 |
at |
 |
TRINITY INTERNATIONAL TROJANS (0-2) at MICHIGAN-DEARBORN WOLVERINES (0-0)
Friday, August 26 | 2:00 p.m.
|
vs. |
 |
This Week
• Trinity Volleyball takes on four Michigan programs this week, including their first appearance against a nationally-ranked opponent, at the Michigan-Dearborn Tourney beginning on Friday, August 26.
• Streaming video or live stats will be unavailable this weekend. Follow @TIUVolleyball and @TIUTrojans on Twitter for updates throughout the weekend.
Quick Notes
• The Trojans look to improve upon last seasonís 3-21 record, with a total of nine returners, including six players who played in all 24 matches in 2015.
• Freshman hitter Ashlyn Spay is the early team leader on offense, averaging 2.0 kills per set last weekend. Four Trojans - Spay, Gabby Miller, Alida Knudtson, and Lexie Voss - are all averaging over 1.4 kills per set this season.
• Kayla Jacks averaged 7.1 assists each set in her collegiate debut, totaling an even 50 assists through seven sets. The first-year setter currently ranks 40th in the NAIA in assists per set.
• Alida Knudtson is among the national leaders in blocks; through two matches, the Elkhorn, Wisc. native is averaging 1.3 blocks per set, good for 15th on the NAIA leaderboard.
• The Trojans are a combined 3-11 against this weekendís four opponents since the 2007 season. Two of the three victories have come against Spring Arbor (Mich.), while Friday will mark the first meeting between Trinity and Concordia (Mich.)
• Junior Becca Kowalczuk leads the team with 3.29 digs per set, and is averaging one full dig more than her closest teammate.
• 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 season saw a program-record six student-athletes earn CCAC All-Academic honors. Marissa Boelter, Alida Knudtson, Becca Kowalczuk, Mickayla Staal, and Karlijn Van Gaalen earned the award for the first time, while 2015 senior Suzanne Knudtson was a two-time honoree.
• The program also extended its streak of having an NAIA Scholar-Athlete on the roster, in Suzanne Knudtson. The Trojans have had at least one Scholar-Athlete in each of the past four seasons, the longest such run in program history.
Last Time vs. The Opponents
• Rebecca Campbell led the Trojans with 13 kills and 16 digs, but TIU fell in four sets at Michigan-Dearborn on Aug. 25, 2012.
• The Trojans struggled in their last matchup with Madonna, on Oct. 20, 2012, recording just 19 kills to go with 19 attacking errors in a three-set sweep.
• Spring Arbor most recently earned a straight-set win over the Trojans on Aug. 31, 2013. Samantha Stoller finished with eight kills to lead Trinity, while Gabrielle LaMonaca posted 21 digs.
Trojan Volleyball History
• Since 2006, TIU Volleyball has an all-time record of 137-220 (.384).
• 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
Michigan-Dearborn
• The Wolverines are making their season debut Friday, after finishing 6-27 last season. Leading hitter Shayla Smalls returns after 2.71 kills per set last year.
Concordia (Mich.)
• The Cardinals picked up two wins last weekend, starting 2-2 on the season with wins over Rochester (Mich.) and Goshen (Ind.). Julia Szuba ranks 20th in the NAIA with 67 total digs.
Madonna (Mich.)
• The 17th-ranked Crusaders start the 2016 campaign this weekend, after a 36-win season a year ago. Madonna went 2-1 in pool play at last yearís NAIA Tournament, falling to No. 5 Biola (Calif.) in the first round of knockout play.
Spring Arbor (Mich.)
• The Cougars open play this weekend, looking to improve on last yearís 5-27 record. Senior Rebekah Kujat returns after leading Spring Arbor with 3.26 kills per set.
Career Milestones
• With 344 career kills, Mickayla Staal is the active team leader. Marissa Boelter has recorded the most career digs, with 475.
• Becca Kowalczuk (2.76 digs per set) and Boelter (2.55) rank 8th and 9th respectively on TIUís career digs-per-set list (since 2007).
Up Next
• The Trojans make their home debut next week, when they host three teams for a crossover beginning Friday night.
• Trinity will face off against Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.), Life Pacific (Calif.), and Bethel (Ind.) on Friday and Saturday.
