KOKOMO, Ind. – The IU Southeast volleyball team dropped a five-set thriller to IU Kokomo in the semifinals of the River States Conference Championship on Saturday. The Cougars defeated the Grenadiers 23-25, 25-21, 25-16, 19-25, 15-11.

The Grenadiers (26-8) jumped out to an early lead with a 25-23 win in the first set. IU Southeast committed just one attack error in the first set which helped them overcome an early deficit and complete the comeback for the set victory.

The Cougars (33-4) got their offense rolling in the second and third sets, pulling away late in the second set for a 25-19 win and then getting a comfortable win 25-16.

In the fourth set, IU Southeast limited the attack errors after recording 20 combined in the second and third sets and tied the match with a 25-19 win.

In the deciding fifth set, the Grenadiers trailed 7-3 but tied the set at 11. IU Kokomo answered the IU Southeast run by recording the final four points of the set to win the match.

Monica Loftus led IU Southeast with 16 kills in her final match as a Grenadier. Parker Andres had 13 kills, Alyssa Cosgrove had 11 and Alexis Bassett added 10. Hannah Sipe had 28 assists and Cosgrove had 25.

Kenna Burman led the Grenadiers with 26 digs, Loftus had 18, Cosgrove had 16 and Sipe had 11. Maddie Jacobi had 12 digs in her final collegiate start.

2018 RSC Player of the Year Nyssa Baker had a match-high 19 kills for the Cougars.

The loss ends the most successful volleyball season for the Grenadiers since 2005 when IU Southeast finished the year 33-8 and made a national tournament appearance. IU Southeast finishes the 2018 campaign with a record of 26-8.