KOKOMO, Ind. - The eighth-ranked Indiana University Kokomo volleyball team dropped their season opener to Bethel (Ind.) Wednesday night in five-sets, as the Cougars fell 19-17 in the fifth to open the season with a loss for the first time since 2021.

FAST FACTS

• LOCATION: Student Activities & Events Center | Kokomo, IN 
• UPDATED RECORDS: Bethel (Ind.) - 4-0 (0-0), IU Kokomo - 0-1 (0-0)
• NAIA TOP-25 RANKINGS: Bethel (Ind.) - N/A, IU Kokomo - #8

THE RUNDOWN 

• A tightly-contested opening set saw the Cougars utilize a 5-0 run with the set tied at 17, gaining some breathing room before taking the opener 25-20.
• The Pilots of Bethel came to play Wednesday night however, showcasing their grit with dominant performances in sets two and three. After winning set two 25-17, Bethel took set three 25-15 for a 2-1 lead over eighth-ranked IU Kokomo.
• 13th year Head Coach Heather Hayes's squad returned the favor in the fourth set, routing the Pilots 25-12 behind a hitting percentage of .333 to Bethel's -.152, forcing a decisive fifth-set.
• First to 15 and win by two, Bethel extended their lead to a deuce early in the fifth-set at 5-3, gaining some early separation. Trailing 8-6, IU Kokomo rattled off three-straight points to take a one-point lead and force a Pilots timeout. Bethel went on to win the ensuing three points out of the timeout for a two-point lead of their own at 11-9.
• The Cougars utilized another 3-0 spurt to earn the first of two match points at 14-13, yet Bethel won the final three points of the match to top IU Kokomo 19-17 and take home a 3-2 win.

LEADING THE CHARGE

• Mya Grigsby (18 kills) and Cali Cummings (14 kills) led the IU Kokomo offense Wednesday evening, with Cummings hitting a team-best .367.
• Senior setter Allison Richman finished with 33 assists to lead the way.
• Grigsby also finished the match with a team-high 15 digs to open the year with a double-double.
• First-year Cougar Ava Rundle finished with double-digit digs (11) in her IU Kokomo debut. 

INSIDE THE HUDDLE

• We've got a lot of new faces and we're still learning how to play together - that takes time. Tonight's loss is part of the process, and while it stings, we're excited about where this team is headed. The effort is there, the heart is there, and as we continue to gel, we truly believe we'll be in a great place by the end of the season." - Assistant Coach Lori Elson

THE ROAD AHEAD

• Next Matches: Onset Invitational, 8/22 - 8/23: vs (RV) Columbia International, #15 Aquinas, #22 Marian (Ind.), (RV) Indiana Tech
• Next Home Match: IU Kokomo Volleyball Invitational, 9/5 - 9/6: vs (RV) Cumberlands, vs Campbellsville, vs Madonna, vs IU South Bend

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.