ANDERSON, Ind. – The Trine University women's volleyball team traveled to Anderson University to face the Ravens on Wednesday night, and brought home a three sets to one victory.
The Thunder won the first set 25-18, but dropped the second 26-24. After being split at one set apiece, Trine went back-to-back with victories in the third and fourth sets 25-18 and 25-22.
Trine is off to a 2-4 start in their non-conference schedule, while Anderson falls to 1-3 after winning their opening match in 2021.
Olivia Jolliffe [Warren, Mich. / Cousino] and Madison Dominick [Swartz Creek, Mich. / Swartz Creek] got the offense started for the Thunder with a kill each to give Trine a slight edge. Four consecutive Anderson errors combined with four straight kills from Mikaila Sullivan [Terre Haute, Ind. / Terre Haute South Vigo], Jacqueline Baughman [Lake Orion, Mich. / Lutheran Northwest], Jolliffe and Baughman again made it 13-7 halfway through the first.
The Thunder closed set one with four straight points as well, highlighted by two service aces from Baughman and a big time kill by Sullivan.
The second set was tight the entire way, with neither team gaining more than a three-point advantage. Francesca Queary [Midland, Mich. / H.H. Dow] made a big impact in the set with a pair of kills.
Jocelynn Nicholls [Montgomery, Mich. / Camden-Frontier] and Cassidy Victor [Fraser, Mich. / Fraser] left their mark with kills at the beginning of the third set when Trine jumped out to a 7-4 lead. Victor also contributed with a service ace and the Thunder benefitted from three straight errors to go up 12-6. Dominick finished the third with a kill to go up two sets to one.
The fourth set went back to even, as the teams traded points until it was 17-17. Following a Trine timeout, the Thunder exploded for five straight with kills coming from Queary, Baughman and Jolliffe. Jolliffe slammed the door shut on the Ravens with a match-ending kill to complete the 3-1 victory.
The Thunder were above 50% on sideouts in all four sets and had just four errors in three of the sets. Jolliffe and Sullivan had double-digit kills with 13 and 12 each, while Nicholls recorded five block assists, the most of any player in any game this season. Jolliffe also led the team in digs with 24 and three aces.
This weekend, the Thunder with partake in the MIAA/NCAC Crossover - "Battle at the Point" in Sandusky, Ohio.