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Box Score 2 GEORGETOWN, Ind. -- Indiana Wesleyan University clinched the 11th 30-win season in program history on Friday with a pair of 3-0 victories over No. 15-ranked IU-East and Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) University at the Boneyard Brawl in Georgetown, Kentucky.
The Wildcats have now won 30 or more matches in three straight seasons. IWU reaches the mark this year on the strength of its current 23-match win streak. In six contests this season against teams ranked in the NAIA Top-25 Poll, the Wildcats are a perfect 6-0.
In the opening match of the tournament, Indiana Wesleyan dispelled No. 15-ranked IU-East for the second time this season. IWU won by scores of 25-23, 25-20, 25-17. The Red Wolves tumble to 33-3 on the season with two losses coming to the Wildcats.
Junior outside hitter Rae Brandes led all players with 15 kills in the match. She earned a .343 hitting percentage, nine digs, and two block assists to lead Indiana Wesleyan.
Three other Wildcats joined Brandes with double digit kills. Senior outside hitter Rachel Quackenbush added 13 kills and seven digs, sophomore opposite hitter Alijah Mulitauopele contributed 12 kills with three solo blocks and four block assists, and junior middle hitter Kristine Egebrecht tallied 10 kills plus a .444 attacking percentage and four block assists.
Indiana Wesleyan hit .302 as a team as senior setter Yui Iwase assisted on 40 of the 54 kills.
Defensively, Indiana Wesleyan blocked nine kill attempts for points as Mulitauopele was a part of seven of them. Junior libero Rebecca Brandes was the only player on either side with double digit digs as she earned 16 for the match.
In the second contest Friday, Indiana Wesleyan made quick work of Freed-Hardeman by scores of 25-15, 25-20, 25-16. Freed-Hardeman drops to 18-9 following the loss.
Egebrecht was nearly flawless in the match with 15 kills and a .750 hitting percentage as she did not commit an error in 20 chances. Rae Brandes earned a double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs and she finished with a .385 hitting percentage.
Also contributing excellent play in the win was Mulitauopele and freshman middle hitter Kristin Predajna. Mulitauopele totaled eight kills with a .438 hitting percentage along with two block assists while Predajna chipped in with seven kills, a .357 kill percentage, and four block assists.
Indiana Wesleyan completes play at the Boneyard Brawl on Saturday with two more matches. IWU battles Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) College at 11:30 a.m. and then plays in a top-10 showdown with No. 5-ranked Lee (Tenn.) University.