JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Trine University women's volleyball team started their season with a pair of victories on the first night of the Illinois College Invite.
The night began with a five-set thriller against MacMurray College. The Thunder would take the first set handily by the score of 25-19 before dropping a close second set 25-27. They would respond in the third with another convincing victory at 25-20. MacMurray forced the final set with a score of 25-21 in the third, but Trine responded with a 15-12 final set victory for the first win match win of the season.
Junior Madison Munger (Indianapolis, Ind. / Franklin Central) came up big in the contest leading the team with 18 kills. Classmate Becca Moon (Charlevoix, Mich. / Charlevoix) finished in second on the team with ten kills of her own. Junior Jacqueline Baughman (Orion, Mich. / Lutheran Northwest) led the way in assists.
In the next contest of the day the Thunder needed just four sets to come away with their second win of the season over Knox College. Trine once again won the first set this time 25-20. They then dropped the second 21-25. The Thunder would then take the third and fourth in convincing fashion, 25-11 and 25-14 respectively, to win the match.
The offensive attack was a balanced one in the contest but three Thunder combined for seven aces. Freshman Paris Outwater (Bronson, Mich. / Bronson) led the way with five aces while adding 10 digs with junior Lindsey DeCamp (New Haven, Ind. / New Haven) coming in with two aces of her own and also 10 digs. Senior Danielle Stanichuk (Troy, Mich. / Athens) rounded out the trio with an ace and seven digs.
Trine will continue competition at the Illinois College Invite tomorrow, Saturday, Aug. 31. They will take on Grinnell College at 11 a.m. and follow up with Simpson College in a match scheduled for 1 p.m.