The Grenadiers volleyball team played against the University of the Cumberlands and won on Thursday, Sept. 18, in the Activities Building.
IU Southeast won 3-0, with scores of 25-18, 25-23, 25-15. The Grenadiers are now 2-7.
Although they have not done well from the beginning of the season, things are now improving for the team.
“I feel really well about the game we just played,” Carrie Lilly, IUS head coach, said. “It couldn’t have come at a better time.”
It was also an interesting night for Katie Tinsley, Grenadier senior. In her first year playing college volleyball, she played for the opponents, the Patriots.
“I was really excited to see the girls,” Tinsley said. “I was also nervous. You don’t want to beat the team you came from. But, I am definitely glad we won.”
In the start of the game, it was very back and forth with the question of who would win. By the middle of the second period, it was almost a sure thing. The Grenadiers went out there and made sure they won the game.
“We definitely stepped it up,” Tinsley said. “We needed a win, and we got it. We went out there being loud and intense. We made sure that we won.”
Until now, the Grenadiers have only won their second game of the season.
“We started out with the harder teams this season,” Lilly said. “There is still room for improvement, but I do believe that we played more difficult teams from the beginning, hopefully we keep winning.”
“We need to work harder on defense, serves and hitting,” Lilly said. “We are blocking much better.”
The players showing their best efforts are Katie Tinsley, Cassie Boone, Vanessa Stauble and Lindsey Williams. “Williams actually plays right, but she had to play middle. She is filling the role nicely,” Lilly said.
The team is waiting to play conference and possibly nationals. Their upcoming game is against Berea College on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 6:30 p.m.
“My expectations are to make it to nationals,” Lilly said.
By KRISTINA BLEUEL
Staff Writer
kcbleuel@ius.edu