FORT WAYNE, Ind. — IU Kokomo closed out the 2026 Liz Lykowski Memorial Tournament in impressive fashion Saturday, sweeping both Grand View and host Indiana Tech. The Cougars opened the day with a 25-18, 25-20, 25-19 victory over Grand View before taking down Indiana Tech 25-20, 25-14, 25-22 to finish the tournament with a 3-1 record.
Match Against Grand View
The Cougars hit .293 with 43 kills while totaling 10 blocks and holding Grand View to a .098 hitting percentage.
First Set
- After Grand View pulled within 3-2, IU Kokomo responded with a 6-0 run highlighted by a Natalie Sevier service ace and two Mya Grigsby kills to take a 9-2 lead.
- Grand View battled back to within two at 19-17, but the Cougars won six of the final seven points. Mia Niekamp delivered three kills during the closing stretch before Grigsby finished off the 25-18 set victory.
Second Set
- IU Kokomo erased an early 6-4 deficit with three consecutive points, taking a 7-6 lead behind a Grigsby kill, a Grand View attack error and a service ace.
- With the set tied 10-10, the Cougars began to pull away and eventually closed out a 25-20 victory behind back-to-back Niekamp kills.
Third Set
- IU Kokomo took control early, building a 6-3 advantage behind three Grigsby kills and a Sevier ace.
- Grand View made a late push, but the Cougars maintained control and closed out the sweep with a 25-19 victory.
IU Kokomo Top Performers
- Mya Grigsby: team-high 19 kills on .581 hitting, 13 digs, 2 total blocks and 21.0 points
- Claire Campanello: team-high 28 assists, 3 digs, 1 kill and 1 total block
- Ryleigh Hamilton: team and career-high 8 total blocks, 2 kills and 2 digs
- Mia Niekamp: 11 kills and 11.0 points
- Natalie Sevier: team and career-high 3 service aces, 6 digs and 1 kill
Match Against Indiana Tech
The Cougars totaled 44 kills while hitting .248, holding Indiana Tech to 34 kills and a .117 hitting percentage.
First Set
- Indiana Tech jumped out to a 9-3 lead before IU Kokomo battled back to even the set at 10-10.
- The Cougars later trailed 19-18 before taking control down the stretch, scoring six consecutive points on their way to a 25-20 victory.
Second Set
- IU Kokomo controlled the set from the start, racing out to a 7-1 advantage.
- The Cougars never allowed Indiana Tech to seriously threaten the lead, cruising to a 25-14 victory to move within one set of their second sweep of the day.
Third Set
- After falling behind early, IU Kokomo battled back to tie the set at 12-12 before taking a 17-16 lead.
- The Cougars held off a late Indiana Tech push to win 25-22 and complete the sweep.
IU Kokomo Top Performers
The Cougars, done with early season tournament action, now turn their attention towards River States Conference play, beginning next weekend with a pair of home matches on Friday and Saturday.
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.
