ALMA, Mich. - A trip up north was a tough one for the Trine University volleyball team as they dropped their first conference game of the season to Alma College 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-21). The loss drops the Thunder to 12-3 on the year and 5-1 in the MIAA.
Trine took an early lead in the first set at 7-5 but Alma would score six straight points as the Thunder were unable to close the gap to more than four.
The Thunder would again take the early lead in set number two at 9-7. The two sides would trade points as the score was tied at 12 all. Alma would begin to take a lead but the Thunder rallied back to tie the match at 19-19. The two teams would again trade points pushing the tie score to 22 apiece. Alma would regain the lead but Trine would pull within one at 24-23 before Alma was able to grab the final point of the set.
The third set saw Trine take a commanding 7-0 lead to start the game. The Thunder continued to lead at 13-12, but the Scots would then score seven unanswered points to snatch the lead from Trine. Senior Betsy Irwin (Athens, Ohio /Alexander) cut the Alma lead to just two at 22-20, but the Thunder were unable to mount a comeback.
Sophomore Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) and freshman Taylor Rabel (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central) led the Thunder with six kills each. Searles also finished her night with eight digs. Irwin finished her evening with five kills. Senior Sarah Radekin (Athens, Ohio /Alexander) led Trine with 15 assists while adding in six digs.
Freshman Lauren Verkamp (Franklin, Ind./Franklin Community) led the Thunder defense with a game-high 10 digs while fellow freshman Stephanie Radandt (Walkerton, Ind./John Glenn) knocked down three blocks.
The biggest difference for the match was attacking errors as the Thunder hit just .009 for the match while the Scots managed a .243 hitting percentage. It was the first time the Thunder have been swept this season.
Trine will have no time to rest as they go right back to work on September 22 when they host #2 Calvin College at 1:00 p.m.
