CHICAGO, Ill. — The IU Kokomo women's volleyball team returned to the win column Friday evening, earning a hard-fought three-set victory (25-20, 27-25, 25-20) over Saint Xavier University in its penultimate match of the regular season.
The Cougars (22-7) were led offensively by
Cali Cummings, who recorded a match-high 12 kills on an efficient .333 hitting percentage while adding a block.
Alexa Miedema also delivered an impressive all-around performance, finishing with five kills on .333 hitting, five digs, a block and a service ace. IU Kokomo hit .192 as a team while limiting Saint Xavier (7-19) to a .113 hitting percentage.
First Set
- Cummings wasted little time making her presence felt, delivering kills on the opening two points before Saint Xavier responded with four consecutive points to take a 4-2 advantage.
- IU Kokomo quickly regained control with a five-point run highlighted by a Miedema service ace and kills from Cummings and Mia Niekamp. A kill from Ryleigh Hamilton later extended the Cougar advantage to 12-8.
- Saint Xavier battled back to within one at 15-14, but IU Kokomo responded with a Miedema kill, a Gracelynn Olson ace and an attack error to establish a 19-15 lead.
- The Cougars maintained their advantage down the stretch, eventually securing the opening set 25-20 on a block from Trishell Johnson and Hamilton.
Second Set
- Saint Xavier came out aggressively in the second set, building a 15-8 advantage and putting the Cougars in an early hole.
- IU Kokomo refused to go away, putting together an impressive rally to erase the seven-point deficit and even the score at 16-16. Niekamp contributed a kill during the comeback, while Tia Williams added a service ace.
- Kills from Hamilton and Miedema helped the Cougars move ahead 19-17, but Saint Xavier responded with four straight points to reclaim a 21-19 advantage.
- The two sides continued to battle through the closing stages, with Saint Xavier eventually earning set point at 25-24. Cummings delivered when the Cougars needed her most, recording a pair of crucial kills as IU Kokomo scored the final three points to steal a thrilling 27-25 victory and take a commanding two-set lead.
Third Set
- Saint Xavier again jumped out to an early advantage, taking a 5-2 lead before IU Kokomo answered with three consecutive points, including a Johnson kill and a block from Johnson and Miedema.
- Trailing 14-12 midway through the set, the Cougars put together a four-point run highlighted by another Miedema kill to move ahead 16-14.
- Saint Xavier continued to battle, eventually evening the score at 19-19, but a Hamilton kill put IU Kokomo back in front for good.
- Williams stepped to the service line and helped the Cougars take control, serving four consecutive points to extend the lead to 24-19. A Saint Xavier service error ultimately sealed the 25-20 set victory and completed the sweep.
IU Kokomo Top Performers
- Cali Cummings: Led the Cougar offense with 12 kills on .333 hitting while adding a block. Cummings has now recorded at least 12 kills in consecutive matches.
- Alexa Miedema: Contributed across the board with five kills on .333 hitting, five digs, one block and a service ace.
- Rylee Springer: Distributed a team-high 18 assists while adding five digs and a kill on her lone attack attempt.
- Avery Littrell: Anchored the defensive effort with a match-high 12 digs and three assists.
- Trishell Johnson: Led IU Kokomo at the net with four total blocks, including one solo, while contributing five kills.
- Claire Campanello: Added eight digs, eight assists and a service ace.
IU Kokomo will return home Saturday, November 7, to close out the regular season against Brescia University on Senior Day. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. inside the Student Activities & Events Center, with the Cougars set to honor their seniors as part of the regular season finale.
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, X, and Instagram.
