Richmond, Ind. -- The Trine University women's volleyball defeated Earlham in a three-set sweep. Despite the final score, the match was made up of three tight sets, with two requiring extra points to decide a winner.
Trine got off to a slow start in the first set finding themselves down 4-0 right off the back. The team would fight its way back, eventually pulling even at 13 before taking their first lead of the match, 14-13. The two teams would go back and forth through the rest of the set finding themselves tied five more times. The Thunder would finally take the win with a score of 29-27.
In the second set pulled out to an early 6-2 lead and would build up their lead to as much as 22-13 before finishing the set with the 25-20 victory.
In the final set, the two teams once again traded points much of the set, once again finding themselves tied in the late moments of the set. It would become the longest set of the night but the Thunder would finish off the match sweep with a 31-29 victory.
Two freshmen led the way for Trine offensively. Both Kendra Nicley (Lebanon / Western Boone) and Alyvia Sundheimer (Franklin / Franklin Community) finished the contest with eight kills, tying for the team high.
Nicley also led the team with nine digs in the contest. Senior Shannon Scott (Vicksburg, Mich. / Vicksburg) finished with a team-high two solo blocks. Junior Alexa Ratkowski (Bronson, Mich. / Bronson) led the team with 18 assists.
Following the victory, the Thunder improve to 5-4 on the season. The team will next take the court when they travel to the Ohio Wesleyan Bishop Invitational be Friday, Sept. 14. In their first match of the weekend, Trine will take on host Ohio Wesleyan at 5 p.m.