ANGOLA, Ind. – In non-conference action, the Trine University women's volleyball team dropped a match to the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on Saturday. The Fightin' Engineers were able to take down the Thunder in straight sets on their home floor.
The loss puts Trine at 10-9 this season and Rose-Hulman improves their record to 9-10.
The Thunder got off to a strong start in the first set with Cassidy Victor and Francesca Queary each connecting for two kills apiece to go up 8-6. Trine was forced to call for time as the visitors went on a scoring run to claim a 17-11 advantage at one point. Service aces from Bethany Ulring, Catherine Dobies and Rachel Campbell helped to get the Thunder al the way back to even at 23-23, but the Fightin' Engineers scored three of the final four first set points to go up 1-0 after a 26-24 win.
A big block from Queary and Olivia Jolliffe helped put the Thunder up 4-0 in the second, and once more later in the set to take a 13-10 edge before Rose-Hulman called for time. It would be effective for the Fightin' Engineers as they scored the next four points and pulled away to a 22-19 lead. Madison Dominick and Jocelynn Nicholls were each credited with kills late in the second, but it was not enough as Rose-Hulman won the set by a score of 25-21.
Set number three was back-and-forth in the early goings and looked as though Trine would be able to sneak out with a set win. The duo of Queary and Jolliffe combined for another block at the net to lead 8-6, but Rose-Hulman was able to go on a run from there. Three consecutive kills by Cassidy, Dominick and Maya Toma helped to get things back to even at 17, but eight of the final 11 points in the frame would go to the Fightin' Engineers in the 25-20 set win.
Queary led the way on offense with 10 kills and chipped in on five blocks for a team-high 12.5 points. Kailee Cornell dished out 20 assists and on defense, Campbell (14) and Dobies (13) were team leaders in digs.
Trine returns to Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) action on Wednesday, October 26 when the Thunder travel to Alma College. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 pm.