Trojan volleyball falls to Siena Heights, Spring Arbor
Greg Gorham
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Box Scores: Siena Heights | Spring Arbor
CHICAGO, Ill. -- Junior Samantha Stoller (Cissna Park, Ill./Cissna Park HS) led the Trojans with a combined 17 kills between the two matches, but it wasn't enough as Trinity International fell to the Siena Heights Saints, 17-25, 18-25, 20-25, and then the Spring Arbor Cougars, 23-25, 16-25, 20-25.
The Trojans had closed to within one in the first game with Siena Heights, after a Kali Cramer service ace made it a 13-12 score. The Saints answered back, however, scoring seven straight points to stretch their lead to 20-12, and went on to take the first game. TIU held a narrow lead midway through the second game, at 14-13, before Siena Heights went on a 12-4 run to close out the game to take a 2-0 lead in the match. The Saints used another late rally to put away the third game and record the straight set win. Stoller collected nine kills in the first game, while Cramer posted the highest hitting percentage for TIU, at .357. Gabrielle LaMonica (Greenwood, Ind./Greenwood HS) and Brittany Najera (San Fernando, Calif./First Lutheran HS) led the team with 13 digs each on the back line.
In the opening game with Spring Arbor later in the morning, The Trojans used a 5-1 run of their own, to build a 20-16 advantage. The Cougars won the next to points off TIU attack errors, and eventually tied the game at 23-23, before winning the last to points to take the game. SAU claimed the second game as well, as the Trojans looked to game number three to extend the match. Junior Julie Gregornik (Darien, Wisc./Faith Christian HS) tied the game at 9-9, kicking off a 8-5 run that gave TIU a late lead, 16-14. Spring Arbor caught back up, however, tying the match at 19-19 in the midst of eight straight points to close out the match.
Stoller again led the Trojans, this time with eight kills, while LaMonica dug out 21 attacks.
The Trojans (0-4) will look for their first win of the season a week from Tuesday, when they travel to face Robert Morris in the CCAC opener, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
