Red Wolves avenge earlier loss, roll RedStorm

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RICHMOND, Ind. - Indiana University East avenged a loss from earlier this season and dealt the University of Rio Grande a third straight setback, posting a 25-20, 25-21, 25-14 win over the RedStorm, Friday night, in River States Conference women's volleyball action Lingle Court.
     Rio Grande slipped to 20-10 overall and 8-4 in conference play with the loss.
     The host Red Wolves improved to 14-16 overall and 7-5 in the RSC with the win, avenging a straight sets loss to the RedStorm in Rio Grande back on Sept. 12 and pulling to within a game of tying Rio for the RSC East Division lead in the process.
     As had been the case in their previous two outings, the RedStorm failed to maintain a good start.
     Despite losing the opening set, Rio Grande posted a .219 swing percentage with 11 kills and four errors in 32 attacks, but the final two sets produced 17 kills and 16 errors in 60 attacks for a miniscule .017 swing mark.
     While the RedStorm finished at .087 for the match, IU East totaled 46 kills and 17 errors over 99 swings for a .293 attack percentage.
     The Red Wolves controlled things most of the night, trailing just once in the opening set at 1-0 and using a 7-0 run to erase an 11-10 deficit in the second set.
     The hosts sealed the match win by reeling off an 11-2 spurt in set three to break a 9-9 deadlock.
     Noema Philistin-Lynch led IU East with 15 kills, while Aislyn Hogan had 34 assists and two service aces and Ella Bickel finished with 18 digs.
     Amyra Lockett added a solo block and two block assists to the winning effort.
     Redshirt freshman Taylor Bartrum (Catlettsburg, KY) had 11 kills to pace Rio Grande, while senior Elle McLoughlin tallied 27 assists, four block assists and two service aces and junior Kelli Stewart (Waverly, OH) was credited with 10 digs.
     Junior Averie Bruce (Baltimore, OH) had five block assists in the loss.
     The RedStorm are scheduled to return to action at Midway University on Saturday afternoon.
     First serve is set for 1 p.m. at Marshall Gymnasium in Midway, Ky.