NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The Trine University women's volleyball team came up just short of Nebraska Wesleyan University by the score of 3-2 in the team's first match of the North Central Tournament.
The Thunder took the first set of the evening in convincing fashion, leading nearly from start to finish. They pulled away with an 11-1 run in the middle portion of the set taking a commanding 20-10 lead. After staving off a comeback attempt from the Prairie Wolves, Trine took five of the final six points of the set for the 25-16 win.
The second set saw the teams trade leads throughout. Nebraska Wesleyan put the Thunder on notice in the later point of the set taking a 24-19 lead. Trine responded by taking the next four points before finally falling by the score of 25-23. In the third, the Prairie Wolves took the lead after a 10-10 tie and never looked back winning the set 25-20.
Needing the fourth set to keep a chance of victory alive, the Thunder looked to be in trouble in the first moments, dropping the first three points of the set. They then responded emphatically by going on a 7-1 run taking a 7-4 lead which they would not relinquish. Trine once again staved off a late comeback attempt from Nebraska Wesleyan and took the set by the score of 25-21.
The fifth saw both teams hold leads and the teams came to a tie at eight apiece. Trine grabbed three of the next four points to take an 11-9 lead, but then the Prairie Wolves picked up steam, taking the final six points of the match to win the final set 15-11.
Junior Madison Munger (Indianapolis, Ind. / Franklin Central) led Trine offensively with 30 kills with a .240 hitting percentage in the contest. she also added 13 digs good enough for second on the team.
Freshman Breanna Small (Indianapolis, Ind. / Beech Grove) came up big as well for the Thunder finishing with nine kills, a .294 hitting percentage and a team-high eight blocks in the contest.
Junior Lindsey DeCamp (New Haven, Ind. / New Haven) led the team with five service aces and 23 digs, while classmate Jacqueline Baughman (Lake Orion, Mich. / Lutheran Northwest) came away with 50 assists.
Trine falls to 13-9 overall after the loss. They will face off with Nebraska Wesleyan again in their next match tomorrow, October 19 at noon EDT. They will then face hosts North Central College 4:00 p.m. EDT to finish off the tournament.