DEERFIELD, Ill. -- In front of a big crowd and inside the newly-renovated Van Dixhorn Arena for the very first time, the Trinity International Trojans volleyball squad put on a great show, pushing the Robert Morris Eagles to five sets but ultimately suffering a 3-2 loss in their home opener, 25-15, 19-25, 22-25, 25-19, 9-15.

Box Score | Season Stats | CCAC Standings

Four Trojans finished in double figures, led by freshman Lexie Voss, who collected 13 kills on the night. Senior Julie Gregornik picked up her second double-double of the year, with 12 kills and 13 digs.

Trinity used a quick five-point run to separate themselves in the opening set, using a pair of kills and two Suzanne Knudtson service aces pushed the Trojans to a 13-7 lead. Later in the set, a Mickayla Stall block kick-started a six-point rally that put the Trojans one point shy of game point. The third ace of the set for Knudtson clinched the first set of the year at home, 25-15.

The Eagles rebounded with a pair of set victories to claim the lead in the match. RMU jumped out to a 5-1 lead at the start of game two, forcing TIU to burn an early timeout. The Trojans weren't able to recover, closing to within two points with an Eagle attack error at 9-7, but Robert Morris would go on to take eight of the next ten points and take the rest of the set. The Trojans looked ready to take a 2-1 lead in the match in the third set, leading most of the way, but a 10-4 run for RMU turned a 14-10 Trinity advantage into a 20-18 Robert Morris edge. A service ace from Gregornik tied the score at 22-22 late in the set, but a pair of attack errors set up game point for the Eagles, and a kill closed the set in favor of RMU.

Needing a win to force a decisive fifth set, the Trojans jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the fourth, thanks in part to a total of five errors from the RMU side. A five-point rally would briefly give the Eagles a 11-10 edge, before a kill from Staal tied the score, both at 11-11 and 12-12. After Robert Morris scored three straight and looked to be in the driver's seat, TIU rallied for a 7-1 run, holding the lead the rest of the way. Samantha Stoller set up game point with her block at 24-19, then Gregornik served up another ace to clinch the set.

In the first-to-15 final set, Robert Morris got the early advantage, recovering from a service error on the first point to score seven of the next eight, taking a 7-2 lead. The Trojans were unable to put a rally together and get back in the shortened set, other than a quick three-point run that closed the gap to 9-6 with a Stoller kill, and a block from Stoller and Staal. Marissa Boelter kept the match alive with a kill at 14-9, but the Eagles would close out match point on the next play.

As team, the Trojans recorded 56 kills on the night, the most in a single match this season. TIU also reached the 50-assist mark for the first time this season, led by Suzanne Knudston, who collected 37.

Trinity International continues their current homestand next week, when they host the St. Xavier. Tipoff against the Cougars is set for Tuesday night, October 21, at 7:00 p.m.