ELGIN, Ill. - Gabby Miller and Kayla Jacks posted ten kills to lead Trinity International in each of two matches Friday night, but the Trojans would open the second CCAC Crossover tournament of the season with a pair of straight-set losses, to Purdue-Northwest and St. Francis. The Trojans dropped the first match of the night to the Pride 25-20, 25-12, 25-17, then fell to St. Francis by scores of 25-16, 25-19, 25-20. 

Box Scores: PNW | USF | Season Stats

Miller hit for a .474 average against the Pride (17-11, 9-5 CCAC), but a slow start to the first and second sets allowed PNW to take a 2-0 lead in the match. The Trojans (9-23, 3-11 CCAC) fought to stay alive, but after Mickayla Staal's kill at 7-9 Purdue-Northwest would score four straight to extend their lead to 13-7. Another five-point rally would put the set out of reach at 21-12.

In the second match of the night, Jacks would finish with 10 kills while Alida Knudtson posted a .400 hitting percentage wiht eight kills. After falling in the opening set, the Trojans took an early lead behind two kills each from Jacks and Knudtson for a 6-3 lead. A 10-2 run for the Saints would give USF a 14-9 advantage, but Trinity would close the gap to within a point, 17-16 on Staal's kill. A four-point rally proved to be the difference as the Saints (24-11, 14-3 CCAC) moved ahead 23-17 on their way to a second-set win. 

The Trojans would score six straight in game three, with two points apiece from Knudtson and Piper Thompson, giving TIU a 15-12 lead. Ahead 19-15 and looking to force a fourth game, Trinity were unable to hold on, as St. Francis closed out the set with ten of the final 11 points.

Becca Kowalczuk led the Trojan defense with 13 and 11 kills in each match, while Thompson was the team's leading setter with 24 assists in both matches.

The Trojans are back in action tomorrow morning, when they wrap up the CCAC Crossover with contests against Calumet St. Joseph and Trinity Christian.