MONTGOMERY, Ala. - IU Southeast volleyball took down host Faulkner 3-1 then were defeated 3-0 by No. 24 Mobile on day two of the Faulkner Invitational.
The Grenadiers went 2-2 at the Faulkner Invitational and are 3-4 overall following the results of this week's tournament. IU Southeast will be back in action next Friday and Saturday for the AMF Memorial Tournament hosted by Taylor University.
On Friday, the Grenadiers will take on Pikeville at 11:00 a.m., then they will take on Lawrence Tech at 4:00 p.m., then will face (RV) Huntington on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Game 1: IU Southeast 3, Faulkner 1
Leading 18-16 late in the first set, the Grenadiers went on a 5-0 run to put the first set out of reach. The Grenadiers picked up where they left off in set two, jumping out to a 14-3 lead over the tournament hosts. Faulkner would battle back and cut the lead to three late in the set but kills by Nicole Stratford and Avynn Belding gave the Grenadiers a 25-20 victory in the set and a 2-0 lead in the match.
The Eagles jumped out to a 12-6 lead in set three and did not allow the Grenadiers to get within five, and would take the third set. Faulkner kept the momentum going in set four, scoring seven of the first eight points. IU Southeast roared back, going on a 16-4 run.
Faulkner made a push and knotted the score at 21 late in the fourth. IU Southeast responded with a 4-2 run to close out the set and close out the match. The Grenadiers won the match 3-1.
Stratford led the Grenadiers attack with 12 kills, followed by Belding with 11, and Raegan Glover recorded ten kills. Lake Butiste had four serving aces and tied Ella Davidson with 16 digs each. Carly Mason had a game-high 41 assists, and Jordan Vaughan recorded three blocks.
Game 2: No. 24 Mobile 3, IU Southeast 0
The Grenadiers trailed 17-13 midway through the first set before going on a 6-2 run to take the lead, powered by a pair of serving aces by Butiste. The lead change was short-lived, however, as Mobile would go on a 7-0 run to close out the set.
Set two opened with IU Southeast jumping out to a 4-0 lead. The Rams responded with a 17-7 run. After an 8-2 Grenadier run to cut the lead to 19-17, the Rams pulled away, going on a 6-1 run and take a 2-0 match lead.
In the third set, Mobile scored nine of the first 12 points and 14 of the first 20. IU Southeast made it interesting with a 10-5 run to make it 19-16, but the early deficit proved to be too much to overcome. The Rams won set three 25-21 and won the match 3-0.
Stratford led IU Southeast in kills (12) and digs (18). Butiste led the Grenadiers in serving aces for the second consecutive game with five, a game high.
