BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Trine University women's volleyball team traveled across the Ohio border this weekend to compete in the Sommer Center Spiketacular, hosted by Bluffton University. The Thunder picked up their first win of the 2021 season and were 1-2 in the three-game set. Trine is 1-4 overall through the first week of action.
Setter Jacqueline Baughman [Lake Orion, Mich. / Lutheran Northwest] was named to the All-Tournament team for her efforts on the weekend. In total, Baughman contributed 84 assists, 29 digs, 13 kills and six aces.
GAME ONE RECAP:
On Friday night, Trine battled with Ohio Wesleyan University in the first of a quad-match against Ohio foes. The Battling Bishops were able to get the victory over the Thunder in straight sets.
The first set was the most lopsided of the three, with Ohio Wesleyan claiming a 25-16 win. Set two went long, but the Battling Bishops were able to squeak it out 26-24 to take a commanding 2-0 lead. The third and ultimately final set was also down to the wire, but Ohio Wesleyan laid claim to a 25-23 match-winning set.
Mikaila Sullivan [Terre Haute, Ind. / Terre Haute South Vigo] led the way with nine kills and a team-high .471 kill percentage. Jocelynn Nicholls [Montgomery, Mich. / Camden-Frontier], Francesca Queary [Midland, Mich. / H.H. Dow] and Cassidy Victor [Fraser, Mich. / Fraser] were also key offensive targets for Trine with seven, six and five kills, respectively.
Samantha Carlin [Celina, Ohio / Celina] and Rachel Campbell [Greenfield, Ind. / Greenfield Central] were team leaders on the defensive side of the ball. Carlin had 21 digs to lead both squads and Campbell chipped in with nine of her own.
GAME TWO RECAP:
Saturday mornings usually start with coffee, but on this day, it started with a Trine match win over Heidelberg, the first of the young season for the Thunder. It was a four-set triumph for Trine over their Ohio Athletic Conference opponent.
Set one was all Thunder as Trine took advantage of nine 'Berg errors on their way to a 25-16 win. The Thunder made it 2-0 following a 25-18 set two victory. Heidelberg fought hard and won set three 25-16, but the opponent's comeback efforts would be cut short by Trine in a 25-23 match-clinching fourth set.
Sullivan and Nicholls were above the net once again for the Thunder with 11 and 10 kills apiece. Sophomore Olivia Jolliffe [Warren, Mich. / Cousino] also got in on the action against Heidelberg with eight points. Trine totaled 12 service aces, with four coming from Victor, and three each from Baughman and Campbell.
Four Thunder athletes found themselves with double-digit digs: Carlin (16), Baughman (13), Victor (13) and Campbell (12).
GAME THREE RECAP:
Trine squared off with the host institution Bluffton University in the final match of the weekend. All four sets were close, but ultimately the Beavers came away with a 3-1 match win.
The teams were even at one set apiece after Bluffton took the final two points of a set one 25-23, but the Thunder countered with a 25-21 set two victory. 25-21 would be the final score of the final two sets as well, with the Beavers winning both to take the match.
Jolliffe was utilized the most on offense with 41 total attacks and 11 kills. Nicholls also made a sizeable contribution with nine kills in the final match. Kailee Cornell [Lafayette, Ind. / McCutcheon] beat the Beaver defense with two service aces.
Carlin and Jolliffe dug out the most attacks with 23 for Carlin and 12 for Jolliffe.
Anderson (Ind.) is next on the schedule for Trine women's volleyball. That match will be on Wednesday, September 8 on the road at 7 pm.