The Indiana Tech community is mourning the sudden loss of Liz Lykowski, a defensive specialist for the Warrior volleyball team who died unexpectedly on Sunday.

Lykowski, a senior business administration major, had a congenital heart defect that could only have been detected through surgery. She was 21 years old.

Lykowski had been Indiana Tech's first out-of-state recruits when the women's volleyball program was reinstated in 2005 and was one of four seniors who had been with the team since its beginning.

"Liz was a very compassionate, kind, hard-working, and determined young woman," said volleyball coach Kirsta Solberg.  "She was also a fun-loving prankster!  She was very talented on and off the court and worked very hard to be the best at what she loved.  She was truly a blessing to know."

Funeral services will be held near her hometown of Ottawa Lake, Mich. Calling hours are 2 to 9 pm. Thursday, October 9, at Pawlak Funeral Home, 1640 Smith Road, Temperance, Mich. The service will be 11 a.m. Friday, October 10, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 1690 W. Sterns Road, Temperance, Mich. For directions, visit http://www.pawlakfuneralhome.com/directions.htm

Hundreds of students, faculty, and staff gathered for a candlelight vigil at Indiana Tech on Monday to honor and remember Lykowski. Team captain Laura Booker, who also was one of the team's founding members, was one of those who shared her memories at the vigil.

"Liz was very important to every single one of us," she told mourners at the vigil. "She was loved by so many - not just by us on the team."

Indiana Tech volleyball matches for October 7, 9, 10 and 11 were canceled to allow team members and coaches some time to cope with their grief and attend the funeral services.