ANGOLA, Ind. - It was the perfect ending to Senior Night for the Trine University volleyball team as senior’s Betsy Irwin (Athens, Ohio /Alexander) and Sarah Radekin (Athens, Ohio /Alexander) teamed up for the final point of their 3-2 (19-25, 25-14, 20-25, 25-15, 15-13) win over Olivet College.
What looked like an easy match-up for the Thunder (18-8, 9-4 MIAA) on paper, turned into a slugfest on the court with the Comets (5-17, 2-10 MIAA) as Trine went to five-sets for the first time at home this season.
After Trine fell behind early, the Comets would take the first set from the Thunder for the first time this season. Trine would roar back in the second set as they took the first point and never relinquished the lead from there as they dominated the set.
The third set would be hotly contested throughout as the two teams battled through 11 ties and seven lead changes. With Trine leading 15-14, the Comets would score six of the next eight points to take a three point lead. From there Thunder were unable to get back into the set as Olivet took the final three points of the set.
In the fourth set, both teams traded leads early on. Trine began to inch away from the Comets with the score tied 7-7. Trine would score four straight points to take the lead for good. Later in the set, Trine would score five straight points to take an eight point lead before closing out the game.
The fifth and final set was another battle for both teams as they exchanged five leads and 10 ties. After Olivet took the first point, the Thunder roared back to score the next three points. The two sides traded points after neither team could hold serve. With Trine leading 10-9, Olivet would score the next three points to take the lead. Trailing by two, the Thunder would again roar back scoring four straight points. The Comets would take the next point but the senior duo closed out the game as Radekin set Irwin for the final kill of the game.
Irwin finished with her second double-double of the season as she led all players with a 20 kills and a 10 blocks with a season-high six solo while adding six digs. Freshman Taylor Rabel (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central) finished the night with 12 kills and five digs. Fellow freshman Lauren Verkamp (Franklin, Ind./Franklin Community) added in eight kills and six digs for the match. Another freshman in Stephanie Radandt (Walkerton, Ind./John Glenn) finished with five kills and a season-high five blocks while hitting a game-best .455 from the floor.
Radekin and sophomore Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) each finished the night with a double-double, the fourth time they have both accomplished the feat in the same match. Searles led the team with 26 assists and a match-high 15 digs while Radekin finished with 23 assists and 12 digs. Junior Darcy Crabtree (Muncie, Ind./Wes-Del) also finished the night with 14 digs.
As a team, the Thunder had a season-high with 15 blocks and matched season-highs with 59 kills and 56 assists. The match marked the second time this season that three Trine players earned a double-double, the other coming against Bluffton on September 8.
Trine will get right back on the court as they host Alma for their final home game of the season on October 20 at 1:00 p.m.
