HOLLAND, MICH. – The Trine women's volleyball team defeated nationally-ranked Hope College by the score of 3-1.
The Thunder made a statement early, scoring the first point of the match on a kill from freshman Sarah Toles (Kendallville/East Noble). The first set was a back and forth affair culminating in a 24-24 tie, before the Flying Dutch scored the final two points to win 26-24.
Trine was not deterred by the loss, junior Raven Hood (Monroe, Mich./Airport) started off the second set with a service ace. The two teams would trade points through the first half of the set leading to a 15-15 tie. Toles would break the tie with a kill, and the Thunder would win the next four points to go up 19-15. They would hold that lead and Toles would finish off the set with another kill for a 25-21 win.
Hope would score the first points of the third set and would ultimately build a 9-6 lead. Trine responded with a nine-point run behind the serving of Hood. Toles and junior Shannon Scott (Vicksburg, Mich./Vicksburg) would each add kills and would share a block during the run. The Thunder would once again not relinquish the lead and finished off the set for a 25-22 win, putting them up 2-1 in the match.
The fourth, and final, set was all about Trine with the Thunder leading the set from start to finish. Their largest lead of the night came in the set when they built an 18-10 lead. Trine would go on to win the set 25-19, to complete the 3-1 upset of Hope.
Freshman Emma Gaff (Hamilton/Hamilton) led both teams by recording 13 kills in the match. Toles finished second on the team with nine kills and three service aces, she also added a team high five blocking assists. Scott finished the night with eight kills and a team high .316 attack percentage. Junior Emma Lucas (Hamilton/Hamilton) finished the night with two solo blocks and a blocking assist.
Freshman Lindsey DeCamp (New Haven/New Haven) led both teams in two categories, with 22 digs and five service aces. Hood led Trine with 21 assists and added three service aces of her own.
The Thunder return home tomorrow, Oct. 7 for an 11 a.m. match against Albion College.