MUNCIE, Ind. – The Trine University men's volleyball team fell in straight sets to Ball State in its season opener on Saturday evening. John Mikrut led the Thunder (0-1) with 12 kills and Trine recorded three aces on the Cardinals (1-0).
 
Ball State took the match 25-14, 25-13, 25-20. Trine led 3-1 early in the first set behind kills from Seth McDonald and Johnson-Kuhao Ho'okano-Pelekai. Ball State took a 9-5 lead but Trine rallied back to trail 10-8 behind a pair of kills from Mikrut. BSU pulled away from there and took set one.
 
Trine again took an early lead in set two with kills from Mikrut and Ho'okano-Pelekai and led 5-4. The Thunder hung around a little longer this time as Ho'okano-Pelekai drilled a kill to cut the BSU lead to 14-11. Again the Cardinals would flex their muscle and pull away for the set win.
 
Trine trailed 13-6 in set three but rallied to cut the deficit to three with a trio of spikes from Mikrut, a pair from Karl Both, and an ace by Jaren Reyes. Ball State ultimately took the set 25-20 and won the match. Mikrut hit .346 in his collegiate debut.
 
Trine has their home opener on Friday evening when they host their annual tri-match. The Thunder will take on Lakeland at 5:00 p.m. and Mount St. Joseph in a non-league match at 7:00.