ANGOLA, IND.-- After dropping the first set to Adrian, Trine rallied back to win the final three sets and defeat Adrian 3-1 in MIAA-action Tuesday evening in Hershey Hall.
After falling in the first set 25-22, the Thunder rallied back for dominating 25-13, 25-17 and 25-17 victories in the final three sets to earn the win. Lauren Verkamp (Franklin, Ind./Franklin Community) and Taylor Rabel (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central) each notched double-doubles to lead the way for Trine. Verkamp hit an efficient .344 on her way to a 14-kill, 10-dig performance. Rabel added 13 kills and 10 digs. Trine outhit Adrian by a .230 to .058 margin. Cassadine Reed led the Bulldog attack with seven kills. The Thunder improve to 7-1 on the season, including a 3-1 mark in MIAA play. The Bulldogs are 8-6 overall and 2-3 in league matches.
Olivia Deck (Lansing, Mich./Grand Ledge) provided a big spark for the Trine attack, putting away a season-high 10 kills and hitting .400. Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) set the attack with 38 assists. She added 17 digs to bring her career-total to 1,000. Searles is the ninth player to accomplish that feat in the Division III-era at Trine. Mikayla Carpenter (Huntington, Ind./Huntington North) added a match-high 23 digs.
A solid defensive effort by the Thunder held Jordan Brisson to just five kills on a -.032 hitting percentage. Brisson entered the match tied for fourth in the MIAA in kills. Marisa Dion passed her way to 22 assists for the Bulldogs. Haley Mellon notched a team-high 15 digs.
Trine seized control after dropping the first set. The Thunder used a six-point run in the second-set, a five-point run in the third and a seven-point run in the final set to gain separation and put each respective set out of reach.
Trine returns to action Friday when they travel to Hope to face the no. 1-ranked Flying Dutchmen. Hope is the second no. 1-ranked team the Thunder have faced this season.
