HANOVER, Ind. – The Trine University women's volleyball team split on the final day of the Hanover Panther Invitational. Trine fell 3-1 to the hosts and earned a three set win over Blackburn to close the day. Elli Baker and Emmaline Leatherman starred offensively for the Thunder with 20 and 17 kills. Trine is now 2-8 overall, Hanover is 6-4, and Blackburn is
 
Hanover took the first game of the day, quickly opening a 5-0 lead. Trine found their footing and clawed back to a 9-8 with four kills from three different players. Hanover would retake the lead, Trine hung around again with some good hitting Leatherman had three kills and Baker added a pair as Trine pulled within one. Hanover found their rhythm from there and took the set.
 
Nothing went right in set two for Trine as the Panthers claimed it 25-3. The Thunder did not allow the disappointing second set to affect the third. Trine took a 5-2 lead and would not trail from there. Baker had four kills, Anna Zellers had four assists, and Leatherman had two kills and two blocks as Trine took the set 25-18. The Panthers doused the Thunder's comeback attempt in set four taking a commanding 13-5 lead early and never allowing Trine to rally.
 
Trine hit .299 against Blackburn and tallied 48 kills in the three set win. Elli Baker had 11 kills, 11 digs, and four aces, Zellers dished out 23 assists and Julia Maggio had 10 kills. Each set was close with Trine winning 25-22, 26-24, 26-24.
 
Trine got kills from six different players in the first set, Trine led most of the way in the set that saw six ties and three lead changes. Reese Steenwyk had four kills and Cali Stevons iced the set with an ace.
 
Blackburn took a 6-0 lead to start set two, Baker led the rally with a kill and two aces. Later she added two more along with Leatherman as a 9-2 run gave the Thunder a 20-18 lead. Trailing 24-23, Trine scored the final three points of the set to take the win.
 
Set three was tight wire to wire, featuring six ties. Trine was again led by Baker with four kills and an ace. Trine broke away from a 9-9 tie to take a 20-14 lead. Blackburn rallied to tie the game at 24, kills from Julia Maggio and Addyson Kuzma would finish the match in favor of the Thunder.
 
Trine heads to Manchester on Wednesday for a 6:30 p.m. game time.