TIU Volleyball picks up first win of the season over IU-Northwest
Greg Gorham
Box Score Box Score | Season Stats
DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Led by Victoria Boyd's 15 kills, the Trinity International Trojans earned their first win of the season, 19-25, 25-14, 25-9, 25-19, over the Indiana-Northwest Redhawks, Saturday morning inside the Meyer Sports Complex.
The Trojans (1-7) got off to a slow start in the opening set of the Saturday morning match, giving up the first four points of the game before getting on the board with a Redhawk attack error. IU-Northwest led the first game from start to finish, using an 11-5 run through the middle of the game to take a 16-9 lead en route to a 25-19 opening set win.
TIU took control at the start of the second game, taking five of the first seven points, and rarely slowed their momentum through the rest of the match. After the Redhawks (1-17) closed to within a point at 8-7, the Trojans went on a 9-2 run to build a 17-9 advantage. TIU also finished with eight of the last ten points to close out the second set and tie the match, 25-14.
Trinity started to really flex its muscle in the third game; TIU scored the first 11 points of the game, highlighted by a pair of service aces from Melodee Aguirre during the rally. After IU-Northwest got on the board after a Trojan service error, TIU rallied for six more points in a row, building a commanding 17-1 lead. The Redhawks were able to regroup and play the final portion of the game even, going 8-8 with the Trojans over the final 16 points, but the advantage TIU built was more than enough to take a set three win, 25-9.
TIU started off strong in the fourth game, taking the first three points including a kill from both Aguirre and Boyd. The Redhawks battled back, however, making this game much closer than the previous. Three straight IU-Northwest service aces put the Redhawks in front 5-4, a lead they would hold until Boyd tied the score with her kill at 11-11. Both sides traded sideouts until a quick four-point run for TIU put the Trojans ahead 17-14. IU-Northwest made one final run, tying the set at 18-18 with another service ace, but Julie Gregornik shut the door with a kill on the next point, starting a five-point Trojan run that put TIU ahead 23-18. Three points later, Boyd closed out the match with a kill, giving TIU their first win of the year, in four sets.
Boyd's 15 kills sets the standard at the Trojans' high mark this season. Samantha Stoller had a solid outing as well, with her first double-double of the year, collecting 13 kills and 12 digs. Setter Allison Boggs also posted a double-double with 36 assists and 13 digs. Gabrielle LaMonaca (13) and Suzanne Knudtson (11) finished in double figures in digs on the back line.
The Trojans will wrap up the three-match homestand next week, when they host St. Xavier at the Meyer Sports Complex on Tuesday, September 24. The CCAC match is set to begin at 7 p.m.
