No. 14 IU Kokomo wins 6th-straight RSC Volleyball Championship with victory over (RV) IU East

From IU Kokomo sports information:

KOKOMO, Ind. - The Indiana University Kokomo volleyball team collected the program's sixth-straight River States Conference Volleyball Championship, coming back from down a set to beat (RV) IU East in four sets. Both IU Kokomo and IU East received automatic berths to the NAIA National Championship, which is the Cougars ninth-consecutive appearance.

With both teams knowing they had a NAIA National Tournament berth locked up, it was the Red Wolves who played loose and well early in the match. The first set was almost entirely controlled by IU East, as the Red Wolves would win set one 25-15.

Despite trailing early in set two as the IU East momentum carried on, the Cougars continued to fight before eventually tying the match halfway through the set, bringing a raucous home crowd to their feet.

IU Kokomo would go on to win the tightest set of the match 25-20, evening the match at a set apiece.

The Cougars got better as the match went on, as head coach Heather Hayes's squad improved their hitting percentage in each set. IU Kokomo hit .303 in the third set while stifling the Red Wolves in a set that was a definition of a "block party." 

IU Kokomo's Maggie Connell and Lexi Broyles were a force to be reckoned with in the third set, stuffing several IUE swings while leading the Cougars to a 25-11 third-set win.

The momentum remained on the side of the Cougars for the remainder of the match, as IU Kokomo went on to win set four 25-14, closing out a sixth-straight RSC Championship victory for the program.

Three Cougars recorded double-digit kills, led by Maggie Connell with 15 and Audrey Strawsma with 14. Lexi Broyles added 11 kills, seven blocks, and two aces.

IU Kokomo's two setters recorded a combined 45 assists, led by sophomore Allison Richman with 23. Kaley Lyons totaled 22 to go along with 11 digs, her ninth double-double of the season. Alyvia Smith led IU Kokomo with 14 digs, as Julia Sanders tallied seven.

The Cougars will find out who they will host or where they are headed for the opening round of the NAIA National Championship Monday, as the women's volleyball selection show is set for 3:00 PM EST.