IU Southeast won a tight  match against Spalding University on Wednesday night in five sets (25-17, 22-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-9).  The win puts the Grenadiers at 3-3 on the year.

The game was a makeup game after the first match was postponed.  The first set went back and forth for quite a while, however the Grenadiers were able to pull ahead and keep a nice lead and win the set 25-17.

Spalding went on a 4-0 run to start the second set, but down 10-7 IU Southeast was able to score four consecutive points to pull ahead 11-10.  Both sides were neck and neck the rest of the set until the Golden Eagles were able to barely pull ahead and win the second set 25-22.

The third set began with both teams going back and forth again.  IU Southeast was able to win 5 straight points and was able to hang and win the set 25-20.

The Grenadiers led the fourth set 7-3, but the Golden Eagles got four straight points to nod it up.  From that point on both teams yet again went back and forth until Spalding was able to take an 18-15 and eventually won the fourth set 25-19 to force a fifth set.

Heading into the fifth set IU Southeast head coach Eric Brian gave some advice to his team.

“I told them the team with the most enthusiasm is going to win,” said Brian.

The Grenadiers responded to what their coach said by starting the fifth set on a 7-1 run.  Spalding was able to get within two points of IU Southeast, however fell short of the comeback and the Grenadiers ended up winning the fifth set 15-9 and the match.

Sara Schum, senior middle blocker, led the way for the Grenadiers with 13 kills, while Meaghen Tompkins, senior defensive specialist, led the team with 23 assists.

“We do really well, even being down we bounce back pretty quick,” said Schum.

IU Southeast was able to come through and win some close sets on the road with their enthusiasm, which Brian says tells a lot about his team.

“It says we can keep our composure even when we lose a set or we get down.  We really need to make sure that we play with that level of enthusiasm in all the sets we play and not a deciding set,” said Brian.

The Grenadiers lost Friday night, (25-13,25-18,27-25), at St. Catharine College to drop their record to 3-4. They can bounce back today at 11:30 a.m. against Georgetown College.