Grenadiers Sweep Pikeville, Fall To Bethel To Conclude 2022 Opening Weekend

By Press release submission

Aug 24, 2022

The IU Southeast volleyball team closed the first weekend of the 2022 season with a sweep of Pikeville and a 3-1 loss to Bethel on Saturday.

The Grenadiers used eight aces in route to a 25-12 victory in the first set against Pikeville. Emilee Organ had four aces, Cate Murphy added three and Averee Yoder added two for the Grenadiers.

IU Southeast jumped out to a 10-1 lead in set two. The Grenadiers extended their lead to 15-3 before going on to win the second set 25-10.

Cate Murphy began the third set with two straight aces to put the Grenadiers ahead early. IU Southeast held a narrow 19-17 lead late in the set but pulled away to take the set 25-19 and complete the three-set sweep.

Emilee Organ and Ella Brooks led the Grenadiers with eight kills apiece. IU Southeast had 13 aces as a team, led by Emilee Organ and Cate Murphy with four each. Lexi Striegel led IU Southeast with 12 digs, and Cate Murphy added a team-leading 20 assists.

The Grenadiers found themselves in a quick deficit in their first set against Bethel in the nightcap of the Saturday doubleheader. Bethel took a 2-1 lead and never trailed again, winning the first set 25-17.

The Grenadiers took a quick 4-0 advantage in the second set against Bethel. IU Southeast extended their lead to 7-1 before Bethel narrowed the lead to 10-7. A 4-0 run made it 14-7 Grenadiers, a lead they would never relinquish. IU Southeast took the second set 25-19 to even the score at one set apiece.

The third set was highly competitive. Bethel took a 15-11 lead, but the Grenadiers cut the lead to 15-14. Bethel extended their lead to 21-16, but once again the Grenadier answered, cutting the lead to 21-19. A 4-0 run gave Bethel a 25-19 victory in set two, taking a 2-1 set advantage.

IU Southeast used a 4-0 run to take a 9-8 lead in the fourth set. The Grenadiers took a 15-14 lead on a kill by Emilee Organ, but Bethel responded with a 3-0 run to take the lead back at 17-15. Not to be outdone, the Grenadiers used a run of their own to take the lead back at 18-17. A 4-1 run gave Bethel a 21-19 lead.

After a point by IU Southeast, Bethel closed the fourth set on a 4-0 run to take the set 25-20 and the match 3-1.

Emilee Organ led the Grenadiers with 11 kills, followed by Ella Brooks with 10. Averee Yoder had two of the team's four aces and led the team with 13 digs. Cate Murphy led IU Southeast with 14 assists.

The Grenadiers make their 2022 home debut Friday against Campbellsville.