BEXLEY, Ohio – The Trine University women's volleyball team opened day one of the Pam Briggs Invitational at Capital University with a split in a pair of games. Trine (2-3) defeated the host Comets in four sets before falling to Hanover College in three sets.
Elli Baker and
Reese Steenwyk led Trine in game one, Baker piled up 16 kills and two blocks while Steenwyk notched 14 kills on an efficient .444 hitting mark. Trine took the match 25-22, 25-23, 22-25, 25-18.
Trine turned a 4-2 deficit to a 9-5 lead with thanks to
Annika Schrock. The sophomore notched one of her four aces, then dished assists to three different Thunder attackers to spark the rally. The set remained tight throughout as the teams traded points through most of the frame.
Davanee Gehl answered a rally from the hosts that forced a few extra set points with a kill to end the set.
Capital again took an early lead in set two, this time however they held off the Thunder for much longer. Trine took leads of 11-10 and 17-14 but ultimately trailed 23-21 in the closing moments. The Thunder capitalized on four consecutive errors by the Comets to steal the second set.
Trine looked set to cruise to a sweep with a 19-14 lead in set three with three kills from Steenwyk and a pair from Baker. The hosts would have none of it, storming back to force a fourth set.
Trine slammed the door in set four, grabbing a 4-3 lead they would not relinquish. Baker pounded four kills early to build the momentum and Steenwyk kept it going in the latter portion with two more. Baker delivered the final blow to take the win.
Hanover took the second match 25-23, 25-17, 30-28. Baker again led with 11 kills and
Cheyenne Moore led with 17 assists. Trine led early in set one with swings from Steenwyk and
Adelaide Elden. A late rally erased a 17-14 advantage and gave the Panthers the win.
Set two was all Panthers, Hanover took a 14-4 lead and never looked back as they pushed Trine to the brink of a sweep.
The Thunder rumbled back in set three, using a 10-5 run that include kills from four different players and aces from
Cali Stevons and
Jordan Budzinski. Hanover answered back with a nearly identical 10-4 run to regain the advantage.
Julia Maggio kept Trine in the match with three kills late and Elden gave the Thunder a 28-27 lead before the Panthers took the final three points and the win.
Trine continues the Pam Briggs Invite tomorrow morning at Otterbein University at 10 a.m.
