BOSTON, MASS.-- The Trine volleyball team concluded a perfect weekend at the Beacon Invitational with sweeps over Emerson and Roger Williams Saturday afternoon at Clark Athletic Gym.
The sweep runs Trine's record to 18-3, tying the 2012 team for the most wins in a season since the 1999 team finished 27-18. The Thunder did not drop a set all weekend, and have now won 15-consecutive sets. Trine accomplished that feat against teams that entered the weekend a combined 54-20. The Thunder have now won five-straight matches. The team got outstanding balance from the attack today, with five players recording 10 or more kills. Annie Phillips (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) provided a big spark in extended playing time, leading the team with 17 kills and adding 21 digs.
Trine 3, Emerson 0
The Thunder cruised to victory in all three sets to extend their winning-streak to four.
Phillips stepped up into a bigger role for the Thunder, finishing with a career-high 10 kills on a .421 hitting percentage. The freshman added seven digs and four service aces. Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) added eight kills, and hit .467 while passing out 30 assists and adding seven digs.
Olivia Deck (Lansing, Mich./Grand Ledge) chipped in with seven kills and hit an efficient .462. Megan Verkamp (Franklin, Ind./Franklin Community) added seven kills of her own and hit .300. The Thunder outhit the Lions by a .352 to .080 margin. That included a scalding .571 effort in the final set.
Jules Augustine notched six kills to lead Emerson. Sam Harton notched a match-high 13 digs for the Lions.
Emerson fell to 13-10 on the season with the loss.
Trine 3, Roger Williams 0
The Thunder sweep halted Roger Williams' winning-streak at 13 matches.
A balanced attack and stingy defense was the story once again. This time, it was Lauren Verkamp (Franklin, Ind./Franklin Community) leading the attack with nine kills. Deck added eight kills and hit .316. Phillips contributed seven kills and a career-high 14 digs. The Thunder hit .227 in the match.
Mikayla Carpenter (Huntington, Ind./Huntington North) paced the defensive effort with 21 digs. Searles added 12 digs, and notched 30 assists and five kills. Deck and Lauren Verkamp each added three solo blocks. The Thunder held Roger Williams to an .098 hitting percentage, a little under half their season average.
Kristin Boyer paced Roger Williams with 10 kills. Elizabeth Flaherty added seven kills and 15 digs. Maria Bates notched a match-high 24 digs for RW.
The Thunder return to conference play Tuesday, Oct. 14 when they host MIAA-foe St. Mary's at 7 p.m. in Hershey Hall.
