PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. --- The TIU women's volleyball team traveled through cold temperatures and a downpour of snow as they visited the Trolls of Trinity Christian at DeVos Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. Riding a three-match winning streak against Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) opponents this week, TIU looked to continue their hot run against a formidable challenger.

Despite a tightly contested match against one of their most competitive conference opponents, the Trojans struggled in the opening set, committing ten attack errors in a number of three-four point rallies, giving their opponents a 25-20 win in the opening frame. The Trojans and Trolls dueled throughout the second set before TCC took over after a set of three kills by Britta Heggeland. TIU made a late rally in the set, but were unable to mount the comeback, falling 27-25 in the second.

In the third set, the Trojans played their best, jumping out to an early lead with a service ace by Brianna Torres, and a kill by Madeline Decker. However, despite jumping out to a 20-17 lead, the Trolls rallied back after Trisha Noonan kill and Jaylyn Freeman error to tie the set, and ultimately take the lead and close the frame out on a 5-0 run to hand the Trojans the 3-0 match loss.

Torres led TIU with 14 kills and three service aces in the loss. Skyler Muramoto notched 27 assists, while Freeman recorded 25 digs on defense. Matty Hawkins also blocked three shots, including one solo shot. 

Additional Match Notes

• With today's loss, the Trojans fall to 2-17 all-time against Trinity Christian. TIU has not beaten the Trolls since Sept. 15, 2009.

• Today's loss snapped a three-match winning streak for the Trojans, and handed TIU their first loss in CCAC play after a 3-0 start against conference opponents.

• TIU notched seven service aces as a team compared to TCC's four.

• TIU's 24 attack errors are the most they have committed this season against a CCAC opponent.

• With three service aces against the Trolls, Brianna Torres moved into eighth all-time in career service aces (92), surpassing Jacqui Thomson (2007-09) and Penina Sao (2017-19) in program history. 

• Matty Hawkins moved into fifth place on the program's all-time solo blocks list with 80, passing Samantha Stoller (2011-14). Hawkins also passed Alida Knudtson (2014-16) for eighth all-time in block assists (142).

NEXT UP

TIU (4-3) will return home next Tuesday, February 16 as they host the Governors State Jaguars in CCAC play at Van Dixhorn Arena. First serve is scheduled for 7:00pm CT and can be followed live on the Trojan 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.