ANGOLA, Ind. - In their final home game of the season, the Trine University volleyball squad dropped a tough three-set match to Alma 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-15). The loss drops the Thunder to 18-9 on the season and 9-5 in the MIAA.
Trine got off to an early lead in the first set, winning four of the first five points. Alma would slowly inch their way back, but the Thunder would fight off the rally to take a five point lead at 15-10. Alma would then score four straight points to pull within one. After both sides traded points, Alma would go on to score five straight points to take their first lead of the set. The Thunder would tie the match at 21 all, but Alma would take four of the final five points to win the set.
Set number two would be a see-saw battle, as the teams exchanged five lead changes. Trine led early at 5-2, but Alma came back to take a 9-8 lead. Later in the set it was Trine who would battle back to tie the set at 17-17 after scoring four straight points. After Alma score consecutive points to take a 23-19 lead, the Thunder would again battle back, scoring three straight points to pull within two, but the Scots earned the final two points off Trine errors.
The final set it started out as a close match, but with the score tied 3-3, Alma would go on a scoring run to take an 11-6 lead. The Thunder were unable to respond as Alma went on two extended scoring runs to put the game away.
Playing in her final home match of her career, Trine’s all-time kills leader senior Betsy Irwin (Athens, Ohio /Alexander) led all players with a game-high 12 kills. Sophomore Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) earned her 17th double-double of the season with 12 digs and 11 assists while adding in seven kills.
Trine’s other senior Sarah Radekin (Athens, Ohio /Alexander) led the Thunder with three aces while dishing out 17 assist and making seven digs. Junior Darcy Crabtree (Muncie, Ind./Wes-Del) ended the afternoon with a match-high 15 digs.
The biggest difference in the match came at the net as Trine finished with 18 attack errors compared to just seven for Alma, including none in the second set.
Trine will take a few days off before heading out on the road to face fourth ranked, and conference leading Calvin on October 24 at 6:30 p.m.