ANGOLA, Ind. - The Trine University volleyball team put up a tough fight against the fourth ranked Hope College but were unable to take down the Flying Dutch, falling 3-0 (25-21, 25-11, 25-15). The Thunder are now 12-5 overall and 5-3 in the MIAA.
Both sides had their difficulties in the opening set as each team finishing negative in hitting. Hope would score the first four points of the match, as the Thunder tried to rally. Later in the set Trine was able to do just that when they scored six straight points to pull within one at 19-18. The two sides would trade points again, but with the score 22-21, the Flying Dutch would score the final three points to take the set.
The Thunder would hang close to start the second set as they took the opening point. The two sides traded points as neither team was able to take a significant lead early on. Hope would breakthrough with the score 7-6, scoring five straight points. From there the Thunder were unable to hold off the Flying Dutch rally as they scored eight of the final nine points of the set.
The final set would again see the Thunder hang tough to start the set. After Hope took an early 3-0 lead, Trine would rally to tie the game at 4-4. The Flying Dutch would tally four straight points to take an 8-4 lead but the Thunder would again rally to tie the set at 11-11. The number four team in the country would be too much for the Thunder down the stretch though as they out-scored Trine 14-4 to take the set and the game.
Freshman Taylor Rabel (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central) led the Thunder with seven kills on the night. Senior Betsy Irwin (Athens, Ohio /Alexander) and freshman Lauren Verkamp (Franklin, Ind./Franklin Community) each added in five kills. Sophomore Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) finished the night with team-high 12 digs and 10 assists for her 10th double-double of the season.
The Trine defense held Hope to their second lowest hitting percentage of the season, as the Dutch finished with a .162 compared to the Thunder at -.053.
Trine will travel to Washington D.C. this weekend for the Gallaudet University Worthington Classic where they will face the host team on September 28 at 2:00 p.m.