ALBION, Mich. - It took Trine University volleyball senior Betsy Irwin 1,395 kills to tie the school career mark, but she need just one late in the Thunder's match against Albion College to stand alone at the top. The Thunder would go on sweep host Albion 3-0 (25-14, 25-10, 25-18) to improve to 15-8 on the season and 6-4 in the MIAA.

Trine ran away with the opening set as they score the first five points and would follow that with another eight straight points to lead it 14-4. The Thunder would take the final five points to win the opening set.

Set number two started out much the same for Trine as they opening with an 11-4 lead. The Thunder defense would stifle the Britons as they scored just 10 points as Trine scored 13 of the final 17 points.

The final set did not start the way the Thunder would have liked as Albion captured the first points, en-route to a 9-6 lead. Trine would fight back to tie the game at 10, but the Britons would push their lead to 14-12. Irwin would then deliver her record-setting kill to pull the Thunder within one. Trine would rally to score seven straight points to take their first lead of the set. The two sides would split the final eight points, as the Thunder would hold off an Albion comeback.

Irwin surpassed Sallie Richardson (2005-2008) who set the record after played 405 sets in her career. Irwin becomes the second Trine player this season to set a career mark, as her high school and now college teammate fellow senior Sarah Radekin (Athens, Ohio /Alexander) set the career assists mark earlier this season.

“Betsy has been an impact player for the team since she was a freshman” said Trine University head coach Jamie Wozniak. “She has been one of the most consistent players I have ever coached. When you see her attack the ball, you can see the athleticism that she displays.”

“She comes to practice with the same intensity, focus and work ethic everyday which is hard to find in a player. What she and Sarah have accomplished here in the past four years is something very special.”

Irwin would lead the Thunder on her record-breaking day with a match-high 11 kills and five blocks. Freshman Taylor Rabel (Muncie, Ind./Muncie Central) finished the morning with nine kills and seven digs. Sophomore Carly Searles (Levering, Mich./Petoskey) notched a double-double with 14 assists, 11 digs and six kills. Freshman Lauren Verkamp (Franklin, Ind./Franklin Community) helped out with nine digs, four kills and three blocks.

Radekin led all players with 21 assists while adding in eight digs and junior Darcy Crabtree (Muncie, Ind./Wes-Del) added in 11 digs of her own.

Trine will return home on October 10 to face conference rival Adrian at 6:30 p.m.