GENEVA, N.Y. – The Trine University men's volleyball team wrapped up their trip to the Empire State on Sunday with a loss to New Jersey City University. Trine (4-6) was led by Johnson-Kuhao Ho'okano-Pelekai with 11 kills. The Gothic Knights (6-1) took the match in four close sets.
 
NJCU took the match 23-25, 25-22, 23-25, 26-28. The Thunder tallied six aces and ten blocks in the loss. Bryce Tupaz dished out 43 assists, Karl Both led with six blocks.
 
Neither team led by more than five for the entire match. Trine trailed by as many as three in set one but forced three set points before the Gothic Knights claimed the set.
 
Trine took the games largest lead in set two with a 12-7 advantage. Ho'okano-Pelekai had a kill to grab the momentum, then he and Tupaz notched aces. Seth McDonald and Zach Mikrut would bolster the lead with a pair of spikes. NJCU tied the match at 19 before Trine responded with a 3-0 spurt to gain breathing room and take the set on kills from Zach and John Mikrut.
 
Trine again led 12-7 in set three, this time NJCU would rally back, scoring six of the final eight points to claim the set.
 
Trine played from behind for nearly all of the fourth and final set but took a 22-21 lead with a block from Tupaz and McDonald. The teams traded kills until the score was knotted at 26. NJCU scored the final two points to deal the Thunder the loss.
 
Trine hosts Concordia Wisconsin inside Hershey Hall on Friday night. First serve is set for 7 p.m.