ANGOLA, Ind.-- The Trine volleyball team swept Olivet, 25-13, 25-13, 25-19 in MIAA-action Friday evening in Hershey Hall.
A well-balanced Thunder attack saw five Thunder players put away six kills or more. Megan Verkamp (Franklin, Ind./Franklin Community) and Janaya Wilder (Decatur, Ind./Bellmont) led the way with nine kills apiece. Verkamp added 17 assists and hit .350. Wilder notched a team-high six aces as the Trine dominated from the service line with 13 aces. Re'Gene Thompson notched 10 kills to lead the Comets. The Thunder improved to 11-13 overall, 7-6 in the MIAA. Trine is in third place in the MIAA and would hold a playoff spot if the season ended today. Olivet fell to 14-10 overall, 3-9 in conference matches.
Mikayla Carpenter (Huntington, Ind./Huntington North) contributed to the dominance from the service line for the Thunder with five aces. She also notched a team-high 13 digs.
Taylor Rabel (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central) notched seven kills, while Emma Bowman (Corvallis, Ore./St. Joseph) and Olivia Deck (Lansing, Mich./Grand Ledge) each put away six kills. Samantha Ihrie (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) passed out a team-high 19 assists. Trine hit a season-high .359 in the match.
Verkamp helped pace the fast start with five kills in the opening set. The Thunder hit .444 and notched six aces in the opening set. Bowman added four kills to help pace the quick start.
Trine hit a match-best .458 in the second set. Five players notched two or more kills in the set. The Thunder held the Comets to an .030 hitting percentage in the second set, Olivet's lowest mark of the night.
Four kills and two aces by Wilder led the way in the final set. Trine closed on a 9-4 run to earn the victory, with Wilder putting away three kills during that stretch.
The Thunder will play its final home match of the season tomorrow against Albion. First serve is set for 11 a.m.
Trine will honor its senior class of Rabel, Deck, Megan and Lauren Verkamp, Bridget Marlow (Trafalgar, Ind./Indian Creek) and Kelbie Titus (Valparaiso, Ind./Washington Township) prior to the match.
