Cedar Rapids -- For a number of years now, the Indian Hills and Kirkwood volleyball teams have played once each season with the venue switching between Ottumwa and the Eagles' home court at Johnson Hall.  After Tuesday's match, it's too bad these two teams won't get a chance for a rematch.  The No. 6 Warriors and No. 9 (DII) Eagles battled through five sets with Indian Hills prevailing with a 15-12 win in the decisive set.  Kirkwood battled back to tie the match by winning the fourth set, 25-22, and took a quick 4-0 lead in set five.  The Warriors regrouped, however, tying the score at 5-all, then taking the lead for good and holding on for the victory.

Indian Hills dropped the opening set, 25-23, before winning two in a row, 25-20 and 29-27.  It was the fourth five-set win already this season for IHCC, now 13-3.

There were some remarkable statistics for both teams after the marathon match.  For Indian Hills, Jessica DaSilva led the net play with 22 kills and a hitting percentage of .279.  Brooke Johnson-Watkins hit .300 with 12 kills.  Setter Yasmin Assis had a whopping 61 assists and Camila Nicoletti had 37 digs, one of five Warriors in double figures in digs.  Thayna Birimba had 18, one more than teammate Shenglan Chen. 

It's the start of a tough stretch for the Warriors, the first of six matches during the week.  They will play Carl Sandburg at home on Wednesday night, then go to Hutchinson, Kans. for a tourney this weekend.