GREENCASTLE, Ind. – The Trine University women's volleyball team made their final preparations for the regular season finale conference games next week with a trip to DePauw University to face Kenyon College as well as the host Tigers in a tri-match. The Thunder came away from the event with a 1-1 record, defeating Kenyon and losing to DePauw, both in four sets.
Trine is now 9-14 overall with one week remaining in the regular season. The Owls of Kenyon conclude their season with a record of 4-20 while DePauw moves to 15-10.
TRINE vs KENYON RECAP:
The Thunder got off to a good start on the day with a set one win over Kenyon 25-22. Cassidy Victor on offense and a multitude of errors by the Owls allowed Trine to get ahead 12-7 as Kenyon called their first timeout. An ace by Lindsey Call furthered the gap to 21-13 before the second timeout was called. This one was effective for Kenyon as they drew all the way back to within one at 22-21, but the Thunder prevailed with the help of a late kill by Catherine Dobies that shifted momentum.
Meara Finnegan was the catalyst for Trine in set two as once more the Thunder took an early lead, this time 10-4. An ace by Anna Zellers forced the Owls to call for time once more, but this time it would not work out for Kenyon as Trine remained in front by a total of 25-17.
The Thunder surrendered the third set to the Owls by a mark of 25-17, but they would work to put the match to rest in the fourth set. Madison Dominick recorded a kill to begin the fourth and from there, Trine would take advantage of 12 errors in the set by their opponents. Emmaline Leatherman was called upon late and was set up for the match-clinching kill at 25-10.
Olivia Jolliffe and Dobies paced the team with seven kills each, but it was a balanced scoring attack as Francesca Queary and Victor had six kills apiece as well. Call had 19 assists in the win from the setter position while Rachel Campbell was responsible for a team-high 18 digs.
TRINE vs DEPAUW RECAP:
Dominick and Victor were the focal points offensively early on for the Thunder and after playing close at 9-7 Tigers, DePauw pulled away in set one. The opponents would go on to win the first by a total of 25-12 thanks to an error-free onslaught on attacks (11 kills).
The potent Tiger offense continued in set two with a 25-17 victory. DePauw collected 17 total kills in the set with two errors (.333 hitting percentage). Trine found themselves in front early 7-3 after kills by Jolliffe and Victor, but the Tigers were persistent coming out of a timeout.
The third set would be much kinder to the Thunder as the team went on to avoid defeat for the time being with a 25-23 win. Julia Maggio made an impact on offense with three kills in the set as the team went on to score the final three points in the win. Trine had 14 kills, a match high.
DePauw would go on to secure the match with a 25-22 victory in the fourth set. The Tigers forced the Thunder into a timeout trailing 10-4, and the break was successful as Trine went up 18-16 when Zellers found Dominick for a kill. Three straight kills by Victor, Maggio and Queary made it 22-21 as DePauw used their final timeout to spark a four-point scoring run.
Jolliffe and Queary led a diverse scoring attack with 10 kills apiece. Zellers and Call also split assists evenly with 14. Campbell recorded 24 digs from the libero spot in the match.
UP NEXT:
Trine will celebrate its seniors in their next match against Alma College at home on Wednesday, November 1. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m.
