DELAWARE, Ohio – The Trine University women's volleyball team recorded a three-set sweep of Bethany College on Friday evening in the first match of the Ohio Wesleyan University Tournament.
The Thunder get above .500 with a record of 5-4 overall and the Bisons of Bethany fall to 2-6 on the season. They held the Bisons to a negative hitting percentage and hit .232 themselves in the victory.
Trine fell behind 11-4 in set number one, resulting in a timeout called by head coach Jamie Wozniak. It would be effective as the Thunder scored on nine of the next 10 rallies. Junior Anna Loughrey had three kills during the scoring spurt that gave the team a 13-12 edge. From there, Trine would not look back and went on to win the first by a score of 25-22. Bethany Ulring had a pair of service aces late in the first to secure the set win.
The start of the second set would go much more smoothly for the Thunder, as they would claim a 5-1 lead. They extended the lead with a 5-0 run, highlighted by a pair of aces by Olivia Jolliffe. Joslynn Battle helped put Trine on the brink of victory in the second by serving up five consecutive points late in the 25-17 victory.
The Thunder took advantage of 14 Bethany errors in the third set alone en route to a 25-13 match-clinching win. Jolliffe had four of the team's nine kills in the third and finished the match with seven.
Overall, Loughrey led the team with eight kills on the night. Kailee Cornell had a team-high 13 assists and Kacie Van Kalker recorded 10 digs to lead the defense. Jolliffe and Meara Finnegan had three block assists a piece.
Play continues tomorrow morning at Ohio Wesleyan, with the first match for Trine coming against the host school at 11 am.