heavily contested conference race, and the environment was a tough one to play in. I'm very proud of how we handled the initial storm from Rio — they played lights out in the first set. We didn't panic, maintained our composure, and responded really well. This was a big win for us on the road, and I'm proud of how we handled the environment." - Head Coach Heather Hayes
  • "I think this was one of our toughest matches we have faced recently and we handled it really well. We had a long day on the bus but we knew what needed to be done and never gave up. We struggled the first set but had grit and were determined to find ways around it to win. We all had a disciplined mindset of doing things we could control and keep fighting. We really played as a team and fought hard every single point." - Sophomore Avery Littrell

THE ROAD AHEAD
  • Next Matches: 10/17 @ WVU Tech - 4:00 PM ET
  • Next Home Match: 10/24 vs Oakland City - 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.
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