BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Trine University women's volleyball team split a tri-match with Transylvania University and Bluffton University on Saturday afternoon. The Thunder lost to the Pioneers in straight sets, and Trine triumphed over the host Bluffton Beavers, 3-1.
The Thunder are 12-10 this season, and remain 2-0 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) competition.
Against Bluffton, Olivia Jolliffe [Warren, Mich. / Cousino] set a new school record with nine aces in a four-set match.
TRINE vs TRANSYLVANIA RECAP:
Trine fell behind in the first set after falling 25-17. The second and third sets would not far any better for the Thunder, as Transylvania pulled away to a 25-13 win in set two and claimed the third set 25-17 as well.
Jolliffe had a team-high 10 kills, and Hannah Sands [Jonesville, Mich. / Jonesville] chipped in with six. Jacqueline Baughman [Lake Orion, Mich. / Lutheran Northwest] was the category leader in assists with 20, and Samantha Carlin [Celina, Ohio / Celina] led with 12 digs.
TRINE vs BLUFFTON RECAP:
The Thunder went up one set to zero after a commanding 25-14 victory in the first. Trine had 14 kills to just three errors, resulting in the highest hitting percentage in the match at .423. The Thunder jumped out to a 5-1 lead after a kill from Carlin. Rachel Campbell [Greenfield, Ind. / Greenfield Central] served up back-to-back aces in the midst of seven unanswered points to help put the set out of reach.
Sands, Francesca Queary [Midland, Mich. / H.H. Dow] and Chloe Behm [Albion, Ind. / Central Noble] had three consecutive kills in the second, and then Jolliffe had four straight aces in set number two in an 8-0 Thunder run, but the Beavers were able to claw their way back into the set and fight to a 25-23 victory to even the match.
Trine had a match-high 15 kills in the third set on their way to a 25-15 victory. The Thunder closed the set with a 9-2 run after the score remained fairly even throughout the first half of the third. Jolliffe added two more aces and Bethany Ulring [Dayton, Ohio / Bellbrook] subbed in to finish the set with an ace of her own.
Despite falling behind early in the fourth, Trine was able to regain momentum and wore down the Beavers on their way to a 25-20 match-clinching victory. The Thunder took advantage of a pair of errors to end the match.
Jolliffe broke the school record for most aces in a four-set match against Bluffton with nine. Four Thunder athletes were in double figures for digs: Carlin (20), Campbell (11), Baughman (11) and Kailee Cornell [Lafayette, Ind. / McCutcheon] (10).
Trine returns to league play on Tuesday, October 5 at Hope College. First serve of that one is scheduled for 6:30 pm.