KOKOMO, Ind. — Mya Grigsby turned in a record-setting performance Saturday afternoon, pounding a program-record 34 kills as IU Kokomo outlasted IU Columbus in five sets, 23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 15-9, inside the Student Activities and Events Center.
Grigsby's 34 kills shattered the previous IU Kokomo single-match record of 25. The junior needed just 63 attacks to reach 34 kills, committing only four errors for a .476 hitting percentage while adding 14 digs and two solo blocks.
The Cougars improved to 13-6 overall and 4-1 in River States Conference play with the victory. IU Kokomo finished with 72 kills while hitting .267, compared to 62 kills and a .196 hitting percentage for IU Columbus. The Cougars also held an 11-6 advantage in blocks.
First Set
- Grigsby opened the match with a kill, but IU Columbus answered with a 6-0 run to take a 7-2 lead.
- The Cougars worked their way back into the set, eventually pulling even late as the two sides battled through a 23-23 tie.
- IU Columbus scored the final two points of the set to take the opener 25-23.
Second Set
- IU Kokomo came out strong in the second, using kills from Mia Niekamp and a pair of IU Columbus attack errors to build an early 5-1 advantage.
- The Cougars extended their lead to 18-12 on a Niekamp kill before IU Columbus began to work its way back into the set.
- After the Crimson Pride pulled within 19-18, Natalie Sevier delivered a kill and Chloe Carpenter followed with an ace as IU Kokomo pushed its lead back to 21-18.
- Grigsby delivered kills to make it 22-19 and 24-21 before an IU Columbus service error closed out a 25-23 Cougar win to even the match.
Third Set
- The third set swung in favor of IU Columbus early, as the Crimson Pride built a sizable advantage and forced IU Kokomo to play from behind.
- The Cougars continued to battle, with Grigsby and Ryleigh Hamilton providing kills before consecutive Cali Cummings kills helped spark a late push.
- IU Kokomo eventually pulled within 23-22 behind back-to-back Grigsby kills, and another Grigsby kill made it 24-23, but IU Columbus scored the next point to escape with a 25-23 win and take a 2-1 match lead.
Fourth Set
- With its back against the wall, IU Kokomo responded in a tightly contested fourth set that featured several ties through the middle stages.
- Grigsby continued her huge afternoon with consecutive kills to put the Cougars ahead 12-10 before Hamilton followed with a kill and Grigsby added a solo block.
- The teams traded points down the stretch before a Grigsby kill gave IU Kokomo a 19-18 advantage.
- Grigsby struck again for a 20-19 lead, while Cummings added a kill as the Cougars fought their way to a 25-23 victory and forced a fifth set.
Fifth Set
- IU Kokomo took control of the deciding set, with Grigsby once again leading the way offensively.
- Grigsby delivered back-to-back kills to extend the Cougar lead to 11-7 before adding another at 12-8.
- A Cummings-Niekamp block pushed IU Kokomo within two points of the victory before Grigsby's 34th and final kill made it 14-8.
- An IU Columbus attack error finished off the 15-9 set victory and completed the five-set win.
IU Kokomo Top Performers
- Mya Grigsby: Program-record 34 kills, .476 hitting percentage, 14 digs, and two solo blocks.
- Mia Niekamp: 15 kills, .244 hitting percentage, and two block assists.
- Cali Cummings: Eight kills, .280 hitting percentage, one solo block and one block assist.
- Ryleigh Hamilton: Six kills, .250 hitting percentage, two solo blocks and one block assist.
- Gracelynn Olson: Team-high 32 assists, seven digs and one service ace.
- Rylee Springer: 28 assists, nine digs and one service ace.
- Avery Littrell: Match-high 26 digs, six assists and two service aces.
- Trishell Johnson: Match-high five total blocks, including three solo blocks.
The Cougars will return to the road Friday, Oct. 9, traveling to Richmond for a River States Conference matchup with IU East at 6 p.m. IU Kokomo will then play twice the following day at Midway, taking on the Eagles at noon before facing Lindsey Wilson at 2 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, X and Instagram.
