If IU Columbus is able to sneak into the River States Conference volleyball tournament, its likely first-round opponent would be league-leading IU Kokomo.
The Crimson Pride has had a chance to play the NAIA 11th-ranked Cougars twice this season, and the second of those two matchups went much better than the first for IUC. The Crimson Pride started out strong in each of the first two sets Tuesday night before IU Kokomo took control for a 25-20, 25-18, 25-9 victory.
“There is one thing that changed from the first game that we had there vs. this one,” IUC coach Jose Olivo said. “We have Kenze (Bostic) with us. In the game there, she was not playing, so that’s a change.”
Bostic, a freshman middle hitter from Hauser, led the Crimson Pride with one solo and two assist blocks on Tuesday.
IUC trailed 16-13 in the first set when it scored seven in a row behind the serving of Madison Hunter. But the Cougars answered with nine in a row to take the first set.
Tied 4-4 in the second set, Hunter again went on a serving run to push the Crimson Pride to a 10-4 lead. The set was tied at 12 before IU Kokomo pulled away.
IUC never led in the third set.
“This is a young team,” Olivo said. “Besides the one senior that we have, pretty much everybody is a sophomore or freshman. So they’re grow a little and mature volleyball-wise. It takes a token when you play a team that is No. 11 in the country. But even though they’re No. 11 in the country, you did not see that much difference in the first set and in the second set. In the third set, we came down.”
Cora Baker pounded seven kills, Addison Lemon recorded 18 assists, Alyvia Luce notched 16 digs and Hunter served four aces for the Crimson Pride. Leah Thompson tallied seven kills, Olivia Embry had three kills and two aces and Baker and Hunter each added seven digs.
IUC (9-13, 5-10) concludes the regular season Saturday at Oakland City. The Crimson Pride currently are sitting in ninth place in the RSC and would need a win and some help to catch eighth-place Midway for the final spot in the conference tournament.
“We still have hopes,” Olivo said. “Having a good result and a combination of other games that are going to be happening at the same time, we’re in a situation where we don’t depend on ourself now. We depend on other scores, as well.”
