FT. WAYNE— The Indiana University-Kokomo Cougars volleyball team were aided by three area alumni as they won three of four matches over the weekend at the Onset Tournament in Fort Wayne.
The tournament was the season opener for the Cougars, ranked No. 13 nationally in the NAIA Women’s Volleyball Top 25 Preseason Poll released two weeks ago.
In the tournament opener Friday morning, the Cougars overcame a first set loss and defeated Southeastern in four sets, 17-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-23. In the match, former Daleville star Trishell Johnson recorded three kills and five total blocks – one solo – while defensive specialist Chloe Carpenter from Pendleton Heights added 13 digs.
The second match of the day was the first loss of the season for IU-K as Missouri Baptist handed the Cougars a 25-23, 18-25, 28-26, 25-18 defeat. Johnson recorded three kills and another solo block while Carpenter posted six digs and an assist.
IU-K returned Saturday morning and opened with a 3-0 sweep of Michigan-Dearborn 25-18, 25-17, 25-7. In the match, Johnson two kills and three block assists, Carpenter had seven digs and two service aces and former Madison-Grant star Alexis Baney recorded four kills, two block assists and a dig in her first action of the season.
The Cougars closed out their weekend with a 3-1 (25-27, 25-14, 27-25, 25-16) win over Campbellsville (KY). Johnson closed out her weekend with four kills and two blocks while Carpenter contributed 11 digs, two assists, and an ace.
After the four matches, Johnson’s 13 total blocks is tied for the team lead and 12 kills puts her fifth on the squad. Carpenter is fourth on the team with 37 digs.
A fourth player from the Madison County area played in the tournament as former Lapel star Lauren Paska helped Indiana Tech to a 2-2 record. She finished with 20 kills and 23 digs in the four matches, including11 kills and five digs in a 3-1 win over Rio Grande.
The Cougars will play another tournament this weekend as they host the IU-Kokomo Invitational, which will include four ranked foes, this Friday and Saturday. They will play Friday against ninth-ranked Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) at noon and tenth-ranked University of the Cumberlands (KY) at 6:45 p.m., before returning Saturday to take on No. 21 Cornerstone (MI) at 11:45 a.m. and 17th-ranked Aquinas College (MI) at 4:15 p.m.