COLUMBUS, Ind. – The IU Columbus volleyball team capped a memorable regular season with an incredible weekend at home, highlighted by a thrilling Senior Day battle against No. 15 IU Kokomo on Saturday. The Crimson Pride pushed the nationally ranked Cougars to five sets, falling just short in a 3-2 decision less than 24 hours after taking down Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, the second ranked team in the River States Conference standings.
Saturday's contest also celebrated Senior Day for Ruthie Bingham and Olivia Embry, who were honored for their leadership and contributions to the program throughout their careers.
Saturday's contest also marked the first time IU Kokomo had been taken to five sets since facing then-No. 10 Providence (Mont.)—now the nation's No. 1 team—on August 30.
With the weekend split, IU Columbus closed the regular season with a 20-8 overall record and 11-5 mark in RSC play, earning the #6 seed in the upcoming River States Conference Championship Tournament. The Crimson Pride will travel to Rio Grande on Tuesday (Nov. 11) for a quarterfinal match-up against the #3 seeded RedStorm.
Friday vs. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods – W, 3-2
IU Columbus opened the weekend with one of its biggest wins in program history, taking down second-place Pomeroys in a dramatic five-set match (25-15, 25-23, 19-25, 17-25, 18-16).
Sophomore Sadie Egan led the Crimson Pride with 18 kills, while Cora Baker and Ruthie Bingham each added 11 and 12 digs respectively. Setter Bailey Stevens distributed the offense with 29 assists, and Mikaela Salinas anchored the defense with 16 digs. The Crimson Pride hit .314 in the opening set and .273 in the fifth to close out the win.
Saturday vs. #15 IU Kokomo – L, 2-3
Less than 24 hours later, IU Columbus delivered another outstanding performance against one of the NAIA's elite programs. The Crimson Pride pushed the 15th-ranked Cougars to the limit, falling 23-25, 17-25, 25-20, 28-26, 8-15. Egan again powered the offense with 13 kills, while Journee Brown added 13 kills and five blocks in a breakout performance. Cora Baker contributed 12 kills and 11 digs, and Abigail Watson added seven kills on a .278 hitting percentage. Bailey Stevens tallied 28 assists and 13 digs, while Alyvia Luce chipped in 18 digs and eight assists.
IU Columbus hit .361 in the third set and .200 in the fourth, rallying to force a decisive fifth frame before the nationally ranked Cougars escaped with the narrow victory.
WEEKEND LEADERS
The Crimson Pride's 20-8 overall record and 11-5 conference mark both represent program bests, reflecting the continued rise of IU Columbus volleyball in just its third season of competition. The weekend also served as a fitting tribute to the team's seniors, who have helped lay the foundation for the program's growing success.
Next Up: IU Columbus now turns its attention to the postseason, traveling to Rio Grande for the RSC Championship Quarterfinals on Tuesday (Nov. 11). The match is set to start at 7:00 PM.
