WINONA LAKE, Ind. --- As the TIU community celebrated homecoming festivities at home, the Trojan women's volleyball team took to the road, opening up play at the Lancer Classic on Friday night against the Lancers of Grace College, and the seventh-ranked Marian University Knights. Coming off a home win over Roosevelt on Tuesday night, the Trojans looked to carry their momentum over to non-conference play as they began play in their weekend road tournament.

Opening up the evening against Grace, the Trojans looked to be locked into a tight battle in the opening set against the Lancers, dropping the frame 28-26.  Trinity would struggle however in the following sets as Grace dominated at the net with ten blocks. Dropping the second set 25-16, TIU would struggle to establish their attack with just eight kills in the third frame, ultimately falling in the third set 25-17, and dropping their opening match in straight sets.

Matty Hawkins led the Trojans with seven kills and three blocks in TIU's loss, while Brianna Torres notched six kills and 11 digs on defense. Setter Anna Skrzypchak recorded 23 assists against the Lancer, with Lana Vujosevic notched 11 digs.

In their second match of the night against Marian, Trinity was able to cut down on their attack errors from their opener, but struggled to keep up with the Knight's fire power. TIU posted a match-high 13 kills as a team in the first set, but could match Marian's 19, dropping the opening frame 25-18. Giving up seven service aces to the Knights, TIU would drop the next two sets 25-15, and 25-12 for their second straight 3-0 loss.

Hawkins again led the Trojans with seven kills and two blocks, and Grace Mauersberger posted six kills. Skrzypchak notched 29 assists, while both Vujosevic and Madeline Trippett recorded seven digs each.

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

• With their loss to Grace, the Trojans fall to 2-3 all-time against the Lancers.

• The Lancers unblocked TIU 10-4 on Friday night.

• Friday's match against Marian was just the third all-time against the Trojans and Knights. Marian now leads the series 2-1 after both teams split the first two matches in series history.

• Marian posted seven service aces on Friday to Trinity's five. It is the most aces the Trojans have allowed in a three-set match this season.

• Friday's losses mark the first time the Trojans have lost consecutive matches in straight sets since October 2019. That season, TIU dropped back to back matches 3-0 at Indiana Tech and at Olivet Nazarene.

• TIU's losses mark the first time since September 7 that the Trojans have lost back-to-back matches.

• Trinity drops to 9-5 in 2021 in three-set matches.

• Brianna Torres' lone service ace against Marian was the 139th of her career. Torres is one ace from tying Taylor Arseneau (2008-11) for third on the program's all-time service ace list (140).

• Lana Vujosevic passed 400 kills for her career with three total kills on the night. Vujosevic, who played her freshman season at Governors State in 2019, has totaled 61 kills in her first season with TIU.

UP NEXT

The Trojans (11-10) return to action tomorrow morning as they take on the Phoenix of Cumberland University (TN). First serve is scheduled for 11:00am EST at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center, and can be watched LIVE on the Grace College Livestream. 
 

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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.