Volleyball Wins Five Set Thriller Over IUS
NEW ALBANY, Ind. – After falling behind two sets to one the Eagles rallied for a five set win (25-22, 26-28, 23-25, 25-18, 15-12) over Indiana Southeast in a crucial KIAC match on Tuesday. The Eagles have won eight straight against the Grenadiers dating back to 2009.
Catherine Wolter tied a career-high with 19 kills on 41 attacks as the Eagles collected a season-high 71 kills in the match. Wolter also had 19 earlier this season against Covenant. She wasn’t the only one to post big numbers as Sarah Sterling and Brittney Rader each collected 15 kills in the match.
Sterling hit .424 with only one error on 33 attacks and had 15 digs while Rader added one solo and five block assists. Sterling notches the first double-double for an attacking player this season, joining setters Jessie Bartlow and Mackenzie Burke who have also recorded double-doubles this season.
Asbury (25-11, 6-3 KIAC) took control of the first match and looked like they were going to take the second before a Grenadier rally. IUS kept the momentum going in the third set as the Eagles were sent reeling. In the fourth, Asbury jumped all over IUS (16-13, 7-3 KIAC) taking a 16-7 lead in the set and winning comfortably. The common theme for the Eagles in the first and fourth sets was a strong attack as AU hit .313 in the first and .308 in the fourth. They hit .163 and .200 in the second and third.
Asbury used their momentum from the fourth set into the fifth, breaking open a 2-2 match with six straight points. That lead proved too much to overcome for the Grenadiers. Asbury hit .240 for the match while IUS hit only .178.
Mackenzie Burke picked up a season-high 39 assists in the match and Jessie Bartlow chipped in with 26. Burke’s total is only the second time she’s reached 30 this season and her highest since she recording 43 in August of 2011. Burke also had 11 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Kelly Cole added 27 digs to lead the Eagles, her 11th match over 20 this season.
Asbury will close out the regular season on Monday Nov. 5 at Alice Lloyd. A win and a loss by Cincinnati Christian against Point Park this Saturday will give the Eagles the number three seed in the KIAC Tournament set for Nov. 9-10 at CCU.
