DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Trine University volleyball team earned a split in their tri-match, as they defeated Mount St. Joseph 3-1 (25-18, 20-25, 25-17, 25-14) in the opener before falling to host Defiance College by the same score, 3-1 (24-26,27-25,25-20,25-18). The Thunder are now 10-11 overall on the season.
In the first game, the Thunder used every player on their bench in the win over the Lions. Trine spread the ball around in the match as seven different players had multiple kills. The Thunder had a solid game at the net as they finished with 9.5 blocks in the game including tying an individual season-high by sophomore Stephanie Radandt (Walkerton, Ind./John Glenn) who had seven.
In the nightcap, the Thunder jumped out to an early comeback victory in the first set over the Yellow Jackets, but Trine was unable to pull out a close second set as Defiance took the final three sets. Radandt added three more blocks in the match as the Thunder finished with six total. Sophomore Taylor Rabel (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central) led the Thunder with a team-high 13 kills.
For the day, Rabel led the Thunder with 21 kills while adding 13 digs and four blocks. Sophomore Lauren Verkamp (Franklin, Ind./Franklin Community) was second on the team with 13 kills while tying the team lead with 19 digs and also adding four blocks. Lauren's twin sister Megan and junior Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) each added 10 kills. Megan would lead the team with 10 aces on the day while Searles would dish out 49 assists to go along with 16 digs.
Radandt would lead the Thunder with 10 blocks on the afternoon. Senior Carlee Felber (Newman, Calif./Orestimba) tied Verkamp with the team lead making 19 digs while junior Erin Lewis (Farmland, Ind./Winchester Community) added 13 of her own.
Trine returns to the court to face No. 2 ranked Hope College on Oct 9 at 6:30 p.m.