HOLLAND, Mich. - In their final regular season game of the year, the Trine University volleyball team fell to Hope College 3-0 (25-9, 25-19, 25-16). The Thunder now head into the MIAA Tournament with an overall record of 18-11 and finish the conference season with a 9-7 record.
The Thunder struggled in the opening set, hitting -.160 to start the match. Fifth ranked Hope started the game on a 12-3 run, as Trine scored three straight to try and get back on track. From there though, the Flying Dutch would score six straight points as the Thunder were unable to find their offensive power.
In the second set after Trine score the first two points, it looked like Hope would again run away with the set. However, this time the Thunder would find a way to get back into their offensive rhythm as they scored six of the next seven points after trailing 11-4. After the two teams traded points, Trine would again go on a 7-3 scoring run to tie the set at 17-17, forcing Hope to call a timeout. Hope would score the first two points out of the timeout, before Trine was able to get back on the board to pull back within one. From there though, the nationally ranked Flying Dutch would be too much for the Thunder as they pulled away, scoring six of the final seven points.
The final set once again belonged to Hope as they started on a 10-1 run. Trine would put in a last ditch effort to climb back into it as they scored three consecutive points to cut the Flying Dutch lead to 10 and then score five of the next six to cut the lead down to eight before Hope was able to score the final point of the match.
Freshman Taylor Rabel (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central) led the Thunder with seven kills while making six digs on the night. Senior Betsy Irwin (Athens, Ohio /Alexander) finished her final conference match with four kills.
Sophomore Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) earned her 19th double-double of the season finishing the match with 15 assists and a game-high 12 digs.
Trine now waits to see whom they will play in the MIAA Tournament. If Alma wins their match against Adrian, the Thunder will face top seeded Calvin. If Alma were to lose to Adrian, Trine would then face a re-match with Hope. The conference tournament will begin on November 2 hosted by Calvin College with match times to be determined.