NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Trine University women's volleyball team defeated Manchester University and Franklin College Friday evening to run their winning streak to seven consecutive matches. The Thunder would top both opponents by a 3-1 score, and advances to 7-6 overall in 2023.
TRINE vs MANCHESTER RECAP:
Trine began the day with the host school and dropped the opening set of the Manchester Invitational 26-24. The Spartans had a match-high 19 kills in the first set en route to the only win of the match for the opponents. A service ace by junior Catherine Dobies helped put the team up 18-10, but Manchester was able to complete the comeback.
It was the Thunder's turn for a comeback in set number two. Juniors Francesca Queary and Madison Dominick combined for a block to cap a four-point run mid-set to go up 13-12 and turn the set around. The momentum from that run would help propel the team to a 25-22 set win. Trine had their best hitting percentage of the match in the second at .300 (13 kills).
A negative hitting percentage by their opponents including 13 errors led to the Thunder claiming a 2-1 lead at 25-20. Dominick had a solo block to wrap up the set and helped to spark a massive scoring spree in the fourth set. Junior Cassidy Victor led the way with four kills in the fourth set alone in the 25-17 set four win to claim the match.
The team's 16 total blocks is a season-high and ranks sixth in program history for most in a four-set match. Senior Meara Finnegan was at the net for seven block assists in the match to pace the squad. Junior Rachel Campbell dug out a team-high 19 opposing attacks defensively as well. Dominick and Dobies each had 12 kills with sophomore Anna Zellers dishing out 22 assists on offense.
TRINE vs FRANKLIN RECAP:
Identical to match one of the event, Trine had an early lead in the first and were on the wrong end of a comeback by their foes to fall 26-24. A kill by senior Anna Loughrey forced Franklin into a timeout trailing 22-18, and the break would help spark a run of eight of the next ten for the Grizzlies.
Luckily, sets two through four also went just as the Manchester match did with three straight wins for the Thunder. Set two was won 25-22 with 10 kills going to each side. Trine was able to limit their mistakes to secure the victory. In set three, Franklin made too many mistakes to keep up with the freight train that was the Trine offense and the Thunder were able to pull away by a tally of 25-15 with nine errors credited to the Grizzlies.
The fourth and final set saw Trine throw down a match-high 17 kills combined to win the set 25-23 and take the match. Dominick, on her way to her third straight match with double-figure kills, had a pair of kills early on to take the lead. Sophomore Cara Wlodarczyk recorded an ace to take an 11-5 advantage and force Franklin into a timeout. After a rally by the Grizzlies, the team leaned on Dominick late to secure the 25-23 win with three kills in the team's final four points.
Dominick tied her own career-high with 14 kills and Dobies joined her in double digits once again with 10. Zellers (23) and freshman Lindsey Call (16) had a majority of the team's assists and combined for seven aces. Campbell had 21 digs in the back row for the Thunder.
Conference play kicks off on Tuesday, September 26 when Adrian College comes to Hershey Hall for Trine's home and Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opener. It will also be Faculty Appreciation Night for the team. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.