GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Trine University women's volleyball team was defeated by nationally-ranked Calvin University on Wednesday night in straight sets.
The road loss drops Trine to 13-12 this season and 3-2 in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). Number six Calvin is 20-2 and a perfect 5-0 in league action.
The Knights took advantage of eight Thunder errors and a negative hitting percentage in the first set en route to a 25-15 win. Chloe Behm [Albion, Ind. / Central Noble] and Olivia Jolliffe [Warren, Mich. / Cousino] started the scoring for Trine with kills. Samantha Carlin [Celina, Ohio / Celina] had two aces during a 5-0 run that cut into the Knights' lead.
The Thunder kept things close at the start of the second set, with Anna Loughrey [West Bloomfield, Mich. / Walled Lake Central] swinging for three kills in the first eight points. Jacqueline Baughman [Lake Orion, Mich. / Lutheran Northwest] added to the offensive efforts with a pair of kills as well. Unfortunately, Calvin was too much in the late stages with a 12-2 scoring run to take the second 25-13.
Trine was behind right away in the third set after dropping the first four points. Jocelynn Nicholls [Montgomery, Mich. / Camden-Frontier] and Mikaila Sullivan [Terre Haute, Ind. / Terre Haute South Vigo] each notched kills in the set. Baughman and Jolliffe kept the Thunder in the set, but ultimately fell short 25-17.
Carlin led the way for Trine with two aces and 13 digs defensively. Jolliffe had a team-high eight kills and Baughman had assists on 16 of 21 kills for the match. Nicholls chipped in on four blocks.
The Thunder look to bounce back at the Millikin 5-State Classic this weekend. The first match is Friday, October 15 at 8 pm versus Simpson.