ANGOLA, Ind. – The Trine University men's volleyball team rolled to its fifth straight win with a 3-0 sweep of the University of Mount Union on Friday night inside Hershey Hall. Karl Both, Seth McDonald, and John Mikrut each posted five total blocks as the Thunder (13-8, 4-1 MCVL) moved into a tie for first place in the MCVL standings. Mount Union falls to 9-14 (2-2 MCVL) with the loss.
 
Mikrut and Johnson-Kuhao Ho'okano-Pelekai led the offense with 13 kills each. Ho'okano-Pelekai added a pair of aces and Mikrut added 17 digs. Xander Ikusz dished out 34 assists. Trine took the match 25-20, 25-15, 25-17 and never trailed or were tied.
 
The first point of the night went to the Thunder on a block by Mikrut and Ikusz. John and Zach Mikrut, along with Ho'okano-Pelekai added two kills each to build a 9-6 lead for the Thunder. The lead held through the middle portion of the set before UMU made a run near the end, cutting the lead to 20-19. Both added a pair of kills and John Mikut notched an ace then Both teamed up with Zach Mikrut to clinch the set with a block.
 
Trine rode the momentum into set two by taking a 6-0 lead on the back of three consecutive swings and a block from John Mikrut. The Purple Raiders were never able to turn the tide; Both added three blocks and two kills, John Mikrut had three denials and four kills, and McDonald added three blocks as Trine cruised to a set two win.
 
Set three was nearly a copy of set two, Trine took a 4-0 lead and then rode a .353 hitting mark to a 20-8 lead. Ho'okano Pelekai added half a dozen kills and John Mikrut had five while teaming up with McDonald for two denials. Mount made a small rally near the end but Ho'okano-Pelekai put the match to rest with a kill from Ikusz.
 
Trine takes on Baldwin Wallace tomorrow in a quick turnaround, the match is set for 4 p.m. in a battle of one-loss MCVL teams.