ANGOLA, Ind. - The Trine University volleyball team knew they were in for a tough match, playing No. 2 ranked Hope College. The Thunder fell in straight sets 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-19), but led in both the second and third sets. The loss drops the Thunder to 10-12 overall and 4-6 in the MIAA.
All three sets were very competitive early on, but the Thunder were unable to hang on and take a set from the Flying Dutch. In the first set Hope jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but the Thunder fought to bring it back to 6-6. After that Hope never looked back, as they went on a 16-4 run in the middle of the set.
The beginning of the second set was a back and forth battle as the teams exchanged five lead changes and nine ties. The score got to 10-10 at one point during the set but from there, Hope managed to gain a 21-14 lead late in the second set. Trine tried to pull a late set comeback scoring four straight the pull within four before Hope nabbed the final point.
The final set looked very promising for the Thunder as they held the lead most of the set. The largest lead for Trine in the set was a five point difference and that happened seven times, the last coming at 16-11. Late in the set the Thunder watched that lead slowly slip away as the Dutch eventually brought the lead back to their side, making it 19-18 before closing out the set.
Sophomore Taylor Rabel (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central) worked her way to eight kills on the night to led the Thunder. Sophomores Olivia Deck (Lansing, Mich./Grand Ledge) and Lauren Verkamp (Franklin, Ind./Franklin Community) added 4 kills apiece.
Junior Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) dished out 16 assists on the night and also led the Thunder with eight digs. Fellow junior Erin Lewis (Farmland, Ind./Winchester Community) also added seven digs on the night.
Trine will take the weekend off before returning to action on Oct. 15 when they travel to Calvin for a 6:30 p.m. match.