KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Jordan Buzinski aced the Kalamazoo Hornets defense five times in a three set victory on Saturday afternoon at the Anderson Athletic Center. The Trine University women's volleyball team moves to 8-12 (3-1 MIAA) and drops the Hornets to 9-14 (1-4 MIAA).
 
The Thunder took the match in straight sets 26-24, 25-13, and 25-20. Julia Maggio led the offense with 11 kills and Budzinski turned in an impressive defensive performance with 23 digs. The Thunder limited their hosts to -.007 hitting.
 
Trine fell behind 14-8 in set one, the defense then forced four attack errors to cut the deficit to 15-12. Elli Baker earned a kill and turned the service over to Budzinski who notched back to back aces. Kills from Baker and Kylie Rowland gained a 19-17 advantage for the Thunder. The score tied two more times before Trine grabbed a 24-21 lead. The Hornets forced three consecutive set points to tie it at 24. Davanee Gehl and Emmaline Leatherman teamed up for a block and the Hornets committed an attack error as Trine grinded out the 26-24 win.
 
Set two was much more in the Thunder's favor. Jordan Budzinski aced the defense two more times as Trine opened a 7-2 lead and cruised to a 25-13 win. Budzinski added her fifth ace. Elli Baker added four kills.
 
Maggio bounced a pair of kills and Anna Zellers added an ace to give Trine a 4-0 lead. Determined to keep things close, Kalamazoo rallied to an 8-8 tie. Trine responded with an 8-3 run with kills from Baker, Maggio, and Reese Steenwyk. Trine kept the Hornets at an arms length from there to take to match in straight sets.
 
The Thunder return to Hershey Hall on Wednesday night to host Albion College at 6:30 p.m.