ANGOLA, IND. -- The Trine University men's volleyball team defeated Concordia University Wisconsin, 3-0, to wrap up the "Off the Block Grow the Game Challenge" at Hershey Hall in Angola, Ind.
The Thunder defeated the Falcons by the scores of 25-22, 25-16 and 25-18.
The first set remained close throughout with neither team leading by more than three points. Highlighting the set was the play of freshman Parker Beale (Noblesville, Ind./Fishers) who tallied eight of his match-high 16 kills. Trine (2-3) took the lead for good late in the set with the score tied at 21-21 when back-to-back kills by Beale and sophomore Kyle Dixon (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Twp.), accompanied by a CUW error, put the Thunder out ahead by three points, 24-21. The Falcons extended the game with a kill of their own to get to within two points, 24-22, but another offense error on the next point gave Trine what it needed to come away with a 25-22 victory.
Trine took command of the second set right from the start and were given a 12-4 lead thanks to a series of offensive errors by Concordia and kills by Beale, Dixon and a service ace by freshman Dominic Saenz (Wall Twp., N.J./Wall). Trine went to lead by as many as eight points as the lead was never threatened and resulted in a 25-16 win and a 2-0 match lead.
The Thunder had their work cut out for them in the third set as the game remained close with a one-point edge, 18-17, after a Concordia kill. The Thunder then pulled away with five unanswered points that included kills by Dixon, Beale and Boren which made the score, 23-17, in favor of the home squad. After a Trine error, the Thunder tallied the final two points to capture the set, 25-18, and seal a 3-0 match sweep.
Trine will host a tri-match against St. Norbert (Wis.) College and Trinity Christian (Ill.) College next Saturday, Feb. 1 at Hershey Hall. The first match against St. Norbert is set to begin at 11 a.m.