DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Senior
Samantha Stoller led the Trojans with seven kills while hitting .190, but Trinity International suffered a straight-set loss to the Judson Eagles on Saturday night, 25-14, 25-18, 25-16, inside Van Dixhorn Arena.
Box Score | Season Stats | CCAC StandingsThree Trojans on the back line finished in double figures in digs, led by
Gabrielle LaMonaca's 22, the highest total in a three-set match for TIU this season. Freshman
Becca Kowalczuk and redshirt freshman
Marissa Boelter collected 13 and 10 digs, respectively.
Trinity International took an early lead in the first set, using a 6-0 run that included kills from Stoller and
Julie Gregornik to claim a 9-6 lead. Judson responded with seven straight points of their own, however, moving back in front at 13-9. TIU closed the gap, pulling to within a point on one of
Mickayla Staal's six kills, but the Eagles finished the set on an 11-3 run to take the opening set, 25-14.
Looking to even the match back up at one set apiece, TIU held a lead as late as 10-8, following back-to-back kills from Stoller and Gregornik, and a bad set from Judson. The Eagles responded again, however, scoring five of the next six points and forcing a Trojan timeout at 13-11. After an Eagle block made it an 18-13 Judson lead, Trinity recovered with a short 4-2 rally, started by a
Suzanne Knudtson kill, pulling to within three points at 20-17, but before the Trojans could keep the momentum going, Judson finished out the set, scoring five of the last six points to claim a 25-18 second set.
The Eagles jumped out to a big lead in the third set, going ahead 13-3 in the opening points to try and keep TIU from extending the match. The Trojans would get back into the game, though, using a 9-3 rally started by Staal's kill at 13-4 and finishing with a Stoller kill at 16-12 to make it a four-point game down the stretch. Similar to the previous two sets, however, Judson would close out the game with a long rally again, finishing the match by scoring nine of the last 11 points to claim the sweep.
Trinity International will finish out the 2014 regular season next Thursday night, November 7, when the Trojans host Cardinal Stritch. The team will celebrate Senior Night, and honor their two seniors,
Samantha Stoller and
Julie Gregornik. Tipoff against the Wolves is set for 7:00 p.m.