KALAMAZOO, Mich. – On Wednesday night, the Trine University women's volleyball team collected their first Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) win of the season at Kalamazoo College. The Thunder topped the Hornets in four sets to secure the road win.
As a team, Trine had 11 total blocks (two solo), compared to six for Kalamazoo. That, and the fact that the Thunder were called for no ball handling errors while the Hornets were whistled five times for the offense were key in the victory.
With the win, Trine moves to 8-7 overall and is 1-2 in league play. Kalamazoo falls to 3-10 and 1-2 against MIAA foes.
The Thunder got off the bus sluggish and ultimately dropped the first set by a score of 25-17. The Hornets used an 8-1 scoring run to start the match and would not look back. Meara Finnegan and Cassidy Victor had two kills each, but it was not enough to overcome the opponents hitting .233 in the set.
Olivia Jolliffe sparked the offense in the second set with an early ace and Kacie Van Kalker served one up as well to force Kalamazoo into a timeout with Trine leading 10-6. The Hornets would fight their way back into it and tied the second set at 14, but Catherine Dobies recorded a kill to wrap up a 5-0 run. Jolliffe and Francesca Queary blocked two opponent attacks late in the 25-16 set win.
An 8-1 scoring spree by the Thunder put the visitors ahead 13-9. Anna Loughrey and Jocelynn Nicholls helped to get the team in front. Trine stayed consistent and met every Kalamazoo point with one of their own to claim victory in the third, 25-20.
In the fourth, the Thunder had a match-high 14 kills. Victor, Dobies, Queary and Jolliffe each had three apiece to pace the offense. Trine fell behind 15-11, but a string of six consecutive points allowed the Thunder to get back in front. Seven of the last 11 points in the match belonged to Trine to win the fourth by a score of 25-21.
Dobies led the offense with 12 kills and Victor was second with nine on the night. Kailee Cornell distributed 16 assists and 12 were credited to Joslynn Battle. 14 of the team's 59 digs went to the libero, Van Kalker. Queary chipped in on seven blocks and Jolliffe five of them to lead the defense at the net.
The next match for the Thunder is on Tuesday, October 4 when the #8 Calvin University Knights visit Hershey Hall. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 pm.