ANGOLA, IND. -- The Trine women's volleyball team defeated Olivet College by the score of 3-1.
The Thunder came out strong winning the first seven points of the match before pulling ahead to a 15-2 lead. Freshmen Emma Gaff (Hamilton/Hamilton) and Sarah Toles (Kendallville/East Noble) both recorded service aces during the run and Toles added in a crucial dig in response to the Comets' first point of the match. Despite giving up some points in the rest of the set Trine would cruise to a 25-12 victory in the set, with Gaff recording the deciding kill.
In the second set, the Thunder found themselves trailing 14-9 when Gaff recorded a kill and junior Raven Hood (Monroe, Mich./Airport) took to the serve. During the six-point run that followed, Hood would record a kill and Toles would record three block assists. The Thunder would not relinquish the lead for the rest of the set and sophomore Molly Smith (Angola/Angola) would record the deciding kill, giving the Thunder a 25-20 victory.
Trine would struggle to get their offense or defense in rhythm in the third set and they would eventually lose it 25-14.
But the Thunder would respond in the fourth set building an early 10-2 lead. Olivet would climb back to a 19-18 lead. Toles once again came through in the clutch recording a kill that would start another six-point run that gave the Thunder their final lead of the match. Junior Shannon Scott (Vicksburg, Mich./Vicksburg) would finish off the set and match with a kill for the 25-21 victory.
Smith recorded eight kills in the match and led Thunder attackers with a .350 attack percentage. Freshman Madison Munger (Indianapolis/Franklin Central) led Trine with nine kills. Hood led the team in assists and added five kills of her own. Gaff led the match with five service aces and Toles came away with a match-high eight blocking assists.
The Thunder will next take the court on Friday, Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m. when they take on Adrian College in a home match.