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Bowling scholarship continues Kokomo doctor’s

Lady Cougars hungry for conference success in 2014

Chancellor Sciame-Giesecke receives Sagamore of

Lady Cougars hungry for conference success in

IU Kokomo cross country builds momentum for third

Donors honored at Chancellor's Guild Dinner

IU Kokomo cross country builds momentum for

Cougar cheerleading tryouts are Aug. 2

Wayne James sworn in as IU Kokomo chief of

Medical imaging students gain head start with new

Speidel is ready to build on first season of volleyball

IU Kokomo’s Enactus food drive receives boost

IU Kokomo librarian leads campus information

Senior basketball player seeks success both on and

IU Kokomo faculty member chosen for Clinton

Home opener draws enthusiastic crowd 1 7 N O V E M BER 2 0 1 1

KOKOMO, IN - Nearly 400 excited fans filled the stands as the Indiana University Kokomo men’s basketball team played its first home game against the Bethel College Pilots on Thursday, November 17. The pre-game party allowed Cougar fans to join together for food, music, and fun, creating excitement for the game, sponsored by the IU Kokomo Alumni Association. “It’s awesome to be a part of the first home game,” said Junior Skylar Bagwell. “I love sports, and I’m thrilled to support the Cougars.”

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Chancellor Michael Harris also offered his support of the first home game. “It is an exciting time for Indiana University Kokomo as we celebrate the first home game of http://newsroom.iuk.edu/athletics.html?start=54[8/13/2014 8:01:06 AM]

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the men’s basketball team. These events help create a sense of Kingston Cougar railies the "Cougar Crazies" student section. See More community, build school pride, and enhance the overall college experience,” Harris said, who set the vision for competitive sports on campus. “I am extremely grateful to those who have worked so hard to make this happen.” Just before the start of the game, the IU Kokomo Crescendos sang the National Anthem followed by leading the crowd in singing the IU Fight Song. A sea of red t-shirts filled out the official student section, “The Cougar Crazies,” organized by the Student Athletics and Wellness Board (SAWB). Cheers and chants echoed through the gymnasium as they supported their team. “The student section shows the pride this group has for their school,” commented Kathryn Stremiecki, coordinator of programming and applied learning at IU Kokomo. “It’s so fun to watch students get engaged and come together to support the Cougars.” The crowd was hyped-up and ready to watch the Cougars show off their skills. “Bringing sports to IU Kokomo has been talked about for a while, and it’s exciting to see it unfold. I’m proud to be a part of it,” said Senior Geny Studebaker. The IU Kokomo women’s volleyball team attended to show support for their fellow Cougars. “I’m having so much fun already,” said sophomore volleyball player Krista Armstrong. “It’s important that us girls are here to cheer on the basketball team. We’ve all worked so hard and need support.” Although the Cougars started strong and fought to the death, they came up short by one point, ending the game 83-84. www.flickr.com

The next home game will be played on Thursday, December 1, against the Goshen College Maple Leafs, at Western High School, at 7 p.m. Story by Mary Olk, intern for the Office of Media & Marketing Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

http://newsroom.iuk.edu/athletics.html?start=54[8/13/2014 8:01:06 AM]

IU Kokomo Athletics

Men’s basketball team set for first home game against Bethel College Pre-game party kicks off night’s events 1 1 N O V E M BER 2 0 1 1

KOKOMO, IN – After months of hard work and early morning practices, the Indiana University Kokomo men’s basketball team gears up for its first home game against Bethel College on Thursday, November 17, 7 p.m., at Western High School. A pre-game party will kick off the night beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the high school, with food, fun, and music – sponsored by the IU Kokomo Alumni Association. Go to IU Kokomo's photostream

The Cougars, led by Head Coach Jace Thompson, stand poised to make the 2011-12 inaugural campaign the first step in building a solid program for years to come. Although the Cougars are a firstyear squad made up of mostly freshmen, they will be tempered by the veteran presence of guard Anthony Graves (Lake County C.C.). Graves has emerged during preseason workouts as one of the best leaders on the team, and his hard work on the

IU Kokomo Mens basketball

court sets the example for others to follow. Coach Thompson is also quite pleased with the leadership of the freshmen as well. Brandon Larrick (Western HS), Jake Robertson (Tri-Central HS), and Aaron Knupp (Blue River Valley HS) have all shown that they will be leaders of the IU Kokomo Cougars as the program continues to grow. The Cougars will make up for what they lack in size and experience with heart and grittiness. “Our guys are great communicators and work hard together,” Coach Thompson said. “On the defensive end they have all adapted from coming from various schools and are starting to play real well together. They will battle and be physical.” The 2011-12 campaign will see IU Kokomo do battle against a mix of opponents, including marquee matchups against NCAA Division I Valparaiso University, and NAIA Division I St. Francis (IL). “The key to 2011-12 is to stay focused on the process of becoming a solid team,” Thompson said. “We have some of the biggest competitors you will find, but we have to understand that good programs work on little details that become habits, and we have to build those habits.” http://newsroom.iuk.edu/athletics.html?start=54[8/13/2014 8:01:06 AM]

IU Kokomo Athletics The Cougars opened the season with an 82-76 win over IU Northwest on November 1. The Cougars will take part in the 2K Sports Classic, benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer. IU Kokomo will open competition against Valparaiso University November 19 at 6 p.m., followed by a contest with the University of District of Columbia on November 20. Both games will take place on the campus of Valparaiso University. For more information on IU Kokomo Athletics, please visit our Web site at http://www.iuk.edu/athletics. Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

IUK picks up historic first win, 82-76, over IUN. 0 2 N O V E M BER 2 0 1 1

Gary, ind. - Indiana University Kokomo men’s basketball team wasn’t interested in waiting to pick up their first historic win. Coach Jace Thompson and the Cougars hit the road, traveling to Gary for the first-ever men’s basketball game under the new program, and they came home with a well-earned 82-76 win over Indiana University Northwest. “From the top down, our guys worked hard,” Thompson said. “This is where it paid off. It was a team win all the way around.” Anthony Graves led the way for the Cougars with 31 points, including four three-pointers. Graves and the rest of the Cougars spent plenty of time at the foul line, shooting 39 free throws and converting 28 of them. Chancellor Michael Harris applauds the team for winning the first game of the season. “I am extremely proud of the team and congratulate them on their first win,” Harris said. “They are IU Kokomo Cougar Basketball team. fulfilling the dream and vision of the campus by proving to be a first-rate team. This is a great, historic moment for IU Kokomo and its future as a world class regional campus.” Lots of free throws usually mean an opportunity to win, according to Thompson. “They tended to foul the right guys,” he said. “Graves and (Brandon) Larrick were ice up there.” From the start, the Cougars looked and played like a veteran team – certainly not a team playing its first-ever game. Both teams battled hard in the first half, trading baskets on a regular basis. IU Kokomo took the lead for the first time, 9-6, on a three-pointer from Nathaniel Carroll. The RedHawks put together a 13-4 run midway through the first half and lead 23-17. Thompson was content http://newsroom.iuk.edu/athletics.html?start=54[8/13/2014 8:01:06 AM]

IU Kokomo Athletics to let his team play though their struggles. “With a more veteran team, I might have called a timeout,” Thompson explained. “But, I felt they needed to play through it.” The Cougars steadied themselves and, after trailing 32-24 at one point, exploded for a 12-7 run to end the half. They trailed 37-36 at the break. The second half saw 11 lead changes until Kokomo was able to take the lead for good with 4:29 left in the game. Aaron Knupp's put back of his own miss gave the Cougars a 70-69 lead. IU Kokomo's Nick George followed with a three-pointer, making it 73-69. However, the RedHawks would not go away and cut the lead to 78-76 with 40 seconds left. Good ball handling along with some made free throws sealed the win for Cougars. Thompson said the key for his squad was keeping things simple. “There’s a chalkboard in the locker room,” Thompson said. “I said that’s what the game is. You’ve been playing it since kindergarten. You just go out there and play. It’s no different. Everyone just got a little bigger. They did it. They executed.” IU Northwest was a bigger and admittedly more athletic team. That didn’t matter, Thompson said. “Our guys did a great job of blocking out,” he said. “They are much taller and more athletic than us. We had some guys come up huge to get some boards. That’s a big deal.” In addition to Graves' 31 points, Larrick scored 10 points to go along with 12 rebounds, giving him a double-double to open the season. Aaron Knupp had 12 points while Jared Lawrence finished with eight points. In all, seven different Cougars scored in the game. Some firsts For the record, the first basket scored by an IU Kokomo player in the new era came at the hands of Graves. The point guard drove to the basket and laid the ball off the glass to register the first points for the Cougars. Graves’ speed and quickness gave the RedHawks fits the entire game as well. Moments after Graves scored the first field goal, Larrick made the first free throws. The former Western High School standout made eight of 11 free throws in the game. The first three-pointer was Carroll’s long bomb that came on the heels of Larrick’s freebies. The Cougars hit the road again this Friday, November 4, to take on Calumet College of St. Joseph. That game will be followed by a game against St. Francis of Chicago on Saturday. IU Kokomo opens its home schedule on Thursday, November 17, against Bethel College. All Cougar home games will be played at Western High School. Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

Cougar Volleyball Season Comes To A Close 3 1 O C T O B ER 2 0 1 1

WINONA LAKE, IN - The Indiana University Kokomo women’s volleyball season concluded Friday (October 28) with a loss to the Grace College Lancers in a 23-25, 20-25, 19-25 defeat. The Cougars, facing the Lancers for the third time this season, never gave up throughout the match, but in the end could not overcome several errors as the Lancers pick up the victory in the rubber match between the two schools. http://newsroom.iuk.edu/athletics.html?start=54[8/13/2014 8:01:06 AM]

IU Kokomo Athletics

“We did have a number of unforced errors, but as a first year program, even though the girls have shown a lot of resilience, the grind of a long season does wear on you,” Head Coach Kristen Snoddy said after the match. During the last game, IU Kokomo showed some of that trademark resilience on the court against Grace College. Despite facing significant deficits throughout the match, the Cougars relied on each other. Players Jenna Pelling, Krista Armstrong, Lael Burrus, and Alex Wylie helped the team claw back from deficits. At the end of the day, however, the Cougars did not have enough firepower to overcome the Lancers. “Having a squad of only nine players does have an impact,” Snoddy said. “Not having the ability to have 6-on-6 scrimmages tends to hurt us from time to time.” IU Kokomo concludes their first season short on wins, but has also picked up experience that will prove valuable. There is no doubt the foundation has been laid as the Cougars eye a step up into NAIA competition in 2012. “The goal this year was to get a program in place,” Snoddy said. “With that goal accomplished, it is now time to look at bringing in players to contribute. The current players have definitely

Junior Jenna Pelling goes up for a spike.

generated interest in the program from high school athletes around the region.” The Cougars finished the season with a record of 3-16. For more information, visit IU Kokomo Athletics at www.iuk.edu/athletics. Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

Cougar volleyball team makes history with last home game 0 6 O C T O B ER 2 0 1 1

KOKOMO, Ind. – Years from now, when followers of Indiana University Kokomo athletics look back on the 2011 volleyball season, the October 6 win over Trine University will be more than just another game. More than just a footnote in the initial season for women’s volleyball, it will be part of history. “This night will go down in history http://newsroom.iuk.edu/athletics.html?start=54[8/13/2014 8:01:06 AM]

IU Kokomo Athletics as the last home game of the first team,” Chancellor Michael Harris told the crowd after the game. “People will talk about it for years to come.” The names Krista Armstrong, Shelby Spall, Payton Landseadel, Emily West, Lael Burris, Jenna Pelling, Rachael Williams, Alex Wylie and Lizz Barney will be remembered for treading on new ground. They were ones that took the leap for all future athletic teams at IU Kokomo. “We are playing with more and more confidence,” said Coach Kristen Snoddy. “This team has figured out to band together and fight.”

The Cougar team and coach Snoddy celebrate the home game win. See More

Snoddy and her team were jubilant after collecting their third win of the season and first win at Northwestern High School, the place they call home. The Cougars won 25-17, 24-26, 25-18, 27-25 behind a strong team performance. The first match saw the Cougars put together several strong runs, including a 7-1 run late in the set. Strong play from Williams and Pelling was the key in the first set win. Trine rebounded in the second set, winning 26-24. The Cougars pushed Trine to a 16-16 tie despite falling behind early. IU Kokomo ran off four straight points, thanks in part to Trine errors, to take a 21-19 lead. Trine held on, tied the match at 24, and scored the final two points to take the set and even the match at two games a piece. IU Kokomo dominated the third game behind the efforts of Pelling and Spall. Throughout the third game and the decisive fourth game, Spall would be a force at the net. “We did a good job of setting up our money plays,” said Snoddy. “We had players step up and make the play when we needed them to.” Leading the match, 2-1, the Cougars were geared to finish off Trine in the fourth set. The visitors would not go without a fight. Trine sprinted to an 8-3 lead but the Cougars kept their composure. “In the past, we would let a run by our opponent affect us,” Snoddy explained. “We’ve grown out of that. We keep our heads and set up our money plays.” The Cougars clawed their way back and an ace by West capped a 7-2 run that ended with IU Kokomo holding a 14-13 lead, forcing a Trine timeout. Out of the timeout, Trine tied the game thanks to an IU Kokomo service error. Spall responded for the Cougars with a spike. Trine scored again, tying it at 15. The set would be tied six more times as the teams traded points. Trine finally put two points together to take a 23-21 lead. A couple of errors later, Trine led 24-22 and the Cougars were down to their last chance. Spall scored on a spike and Trine committed a four-hit error. Suddenly the game was tied at 24 as Spall added a second spike to make it 25-24 in favor of the Cougars. The visitors gave it one last gasp, scoring on a kill and tying the game at 25. Williams scored on a block to give the Cougars a one-point edge. Armstrong’s spike ended the set and match, giving IU Kokomo its first home win. With all of the home games on the shelf, the Cougars will be road warriors the rest of the way. Something that is OK with Snoddy. http://newsroom.iuk.edu/athletics.html?start=54[8/13/2014 8:01:06 AM]

IU Kokomo Athletics “Our girls play well on the road,” she said. “In the places we’ve been, we haven’t seen a crowd as large as we’ve had here at home.” The Cougars will travel to Goshen College on Oct. 13 for a 7 p.m. game. Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

Volleyball team goes pink for breast cancer awareness 0 5 O C T O B ER 2 0 1 1

KOKOMO, Ind. – Indiana University Kokomo’s official school colors might be cream and crimson, but on Thursday, October 6, it’s all about the pink. The volleyball team and the Medical Imaging Club will join the fight against breast cancer at the last home game of the season. The “Dig Pink” match will be played to benefit the Side-Out Foundation, a support and advocacy group for breast cancer patients and their families. The Cougars will take on the Trine University Thunder at 7 p.m. at Northwestern High School. “We’re looking for a pink out!” said Kathryn Stremiecki, coordinator of programming and applied learning. All spectators wearing pink will be admitted free of charge. Even the volleyball team will be sporting pink with custom made jerseys, courtesy of various campus donors. The event is especially meaningful for Volleyball Coach Kristen Snoddy, who has a personal experience with breast cancer. “My mother is a two-time breast cancer survivor,” Snoddy said. “The night is particularly special to me because she will turn 85 the following day, and is able to lead an active and independent life because of the lifesaving treatments she has received.” The Medical Imaging Club will provide giveaways for the crowd, as well as information brochures on breast cancer early detection and awareness. Erica Boyd, past president of the Medical Imaging Club and radiology student specializing in mammography, will also give a brief presentation about the facts and risks of breast cancer. “Education is a very powerful tool, and if we get valid, reliable information out there, we might be able to save somebody’s life,” said Heidi Sebastian, clinical coordinator/clinical assistant professor and advisor of the Medical Imaging Club. “This is a great opportunity to get the word out about breast cancer to the campus and to the community.” The Side-Out Foundation was founded in 2004 to unify volleyball players and coaches in support of breast cancer awareness. Each year, thousands of volleyball teams across the country hold Dig Pink matches to support Side-Out, which in turn provides funds to various organizations that serve breast cancer patients in research, medical services or emotional support. Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so by visiting IU Kokomo’s Side-Out Web site at www.sideout.org/application/ous/fundraising_page/46360. The event is co-sponsored by the volleyball team, the Student Athletic and Wellness Board and the Medical Imaging Club. Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

http://newsroom.iuk.edu/athletics.html?start=54[8/13/2014 8:01:06 AM]

IU Kokomo Athletics

IU Kokomo starts strong, fades against Indiana Tech 3 0 S E P T E MBER 2 0 1 1

KOKOMO, Ind. - Indiana University Kokomo’s volleyball team has come a long way in just two months. Matched against a strong opponent, the young Cougars put together one of their strongest outings of the season. The Cougars faced off against the Indiana Tech Warriors on Thursday, Sept. 29, at Northwestern High School. After coming out strong in the first two games, the Cougars faded down the stretch, losing to the Warriors in five sets. Indiana Tech headed back to northern Indiana with a 21-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-19, 1816 victory. Coach Kristen Snoddy was pleased with the effort her team put forth. “They played with a lot of heart,” Snoddy said. “They are in the locker room sorry they lost but happy about how hard they played.” The Cougars appeared to be the dominant team in the first two games, winning 25-21 and 25-23. The first set was evenly played until Tech put together a four-point run to take a 20-17 lead. Strong play from Shelby Spall and Jenna Pelling swung the momentum the other way, and the Cougars scored eight of the next nine points to claim the first set. Krista Armstrong scored the winning point with a strong kill at the net. The second set brought more of the same for the home team. The Cougars put some distance between them and the Warriors, taking a 15-10 lead. The Warriors roared back on a couple of aces from Bridjet Rowan and two IU Kokomo errors. Tech tied the set at 18, but once again the Cougars rose up with a strong scoring run, capped with a spike from Armstrong to make it 23-19. Tech cut the lead to 24-23 but committed an error that gave the set to IU Kokomo, 25-23.

Sophomore Krista Armstrong (1) sets the ball while freshman libero Emily West (6) looks on.

Snoddy admits her young team might not have handled some of the strong runs by Tech the same two months ago. “There is no doubt we’ve grown as a team,” she said. “There have been times when a team put a run on us and we didn’t respond. That isn’t the case anymore.” Tech rebounded in the next two sets, mainly behind the strong net play of Christine Foest. The 6-2 freshman was dominant at the net and serving. In the third set, the Warriors jumped to a 6-1 lead. The Cougars cut the lead to one twice in the third set, but never got closer than two. The fourth set saw more of the same from Foest and the Warriors as Tech built a 10-5 lead. Tech’s Emileen Palka added a pair of aces en route to the 25-19 win. http://newsroom.iuk.edu/athletics.html?start=54[8/13/2014 8:01:06 AM]

IU Kokomo Athletics With the match tied at two sets apiece, the teams faced off for the fifth and final set – a race to 15. Heart and determination were not lacking on either side of the net as the teams battled to a 10-10 tie. Palka added an ace to make 11-10. IU Kokomo responded with a point of its own before the Warriors scored two quick points, making it 13-11. The Cougars scored four of the next six points and the set was tied at 15. Having to win by two, the Warriors struck first with a kill from Foest. A service error gave IU Kokomo one more point to tie it at 16. Indiana Tech quickly scored the next two points and all of a sudden the hard-fought match was over. Despite the outcome, Snoddy was nothing but proud of how her team responded to the pressure. “Becoming mentally tough is definitely something we’ve worked on,” Snoddy said. “We hung in there and we didn’t let the pressure get to us.” Statistically, the Cougars were led by Rachael Williams with 69 assists. Emily West finished with 27 digs and Armstrong had 17. Pelling was the leader in kills with 14 while Spall and Armstrong each added nine. The Cougars last home game is set for Thursday, Oct. 6, at Northwestern High School beginning at 7 p.m. Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

Women's volleyball brings home second win 2 3 S E P T E MBER 2 0 1 1

The Cougar women's volleyball team traveled to Ancilla to compete in a tri-match with Ancilla and Grace Colleges. The Cougars fell to Ancilla in 4 sets, yet defeated Grace in 5 sets, a team they had split matches with earlier in the season. Coach Kristen Snoddy felt good about the team's effort remarking, "The team showed a lot of heart, competing for almost four straight hours and winning the deciding set against Grace at the tail end of the tri-match."

The Women's Volleyball team does a quick rally.

Indiana University Kokomo unveils new bus 2 3 S E P T E MBER 2 0 1 1

http://newsroom.iuk.edu/athletics.html?start=54[8/13/2014 8:01:06 AM]

IU Kokomo Athletics

KOKOMO, Ind. – The Indiana University Kokomo community has a vibrant, new, and exciting way to travel. Make way for the IU Kokomo Bus! Friday morning (September 23) the freshly decorated bus made its way through campus, stopping outside the Main Building for a celebration of faculty, staff, students, and – of course – the IU Kokomo Cougar. Sports teams and other student organizations that need to travel will use the bus for their respective activities.

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The bus will make its maiden voyage tonight with the volleyball team in tow. “We’re traveling to Donaldson this evening for a tri-match against Ancilla College and Grace College,” said Coach Kristen Snoddy. “We were certainly hoping they would get the graphics on before the end of the season, so this is awesome.” Being able to travel together is an important part of the team’s mentality, Snoddy said. “We have taken separate vans before and it just wasn’t the same,” she said. “Hopefully the bus will spur us on for another win tonight!” Roy Tamir, vice chancellor for administration and finance, is thrilled with the look of the bus and, more importantly, being able to provide safe transportation for students, faculty, and staff on university-related trips. “The new bus looks fantastic, but the main reason for its purchase was to ensure the safety of all who travel representing IU Kokomo,” Tamir said. “Also, we are now able to share our campus pride in the communities we visit.” Trent Murray, a freshman member of the basketball team, was also there to check out the new ride. “The graphics are very detailed and I think it looks really nice,” he said. “I can’t wait to ride in it this season.” Murray hopes the bus will bring some extra enthusiasm for the athletic programs. http://newsroom.iuk.edu/athletics.html?start=54[8/13/2014 8:01:06 AM]

IU Kokomo Athletics “We’re going to be riding in style,” he added. Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

The learning process continues for volleyball team 1 5 S E P T E MBER 2 0 1 1

KOKOMO, Ind - The Indiana University Kokomo Cougars women’s volleyball team is making strides, as evidenced by last week’s road win against Grace College. On Wednesday night, the Cougars faced off once more against the Lancers, this time on IU Kokomo’s home court at Northwestern High School. The result may not be considered as historic as the first win as the Cougars pushed Grace but came up short, losing in the four set match, 3-1. Coach Kristen Snoddy said things are headed in right direction for the young team. “We are still making lots of errors,” Snoddy said. “But we are getting better. It is nice to see how many people are here for the game. There is a real sense of community and that’s good.”

Liz Barney (15) and Krista Armstrong (1) keep the volley going. See More

The first set was the proverbial slugfest with neither team giving any quarter. Neither team built more than a three-point lead until late in the set when Grace rattled off six points to make it 21-16. Shelby Spall and Jenna Pelling both scored winners for the Cougars in a three-point run to cut the lead to 21-19. Grace scored the next two points making it 23-19. Peling scored on a tip to make it 23-19 but the Lancers returned the favor, leaving them one point from the win. Trailing 24-20, the Cougars responded with ferocity worthy of their namesake. Fueled by points from Pelling and some Lancer errors, IU Kokomo stormed back to a 25-24 lead. Unfortunately for the home team, Grace was equal to the task and scored three straight points to take the 27-25 win. The Cougars shook off any effects from the loss in the second game, dominating the Lancers at the net most of the way. Led by Pelling and Spall, the Cougars raced to an 18-11 lead before Grace recovered. The Lancers closed the gap to 20-16 before the Cougars pieced together a 5-3 run to finish out the set and claim the 25-19 win. The third set saw the equally matched teams again battled to a near draw. Strong play on both sides of the net left the Lancers clinging to a 19-16 lead late in set. Grace tallied two points to make it 20-16. IUK, once again, rose to the occasion and ran off five http://newsroom.iuk.edu/athletics.html?start=54[8/13/2014 8:01:06 AM]

IU Kokomo Athletics consecutive points to take a 21-20 lead. Grace wasn’t to be denied, however, a 5-1 run finished the third set at 25-22. The fourth set was nearly all Grace as the Lancers cruised to an 18-8 advantage. Even if they were running out of gas, the Cougars weren’t going down without a fight. IU Kokomo pieced together an 8-1 run to cut the lead to 19-16. The Lancers stood their ground and IU Kokomo never got closer than 22-20. Three straight Lancer points finished the scoring and gave Grace the 25-20 win. Pelling led the way for the Cougars with 14 kills while Spall added 12. Rachael Williams continues to be the backbone of the offense at the setter position as she finished with 32 assists. On defense, Emily West led with 18 digs and Williams had nine. Pelling and Spall each had nine blocks on the night. The Cougars return to action on Sept. 23 at Ancilla College. IU Kokomo returns home on Sept. 29 to take on Indiana Tech with a start time of 7 p.m.

Cougar Women’s Volleyball nets first win against Grace College

Tailgate party kicks off opening of IU Kokomo women’s volleyball

1 0 S E P T E MBER 2 0 1 1

28 AUGUST 2011

KOKOMO, Ind. – Indiana University Kokomo Cougar Women’s Volleyball team made history on Saturday (Sept. 10) by winning its first game against Grace College. The Cougars beat the Lancers 25-22, 25-22.

KOKOMO, Ind. – More than 300 people joined in the celebration and support of the Indiana University Kokomo women’s volleyball team at a tailgate party and inaugural home opener on Sunday (August 28).

Student Jordan Ousley gets his war paint for the first Cougar Coach Snoddy and the team celebrate scoring a point. “This is an amazing accomplishment for our team,” said Coach Kristen Snoddy. “We have come together in a short amount of time and have proven we are competitive and driven. I am so proud of all the players.”

Cougar fans of all ages enjoyed great food, fun and music, including the t-shirt launcher and corn hole games, sponsored by the IU Kokomo Alumni Association. The Cougar Women’s Volleyball team played the Trailblazers of Vincennes University at Northwestern High School. “I’m excited for the first game ever at IUK,” said senior Jordan

http://newsroom.iuk.edu/athletics.html?start=54[8/13/2014 8:01:06 AM]

IU Kokomo Athletics Chancellor Michael Harris attended the game and shared the proud moment with the team.

“I am thrilled to share this amazing experience with the coaches and the team who have worked so hard to reach this goal,” Harris said. “They are fulfilling the dream and vision of the campus by proving to be a first-rate team. This is a great, historic day for IU Kokomo and its future as a world class regional campus.”

Spearheading the victory were setter Rachael Williams' 21 assists, middle hitter Jenna Pelling's 8 kills, and libero Emily

Ousley. “I think we're going to have a good year. It's something for these girls to build on for the future. I'm really excited to see how they do it.” IU Kokomo basketball player Seus Parker showed up to cheer on the volleyball team as well. “I can’t wait for the girls to play,” Parker said, a freshman. “I’m part of the basketball team and I think it’s important to support our girls’ first year out here. We’re all Cougars.” The IU Kokomo Crescendos led the crowd in the IU fight song. Students, faculty, and staff were on hand to share in Cougar pride and enjoy the pre-game festivities.

West's 10 digs.

“I’m really excited to be here for the game,” said Professor of Finance Dianne Roden, as she enjoyed the tailgate party. “It’s such a beautiful day and there are so many people here. There is a camaraderie and excitement and energy that is great.”

The Cougars host Grace College at 7 p.m. this Wednesday, September 14, at their home site of Northwestern High School.

Chancellor Michael Harris, who encouraged and supported club sports to be made available for students at IU Kokomo, was more than pleased with the turnout.

Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

“You can just feel the pride and excitement in the air,” he said. “I am so proud of our women’s volleyball team – win or lose. They have worked so hard, and I know they will continue to work even harder throughout the season.”

Women’s Volleyball team gains experience in first two games 28 AUGUST 2011

KOKOMO, Ind. – The start of athletics at Indiana University Kokomo got off with a big bang even though the women’s volleyball team went 0-2 in its opening weekend of play. Despite losing matches to Indiana Tech on Saturday and Vincennes University on Sunday, coach Kristen Snoddy said the Cougars gained something from the experience.

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IU Kokomo Volleyball Coach Kristen Snoddy is optimistic about the upcoming season. “We had some big improvement in terms of fewer errors. In terms of intensity we had some longer runs,” she said after the game. “If we continue to improve, I’m going to predict that we’re going to have some big wins.” The IU Kokomo Cougars will play Goshen College on September 6, at 7 p.m. at Northwestern High School. Kokomo’s Windmill Grill catered the event, while local DJ Kevin Boucher provided the music. Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

IU Kokomo Athletics

Liz Barney (15) gets the volleyball over the net. See More

“I saw dramatic improvement from one day to the next,” said Snoddy. “If we had played on Saturday like we did on Sunday, we’d have won that match.” Sunday the Cougars opened their home schedule at Northwestern High School against the Trailblazers before a packed house. The final scores were not indicative of the effort put forth by the new team. Vincennes won 25-15, 25-17 and 2512, despite a strong performance by IU Kokomo.

“Name the Cougar” contest begins; great prizes to top five name choices 28 AUGUST 2011

KOKOMO, Ind. – The large, furry Cougar mascot seen running around campus lately is in desperate need of a name. “Here kitty, kitty” has become quite disgraceful.

The first game of the match saw the Cougars fall down 7-0 before scoring their first point on a strong serve by Lael Burrus. The Trailblazers, thanks to the strong play by the back line, pushed the score to 18-6 before IU Kokomo could make another run. The Cougars cut the lead to 23-15 but Vincennes put the game away with two quick points.

To help out this feline fellow, the Media and Marketing department at Indiana University Kokomo is sponsoring a “Name the Cougar” contest, beginning Monday, August 29, through Friday, September 23.

The Cougars found their feet in the second game, battling to a 7-4 lead early in the match. Vincennes stormed back, reclaimed the lead at 9-8 and pushed its advantage to 21-17 before pulling away for the win.

“Without an identity, I don’t know who I am. I’m utterly lost,” said the Cougar. “Please help name me before I go insane and start thinking I’m a dog or something. I shudder at the thought of barking.”

In the best of five set, the Cougars fell behind early in the third match as Vincennes built a 13-3 lead. IU Kokomo never came closer than eight the rest of the way.

Prizes will be awarded to the top five entries: first place, an iPad 2; second place, an iPod Touch; third place, a Nook; fourth place, a $100 Visa gift card; and fifth place, a Cougar hoodie.

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The Cougar is anxiously awaiting his new moniker.

IU Kokomo Athletics

“Our improvement today (Sunday) was incredible,” Snoddy said. “We made about half as many mistakes as we did the day before.” Snoddy understands the pressure the players in a new program feel. “We were playing against a team with several scholarship players,” she said. “This is still a club sport for us. But we played well today and we will get better as the season goes along.” Against Vincennes, the Cougars were led by Krista Armstrong with 29 digs and Shelby Spall with six kills. Rachael Williams led the team with nine assists from the setter position. “I have to give Rachael credit,” Snoddy said. “She wasn’t really a setter but she knew we needed one. She stepped up and took the position when we needed her to.” In addition, the Cougars received solid play from Payton Landseadel, Jenna Peling, Brittany Royer, Alex Wylie, Emily West and Liz Barney. Indiana Tech The Cougars opened the season against Indiana Tech, losing 2516, 25-17, and 25-14. “We had some opening game jitters,” Snoddy said. “That was to be expected. We had lots of errors but we played with lots of emotion.” The next match for the Cougars is Sept. 6 against Goshen College at Northwestern High School with a 7 p.m. start time. On Sept. 10, IU Kokomo travels to Grace College for a threeway match with the first game at 9 a.m. Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

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Only IU Kokomo students can submit their entries online at www.iuk.edu/cougar. A committee will narrow down the submissions to three, and then students will have a chance to vote for the ultimate winner. The winning name will be announced on Thursday, September 29, at the Cougar Women’s Volleyball game against Indiana Tech at Northwestern High School, at 7 p.m. The top five winners will be notified ahead of time, and must be present at the game to claim their prize. Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.

IU Kokomo Athletics

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