The IUS volleyball team sent senior setter, Katie Tinsley, off with a 3-0 victory over the St. Catherine College Patriots in her last home match, 25-11, 25-11, 25-11.

IU Southeast started fast in the first, behind the serves of Tinsley and raced out to a 6-0 lead that lead to a 25-11 win. Tinsley finished the match with five kills and four digs.

“She’s been the heart and soul of our team for three years,” IUS head coach Carrie Lilly said..

The second game was close early, with the Patriots drawing to within two at 11-9. However, the Grenadiers finished the game on a 14-2 run to match the score of the first game, 25-11.

IU Southeast was able to avoid the lulls in play that have plagued them this season. The Grenadiers finished with 40 kills and only eight errors.

“For the most part we’ve given teams extra points,”  Lilly said. “We’re doing better at controlling the game.”

“I think we’re playing some of our best volleyball,” junior middle hitter Vanessa Stauble said. Stauble finished the match with 11 kills and two blocks.

The third game was simply a formality, as IU Southeast built a 14-5 lead into another 25-11 win to complete the rout.

Fittingly, Tinsley scored the first and last points of the match, with the final point coming on a kill at the net.

Tinsley said she had a lot of mixed emotions about her last home match at IU Southeast.

“I was kind of sad, but just really excited,” Tinsley said. “It’s weird to think I won’t play here anymore. It’s just been an awesome three years.”

“She’s an awesome teammate,” Stauble said. “I’ve played with her for three years, but I feel like I’ve been playing with her for a lifetime.”

Now the Grenadiers’ focus turns to the  spell out conference tournament at Midway, Ky. on Nov. 14 and 15.

“We’ve been practicing pretty hard,” Tinsley said. “I think we’re ready to go into it.”

By MATTHEW LEE MILLER 
Staff Writer
mlm5@ius.edu