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This Week    

  • Trinity International steps outside of conference play for a Tuesday night match this week, when they host the Clarke Crusaders. The Trojans then take on Robert Morris on Thursday, in a rematch of this season's conference opener.
 • Streaming video will be available for both matches this week, at TIUTrojans.com.

Quick Notes

 • Trinity is coming off a 1-2 record at the first CCAC Crossover weekend, earning a straight-set win over Governors State after losses to Olivet Nazarene and Indiana-South Bend.
 • With the victory over the Jaguars, TIU picked up its eighth win of the year, more than doubling the win total from last year's record of 3-21.
 • Freshman hitter Ashlyn Spay continues to lead the offense, averaging a team-high 2.43 kills per set. Junior Alida Knudton leads the Trojans with a .196 hitting percentage, along with 1.35 kills per set.
 • Defensively, three Trojans are averaging over two digs per set, led by Becca Kowalczuk. The junior is averaging 4.01 digs per set, good for 10th in the CCAC. Spay (2.48 per set) and Marissa Boelter (2.27) are also among the team leaders.
 • Freshman Kayla Jacks is averaging 5.68 assists per set, and is 10th in the CCAC in assists. Piper Thompson is averaging 5.08 assists per set.
 • With a win at Robert Morris on Thursday, Trinity can surpass last year's win total in conference matches, after a 2-17 mark in league play a year ago.
 • TIU Volleyball was one of four programs from Trinity International to be selected as an NAIA Scholar-Team. To earn the NAIA Scholar-Team Award, all varsity student-athletes must have an average cumulative GPA above 3.00. The volleyball Trojans led the way, posting a department-high 3.34 average GPA.

Last Time vs. The Opponents

 • The Trojans last met with Clarke earlier this season, on Sept. 17 during the Crusader's host tournament. Clarke took a straight-set win, 25-17, 25-12, 25-14.
 • Ashlyn Spay led the Trojans with 11 kills and a .132 hitting percentage, while Piper Thompson collected 14 assists. Taylor Weinberger picked up eight digs to lead the back line.
 • On Sept. 8, Trinity rallied back from a 2-1 deficit to take a five-set victory over Robert Morris 25-22, 23-25, 18-25, 25-23, 17-15, to open CCAC play.
 • After winning game four to force a decisive fifth set, the Trojans were behind 14-11, fending off four match points before taking the match on a 6-1 run.
 • Gabby Miller finished with a career-high 12 kills while hitting .235 on the night. Becca Kowalczuk matched her then-career-best with 21 digs. Freshmen Kayla Jacks and Piper Thompson split time at setter, finishing with 21 and 19 assists, respectively.

Trojan Volleyball History

 • Since 2006, TIU Volleyball has an all-time record of 144-228 (.387).
 • Trinity has claimed two CCAC regular season championships (2004, 2006), and one CCAC Tournament title (2004).
 • The Trojans have made four appearances at the NCCAA National Championships, most recently in 2010. Trinity holds a 6-10 record in pool play in the national tournament, with their deepest run coming in 2005, falling to Bethel (Ind.) in the national semifinal.

Scouting the Opponents

Clarke

 • The Crusaders hold a 16-8 overall record this season, but have dropped four of their last five matches
 • Kim Russell leads the team with 3.01 kills per set, and is hitting .238 on the season. Defensively, Ashley Smith is averaging 4.48 digs per set to lead the Crusaders.
• Trinity and Clarke have met just twice over the past ten seasons, with both sides going 1-1 in the series. The Trojans took a five-set road win over the Crusaders in 2010.

Robert Morris

 • The Eagles have struggled this season, with an overall record of 3-19, and a 1-9 mark in conference play. The team snapped a nine-match losing streak this weekend with a victory over Calumet St. Joseph in the final match of the CCAC Crossover.
 • Junior Wendy Garcia leads the team with 4.47 digs per set, and ranks 5th in the CCAC. Hannah Wagner leads the attack, with an average of 2.37 kills per set.
 • Trinity's win over Robert Morris earlier this season snapped a three-game slide against the Eagles, and gives TIU a 9-7 edge in the series dating back to 2007.

Career Milestones

 • With 430 career kills, Mickayla Staal is the active team leader. Becca Kowalczuk has recorded the most career digs, with 812.
 • Kowalczuk tied the TIU single-match record in aces on Sept. 28, with six against Silver Lake. She ties Jacqui Thompson and Gabrielle LaMonaca with six aces in a three-set match.

Up Next

 • The Trojans host two matches during Homecoming week, with a battle with the Cardinal Stritch Wolves on Tuesday, October 18, and a Friday night matchup with the St. Ambrose Bees.