ELGIN, Ill. --- After a tough loss at Saint Xavier on Tuesday night, the TIU women's volleyball team returned to action as they visited the Judson University Eagles in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play. Meeting for the first time since last season's NCCAA Regional Championship, the Trojans looked to rebound and hold onto their second place position in the league.

Much like their last meeting in November 2019, both teams gave the reduced crowd a competitive game right from the opening serve. After tying the first set at 17, Trinity scored three straight points on a Matty Hawkins kill, and a pair of Eagle errors en route to a narrow 26-24 win. Judson would turn the tables in the second frame as the Eagle offense outmatched the Trojans with 15 kills to TIU's six and a 25-16 win to even the match at one set a piece.

The third set would feature another strong attack from Judson with four separate 3-0 Eagle runs, capped by a 5-0 run to put TIU in a tough 21-11 hole. After a strong offensive first set, Trinity struggled thereafter to put together a solid attack with just seven kills in the third, falling 25-15. The blue and white would be able to take advantage of seven Judson attack errors in the fourth set and string together an impressive 6-0 run in the fourth to force the match to a fifth frame.

In their seventh five-set match this season, the Trojans remained focused despite a slow start, taking an 11-9 lead on a Madeline Trippett service ace. However, Judson would roar back scoring the next four points and close strong, handing the Trojans the 15-13 set loss, and the 3-2 defeat.

Hawkins and Brianna Torres led the Trojans with 11 kills each in the loss, with Hawkins notching four block assists and a solo block on the night. Anna Skrzypchak recorded 37 assists, while Jaylyn Freeman notched 23 digs on defense.

Additional Match Notes

• Thursday's loss drops TIU's all-time record against Judson to 9-13. It also snaps a five-match winning streak against the Eagles dating back to Oct. 20, 2017.

• Tonight's loss marks the first time the Trojans have lost consecutive matches this season.

• At 9-3 in CCAC play, TIU falls back into a tie with Trinity Christian for second place in the league. TCC won this season's lone meeting back on Feb. 13 in Palos Heights.

• Judson unblocked Trinity 17-8 in Thursday's loss.

• Trinity's 30 attack errors in the loss were a season-high.

• With 17 digs tonight, Brianna Torres surpassed Gabrielle LaMonaca (2012-14) for the ninth most career digs in program history with 1,077.

• Matty Hawkins' five blocks move her past Brynne Eaton (2008-10) for fifth on the program's all-time total blocks list (255).

NEXT UP

TIU (13-7) will have the chance to bounce back on Tuesday night, March 23 as they host the Indiana University-South Bend Titans at Van Dixhorn Arena. First serve is scheduled for 7:00pm CT  and can be watched LIVE on the Trojan Sports Network.

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

Follow the Trojans online and on social media!

   Facebook - Trinity International Athletics

   Twitter - @TIUVolleyball   @TIUTrojans

   Instagram - TIU Athletics    @tiuvolleyball

   Snapchat - @TIUtrojans

   YouTube - TIU Athletics

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.