ANGOLA, Ind. - It wasn't a perfect start for the Trine University volleyball squad, but it ended just the way they wanted with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-15, 26-24) sweep over the visiting College of Mount St. Joseph. The Thunder are now 11-9 on the season.

The opening set saw the Lions take a commanding six point lead early in the set. Trine slowly chipped away at the lead as midway through the set the Thunder scored nine of 13 points to take a two point lead. MSJ came back to tie the game at 23-23 but the Thunder would have the final say as they took the next two points and the set.

The second set was all Thunder from the get-go. The Lions tied the score at 2-2, but from there Trine built their lead to as many as five. MSJ tried to come back as they cut the Trine lead to just one point. The Thunder then rolled scoring 13 of the final 17 points.

Set number three began much like the first set, with the Lions taking an early five point lead. Trine battled back once again scoring six straight points to take a one point lead. MSJ then had a comeback of their own tying the score at 16 all. The Thunder would again go on a hot streak scoring four straight points to extend their lead. But once again, the Lions battled back scoring their own four point streak to take a one point lead. Both teams battled to the end trading points until the game was tied at 24 apiece. The Thunder struck the final blows as consecutive kills by freshman Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) and junior Betsy Irwin (Athens, Ohio/Alexander) put the game away and giving Trine the sweep.

Irwin led the way for the Thunder scoring double digit kills for the 14th time this season with a game-high 15 kills while hitting a game-high .393. Irwin also had three blocks. Freshman Jordan Bell (Coldwater, Mich./Bronson) added in eight kills and two blocks. Fellow freshman Melanie Troyer (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Memorial) contributed with five kills and six digs.

Junior setter Sarah Radekin (Athens, Ohio/Alexander) led all players with a game-high 32 assists. Sophomore Darcy Crabtree (Gaston, Ind./Wes-Del) had a game-high 16 digs while Searles also added in eight.

Trine will go right back to work as they travel to 14th ranked Hope College for a 1:00 p.m. match.