MILWAUKEE, Wisc. --- The TIU women's volleyball team visited southern Wisconsin on Thursday night as they took on the Cardinal Stritch University Wolves at the CSU Fieldhouse in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play. Following a 3-0 loss at home on Tuesday to Saint Ambrose, the Trojans looked to bounce back as they entered the final six days of the regular season.

The Trojans would lead for the majority of the night with a balanced attack on offense, and their ability to force Cardinal Stritch into attacking errors.  After a 25-20 win in the opening set, Trinity closed the second frame out with an impressive 5-1 run for a 25-21 victory in a set that saw the blue and white post a match-high 14 kills as a team.

TIU would also dominate at the net with six blocks, four coming from senior Matty Hawkins. With only two attack errors and 13 kills as a team, the Trojans offense rolled in the third set after a 7-3 start to win the final frame 25-18, closing out the 3-0 win over the Wolves in commanding fashion.

Hawkins led Trinity's offense in the win with 12 kills to go with her four block performance. Brianna Torres recorded seven kills while also notching a season-high three blocks of her own. Anna Skrzypchak posted 27 digs and a match-high three service aces, as Jaylyn Freeman anchored TIU's defense with 11 digs. Madison Williams also posted two blocks in the win.

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

• The Trojans picked up their ninth win all-time against Cardinal Stritch on Thursday night. CSU still leads the series 19-9.

• Trinity's win snaps their three-match losing streak to the Wolves, dating back February of 2021.

• Thursday was TIU's first three-set sweep of Cardinal Stritch since beating the Wolves on Sept. 11, 2018 at home.

• TIU's win in Milwaukee tonight was their first road win against CSU since Nov. 6, 2018 in the quarterfinal round of the CCAC Tournament, which Trinity won in five sets.

• With their victory, the Trojans split their regular season series with the Wolves. It is the second straight season TIU has split both regular season matchup against CSU.

• Thursday's win marks the fifth consecutive season that the TIU women's volleyball program has posted at least 15 total wins.

• Trinity has now posted four straight seasons of ten or more wins in CCAC play.

• Thanks to other results from around the league on the Thursday night, the Trojans have secured a spot in the 2021 CCAC Tournament, the fourth consecutive appearance in the league's postseason tournament.

• The Trojans recorded a season-low nine attack errors in Thursday night's win.

• Outside hitter Brianna Torres recorded her 1,400th career kill against Cardinal Strtich. She is just the fourth player in program history to reach this milestone.

• Setter Anna Skrzypchak tied her career-high with three service aces against the Wolves. The Elgin, Illinois native also posted three aces against Lincoln back on Feb. 8, 2021.

UP NEXT

The Trojans (15-13) return to action on Saturday afternoon as they visit the Lincoln College Lynx in CCAC play. First serve is scheduled for 2:00pm CST at Jack D. Nutt Arena in Lincoln, and can be watched LIVE on the Lynx Sports Network.
 

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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.