ALMA, Mich.-- The Trine volleyball team dropped a key MIAA match at Alma, 25-12, 22-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-12 Tuesday evening at Art Smith Arena.
The Scots outhit the Thunder by a .208 to .096 margin on their way to earning the victory. Trine was led by Janaya Wilder (Decatur, Ind./Bellmont), who finished with 13 kills and 10 digs to earn her fifth double-double of the season. Alma was led by Hannah Guilford's 16 kills and 20 digs. The result of the match creates a logjam in the MIAA standings, with four teams separated by just one loss in the race for the third and fourth seeds in the upcoming conference tournament. Trine is currently in fourth at 12-14 overall, 8-7 in conference matches. Alma is 11-15 overall, 7-7 in league action.
Lauren Verkamp (Franklin, Ind./Franklin Community) reached the 1,000-career dig milestone with nine digs in the match. Verkamp is one of 12 players in team history to accomplish that feat. Mikayla Carpenter (Huntington, Ind./Huntington North) paced the defensive effort with 23 digs. Carpenter is averaging a half a dig per set more than any other player in conference play.
Taylor Rabel (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central) notched 11 kills to pass Jennifer Knapp (1994-97) for third on Trine's all-time list. Rabel now has 1,107 kills in her collegiate career.
Maggie Miller notched 14 kills for the Scots, while Kendall Sells added 11 kills. Dakota Pelach filled the stat sheet with six kills, 33 assists, two service aces and 16 digs. Alma notched 10 service aces as a team and out-blocked Trine by an 11-6 margin. The Thunder entered the match leading the conference in blocks per set in league matches.
Trine's two victories were the only sets in which the Thunder managed to hit over .100. Rabel notched six kills in the second set, while Shannon Scott (Vicksburg, Mich./Vicksburg) and Wilder each picked up four kills in the third set. Trine did not lead in the match until overcoming a 16-9 deficit t to take a 21-20 lead late in the second set.
The fourth set was tight throughout, but a late three-point run by the Scots opened up a 23-18 lead and proved too much for the Thunder to fight back from. Trine was able to stave off match point five times in set five to pull within 14-12, but a block by Madison Smith gave the Scots the victory.
Trine concludes the regular season this Saturday, Oct. 31 at Calvin. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
