DAVENPORT, Iowa --- One night after opening up Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play with a win, the TIU women's volleyball team was back in action on the road as they visited the Saint Ambrose Fighting Bees. After a clean sweep over Lincoln just 24 hours earlier, the Trojans looked to put together consecutive wins for the first time this season.

Trinity faced tough opposition in the first two sets as the Bees offense dominated the game at the service line. The Trojans were able to jump out to an early lead in the first set, and a comfortable cushion in the second only to see Saint Ambrose storm back and close strong. Facing a 2-0 deficit, TIU rallied late in the third set, closing on a 5-2 run to extend the match to a fourth frame.

The Trojans again faced a relentless SAU offense that went on a 7-1 run midway through the fourth set. However, TIU responded with a run of their own, capitalizing off of five straight Bee errors. With Brianna Torres attacking up front and a late service ace by Emma Gallegos, TIU secured the fourth set, forcing a decisive fifth frame for just the second time this season.

Trinity's offense would struggle early in the fifth, but quickly regained their focus to finish the match. Backed by a Madeline Decker kill and five SAU errors, TIU stormed back from a 7-3 hole to take an 8-7 lead. Saint Ambrose would make one last push forcing match point, but the Trojans put together two impressive rallies, capped by a pair of Torres kills to win the final set 16-14 and complete the massive comeback, 21-25, 21-25, 25-20, 25-22, 16-14.

Torres posted 17 kills for the second consecutive night to lead the Trojans offense. Anna Skrzypchak notched 25 assists, while Skyler Muramoto recorded 14 assists in her first match of the season.Jaylyn Freeman led the defense with 24 digs, while Debroah Kovalczuk defended the TIU net well with four block assists.
 

Additional Match Notes

• With tonight's win, the Trojans improve to 9-8 all-time against the Bees.

• After rallying from two sets down to win 3-2, TIU has extended its streak of wins in five set matches to 14. Trinity's last loss in a five-set match game against IU-South Bend on Oct. 5, 2018.

• The Trojans with the win are 2-0 in CCAC play for the first time since the 2017 season.

• TIU out-blocked the Bees 8-6 in the win.

• Saint Ambrose recorded 12 service aces in the match, compared to Trinity's five.

• With four block assists and one solo block tonight, Deborah Kovalczuk surpasses Alida Knutson (2014-16) for eighth most total blocks in program history (168).

• Kovalczuk also ties Lexie Voss (2014-16) for most solo blocks in team history (49).

• Matty Hawkins' block assist in the win moves her into a tie with Alida Knutson for eighth place on the program's all-time block assists list (140).
   

NEXT UP

TIU (3-2) will hit the road again on Thursday night as they visit the Indiana University Northwest Redhawks in CCAC play at the Savannah Center in Gary. First serve is scheduled for 6:00pm CT and can be followed live on the Redhawk Sports Network.

Visit TIUtrojans.com to stay up to date with the latest TIU women's volleyball news and schedule updates.

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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.