ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University volleyball team gave the #13 Calvin University Knights all they could handle inside Hershey Hall on Friday evening. Trine (10-11, 1-2 MIAA) took the first two sets from the Knights (16-2, 3-0 MIAA) before falling in five sets.
Elli Baker,
Julia Maggio, and
Reese Steenwyk each had double digit kills to lead the Thunder offense.
Cali Stevons dished out 29 assists and
Annika Schrock added 22. Maggio and Baker had double-doubles, each earning double digit digs.
Jordan Budzinski had 13 digs at libero.
Baker had six of her 17 kills in the first set and did not record an error until the third set. Trine hit .378 in the first set. Trine took a 19-17 lead with a 4-0 run. The lead would hold as Baker pounded three kills to seal the win for Trine.
Maggio, Steenwyk, and Baker each had four kills in the second frame. The Thunder led for nearly the entire frame. Maggio added three early kills and an ace to help the hosts build a 12-7 lead. Baker erased an 18-17 advantage with two of her own and Steenwyk gave Trine a 21-18 lead with a swing of her own before finishing off the set with Trine's final two points.
Trine led 16-13 in set three before a 7-0 run from the nationally ranked guests put the set in hand for Calvin. The Thunder opened set four strong, getting kills from three different players and two aces from
Addyson Kuzma to take a 10-4 lead. A 13-2 run ensued from the Knights who hit .519 in the frame and the Knights forced a decisive fifth set.
In set five, Trine scampered out to a 4-1 lead. Kills from Steenwyk and
Bailey Rasawehr captured momentum and extended the lead to 11-7. Like the third and fourth set, the Knights were able to mount a rally courtesy of an extended run. Trine staved off the Thunder for one set point but Calvin completed the comeback on the next serve.
Trine travels to Adrian College on October 21 as they continue MIAA play. The match is set for a 6:30 p.m. first serve.
