SANDUSKY, Ohio – The Trine University women's volleyball team opened up play in the MIAA/NCAC Crossover - "Battle at the Point" on Friday with a thrilling five-set victory over DePauw University.
The first set of action was dominated by the Thunder 25-18. Trine was able to take advantage of eight Tiger errors and a negative hitting percentage from their opponents on their way to an early lead.
The tables would turn in the second set as nothing seemed to go right for the Thunder. DePauw ran away with a 25-9 set win and the match was even at one. The Tigers were near perfect with 11 kills to just one error.
Set three was unlike either of the first two as the teams were neck-and-neck the whole time racing to the 25th point. The combatants had an even 36 attacks apiece in the set, but when the dust settled, DePauw found themselves with a 2-1 set advantage and a 25-22 set win.
Trine dug their heels in for the fourth set. In the early goings, the match looked to be slipping away from the Thunder, but hang tough they did as they clawed their way back to even. Trine eventually pulled away to a 25-22 victory in set four to force a winner-take-all scenario.
Trine showed efficiency when it mattered most in set five as the Thunder secured a 15-12 win to claim the match. It was the highest hitting percentage of the night for Trine at .471 in the final set.
The Thunder are approaching .500 with a 3-4 record now in the 2021 season, while DePauw is dealt their first defeat of the year at 3-1.
Olivia Jolliffe [Warren, Mich. / Cousino] was once again the focal point offensively with a team-high 12 kills. A pair of freshmen in Mikaila Sullivan [Terre Haute, Ind. / Terre Haute South Vigo] and Jocelynn Nicholls [Montgomery, Mich. / Camden-Frontier] had six kills each.
Jacqueline Baughman [Lake Orion, Mich. / Lutheran Northwest] had her finger prints all over the match as well. Baughman tallied 40 assists, marking back-to-back matches with 40 or more distributions. The setter chipped in with eight kills, three aces and 16 digs.
Tied with Baughman at three aces was Kacie VanKalker [Dyer, Ind. / Illiana Christian]. She joined Samantha Carlin [Celina, Ohio / Celina] and Rachel Campbell [Greenfield, Ind. / Greenfield Central] on the backline collecting digs. Carlin had the most with 18, with Campbell scooping up 10 opposing attacks.
The MIAA/NCAC Crossover - "Battle at the Point" carries on tomorrow morning, when Trine faces Wooster at 10:30 am and squares off with Hiram at 2:30 pm.