ADRIAN, MI. - No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan volleyball began the Siena Heights Labor Day Invitational with a reverse sweep of Aquinas College. Aquinas came into the day with zero losses, having lost only four sets in their eight games. Those eight games included wins over receiving votes Marian (Ind.), Talladega (AL), and #16 IU-Kokomo. The Wildcats dropped the first two sets of the match before taking the final three to take down the Bulldogs.
- Location: Adrian, MI | Siena Heights University
- Records: IWU - 5-2 | AC - 8-1
- NAIA Top-25 Ranking: IWU - #1 | AC - NR
- After a back and forth start to set one IWU looked like they had taken control when a 3-0 run gave them a 19-16 lead and forced an AC timeout. The Bulldogs responded with a 7-1 timeout and took the set 25-23.
- Aquinas used their momentum from set one to take an early 8-3 lead in set two. Indiana Wesleyan battled back twice in the set, pulling within one point both times. However the early lead proved to much for the WIldcats as the dropped the set 25-22.
- IWU got off to a fast start in the third set, taking an 11-7 lead to force an AC timeout. The Bulldogs didn't go away preventing the Wildcat lead from extending past 5 points and pulling within 1 point at 21-20 as they looked to complete the sweep. IWU finished of the set with a 4-1 run, winning 25-21.
- The fourth set played out similar to the third with Indiana Wesleyan taking a 12-7 lead. The teams traded points most of the way as the Wildcats drew even at two sets a piece with a 25-21 victory.
- IWU threw the first punch of the fifth set with a pair of 3-0 runs before and after an Aquinas timeout to take a 10-5 lead. The Bulldogs kept fighting however, drawing even at 11 all. After the teams traded points to push the score to 12-12, Indiana Wesleyan got a block from Marissa Mullins and Marin Sanchez, and two kills from Eva Joldersma to finish the reverse sweep.
- Joldersma had a dominant performance with 25 kills. Martina Demarchi added 14 and Julia Price had 9.
- Abbigail Porter posted 50 assists.
- Porter added 4 aces while Joldersma had 3 and Cadee Notter recorded 2.
- Notter tallied 14 digs, Joldersma posted 11.
- Julia Price led the team with 5 blocks, Porter and Mullins recorded 4 each.
- "The fight tonight was insane!" said Head Coach Candace Moats. "I loved the girls heart and togetherness to come back from 0-2 and win the match against a very strong team! I was extremely proud of them!"
- The Wildcats take on Siena Heights (10:00 AM) and Trinity Christian College (12:00 PM) tomorrow.
- The Wildcats will host Grace College on September 4th at 7 PM.
- Individuals looking to attend can purchase tickets at IWUWildcats.com/Tickets
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