The Trinity International University volleyball team took on the University of St. Francis (IL) Fighting Saints on Tuesday night in Joliet. After a long five set battle, it was the Trojans who emerged victorious, winning the match three sets to two, 25-23, 23-25, 27-29, 25-23, 15-12.

TIU led for most of the first set before the Saints tied the game at 18. After St. Francis briefly took the lead, the Trojans rallied to the end of the set with kills by Matty Hawkins and Sara Andric.

The Saints went on the attack in the second, jumping ahead early with attacks by Lauren Stefanski and Jade Livesay-Groark. While the Trojans were able to keep the set close, it was St. Francis that prevailed with the two point set win.

In the third, the Trojans and Saints took on a back-and-forth style of play as both teams changed the lead nine times. In a set that required extra play, TIU was unable to close out the game on a service error. St. Francis would score the next two points to take a 2-1 set lead in the match.

With both teams fighting in another close set in fourth, the Trojans held off a late rally to win their second set of the night and force a winner-take-all fifth set. A pair of kills by Brianna Torres helped seal the TIU win in the fourth.

Like they had in each set all night, TIU and St. Francis fought to the end. Following a service error by Torres in the middle of the set, the Trojans went on a 4-0 run to give them a needed cushion down the stretch. On match point, the Trojans were able to seal the win as the final serve soared out of bounds.

Torres led TIU will 21 total kills in the win. Skyler Muramoto notched 30 assists, while Penina Sao totaled 31 digs on defense.

The Trojans return to action on Thursday, September 12 on the road against Robert Morris University in Arlington Heights. First serve is set for 7:00 PM.
 

Trinity International University is a comprehensive, national university affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America and located in Bannockburn, Illinois, 25 miles north of Chicago. TIU educates men and women to engage in God's redemptive work in the world by cultivating academic excellence, Christian faithfulness and lifelong learning.