After playing their entire 2020 season in the winter/spring, the 2021 TIU women's volleyball team is gearing up for year seven of the Luke Ward era. Coming off their best regular season finish in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) since 2006, the Trojans are eager to continue to build off of last year's success and battle for the top spot in the conference.

 

2021 Season Notes

• The 2021 women's volleyball season will be the 46th in TIU history. The Trojans began their program in 1975.

• Trinity has scheduled 30 matches for their 2021 schedule, including ten home matches at Van Dixhorn Arena, 13 on the road and seven at neutral sites.

• Trinity's 2021 slate of games features 12 non-conference matchups, and 18 matches against CCAC opponents. 

• 2021 will be TIU's 25th season as a member of the CCAC. The Trojans have been part of the CCAC since 1996, previously playing in the Northern Illinois Intercollegiate Conference (1975-1995).

 

2021 Opponents At A Glance

  Concordia University-Ann Arbor Cardinals

   Tuesday, August 24

   Cardinal Fieldhouse (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

                      First Serve: 2:00pm EST

The Trojans will open the 2021 campaign with the first of two matches at the Concordia Tournament in Michigan. CUAA, who finished the 2020 season with a 7-14 record overall and against opponents in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC). TIU leads the all-time series 2-1, which saw Trinity take the lead thanks to a 3-1 home win over the Cardinals last season.

 

   Huntington University Foresters

   Tuesday, August 24

                    Cardinal Fieldhouse (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

                   First Serve: 4:00pm EST

TIU appearance at the Concordia Tournament concludes with an afternoon matchup against the Huntington Foresters. HU struggled in 2020 with a 3-19 record, and 2-13 mark in the Crossroads League and ended the season on a five-match losing streak. This will be only the second all-time meeting between the Trojans and Foresters, who met in 2018 with TIU coming out victorious.
 

 

    Saint Ambrose University Fighting Bees

   Tuesday, August 31 & Tuesday, October 26

                     Lee Lohman Arena / Van Dixhorn Arena (Davenport, Iowa / Deerfield, Ill.)

                     First Serve: 7:00pm CST / 7:00pm CST

The 2021 CCAC schedule opens for the Trojans early on the final day of August with the Fighting Bees of Saint Ambrose coming to town for the home opener at Van Dixhorn Arena. In their lone meeting last season in Davenport, Trinity rallied from down two sets to none for a thrilling five set comeback win. The Bees finished fourth in the CCAC just behind the Trojans in the final standings before being eliminated in the opening round of the conference tournament. TIU will make a return trip to Davenport on October 26.

 

   Cardinal Stritch University Wolves

   Tuesday, September 7 / Thursday, October 28

   Van Dixhorn Arena / CSU Fieldhouse (Deerfield, Ill. / Milwaukee, Wisc.)

                       First Serve: 7:00pm CST / 7:00pm CST

Cardinal Stritch took two of three matches from the Trojans last season, including the CCAC Tournament quarterfinal which ended TIU's 2020 season. These two teams will face off twice this fall with the Wolves coming to Deerfield for the first home match of September. TIU makes the return trip to southern Wisconsin in late October. CSU finished fifth in the CCAC a year ago, with a 12-6 conference record, and 13-7 mark overall.

 

    Lincoln College Lynx

   Thursday, September 9 / Saturday, October 30

   Van Dixhorn Arena / Jack D. Nutt Arena (Deerfield, Ill. / Lincoln, Ill.)

                        First Serve: 7:00pm CST / 2:00pm CST

The Trojans fared well against the Lincoln Lynx in their first season as a CCAC opponent. TIU and Lincoln have met only twice on the volleyball court, with Trinity holding the 2-0 advantage in the series, thanks to a 3-0 sweep last February at home. TIU will welcome the Lynx to Van Dixhorn Arena in early September, before making the trip to Lincoln for the final match of October. The Lynx finished 2020 with a 12-19 record, and 4-14 mark in the CCAC.

   University of St. Francis (IL) Fighting Saints

   Saturday, September 11 / Tuesday, November 2

   Sullivan Center / Van Dixhorn Arena (Joliet, Ill. / Deerfield, Ill.)

                       First Serve: TBA / 7:00pm CST

St. Francis has been a challenging opponent for the Trojans the past few seasons. Thankfully, TIU has won their last six matches against the Saints, including their last meeting in March at home, with the Trojans prevailing 3-1. Trinity will host USF on September 11, their first weekend match of the year, before travelling to Joliet on November 2. The Saints qualified for the CCAC Tournament last season as the eighth and final seed with a 10-8 conference mark, and 13-13 record overall.

 

    Governors State University Jaguars

   Tuesday, September 14 / Wednesday, November 3

   Athletics-Recreation Center / Van Dixhorn Arena (University Park, Ill. / Deerfield, Ill.)

                        First Serve: 7:00pm CST / 7:00pm CST

The Trojans are 5-0 all-time against Governors State in women's volleyball, and look to extend that mark with two matches against the Jaguars in 2021. GSU finished 5-15 in 2020, with a 4-13 CCAC record for an 11th place finish in the league. TIU will travel to University Park on September 14, before hosting the Jaguars for their 2021 senior day and regular season finale on November 3.

 

    Cottey College Comets

   Friday, September 17 

   UHSP Gymnasium (St. Louis, Mo.)

                     First Serve: 5:00pm CST

The first of four matches at the UHSP Tournament in St. Louis begins with this Friday afternoon match against Cottey (Mo.). This will be the first all-time meeting between the Trojans and Comets. Cottey finished the 2020 season with a 10-17 record overall.

    University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy Eutectics

   Friday, September 17 

   UHSP Gymnasium (St. Louis, Mo.)

                     First Serve: 7:00pm CST

Trinity takes on the host of the UHSP Tournament in their second Friday match in St. Louis. TIU leads the all-time series 2-1, but it was the Eutectics who won the previous meeting last season in Lincoln, Illinois in five-sets, snapping the Trojan's historic 14-match winning streak in five set matches. UHSP finished 2020 with a 15-14 overall record, and 6-3 mark in the American Midwest Conference. 

 

 

    Iowa Wesleyan University Tigers

   Saturday, September 18 

   UHSP Gymnasium (St. Louis, Mo.)

                     First Serve: 11:00am CST

TIU and Iowa Wesleyan will face off for just the fourth time ever, and first time since 2010 as they meet on the second day of the USHP Tournament. Trinity leads the all-time series 2-1 despite dropping their last meeting in August of 2010. The Tigers struggled last season with a 1-15 record overall and in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

 

     Friends University Falcons

   Saturday, September 18 

   UHSP Gymnasium (St. Louis, Mo.)

                      First Serve: 3:00pm CST

Trinity wraps their road trip in St. Louis and at the USHP Tournament with an afternoon matchup with Friends University. The Falcons lead the series 2-0, having won the last meeting against the Trojans in 2019. Friends finished the 2020 campaign with a 13-20 record and 9-15 in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.

 

 

    Judson University Eagles

   Tuesday, September 21 

   Van Dixhorn Arena (Deerfield, Ill.)

                      First Serve: 7:00pm CST

The Trojans return to CCAC play following their trip to St. Louis as they host Judson in Deerfield. Judson claimed victory over TIU in their lone meeting last season five-sets in Elgin en route to a 16-12 season, and 11-7 finish in the conference standings. The Eagles lead the all-time series 13-9, but the Trojans have won five of the previous six meetings.

    Lake Forest College Foresters

   Wednesday, September 22

   Sports & Recreation Center (Lake Forest, Ill.)

                     First Serve: 7:00pm CST

24 hours after hosting Judson, the Trojans will hit the road and visit the Foresters of NCAA Division III Lake Forest. With the series tied up at four wins a piece, TIU will seek their first win over LFC since 2017. The Foresters played just six matches in 2020, going 4-2.

 

    Indiana University-South Bend Titans

   Tuesday, September 28

   Student Activities Center (South Bend, Ind.)

                     First Serve: 7:00pm EST

Last season, the IU-South Bend Titans finished with a 12-7 record overall, and 11-6 mark in CCAC play. Their lone meeting in the 2021 regular season will be their tenth all-time, with the Titans leading 6-3. TIU has won the last two meetings, both being 3-0 sweeps.

 

    Indiana University-Northwest Redhawks

   Thursday, September 30

   Van Dixhorn Arena (Deerfield, Ill.)

                     First Serve: 7:00pm CST

For their final match of September, the Trojans will host the IU-Northwest Redhawks at Van Dixhorn Arena. The Redhawks finished the 2020 campaign with a 7-11 record, finishing tenth in the CCAC. TIU holds a commanding 10-1 lead in the all-time series, winning six of the last seven meetings, including last February in Gary, Indiana in a 3-0 victory.

 

 

    Roosevelt University Lakers

   Tuesday, October 5

   Van Dixhorn Arena (Deerfield, Ill.)

                      First Serve: 7:00pm CST

Trinity has had Roosevelt's number the past few years, winning the last six meetings with the Lakers, including last year's 3-0 sweep in Arlington Heights. The Lakers struggled in 2020 with just one win on the season, but still hold a slight edge in the all-time series 11-8 in the series.

 

    Grace College Lancers

   Friday, October 8

   Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center (Winona Lake, Ind.)

                      First Serve: 6:00pm EST

The Trojans will open a four-match road trip at the Grace Tournament in Indiana against the host school Lancers. This matchup will be just the fourth meeting all-time between the programs with TIU leading the series 2-1. Trinity edged the Lancers back early in the 2019 season at home during the Trojan Fall Classic in five sets. Grace finished with an even 10-10 record overall last season, and 8-7 mark in the Crossroads League.

 

 

    Marian University Knights

   Friday, October 8

   Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center (Winona Lake, Ind.)

                     First Serve: 8:00pm EST

Marian will be TIU's second opponent at the Grace Tournament, and will also be the third meeting all-time against the Knights. The series is tied at one win a piece, with Marian claiming victory in the last meeting back on October 29, 2011. The Knights finished 2020 with an impressive 18-5 mark, and 10-2 record in the Crossroads League.

 

    Cumberland University (TN) Phoenix

   Saturday, October 9

   Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center (Winona Lake, Ind.)

                     First Serve: 11:00am EST

Day two of the Grace Tournament begins for Trinity with a rematch of last season's meeting in Deerfield, the lone match of the series that the Trojans won in five sets as part of the Judson-TIU Crossover. The Phoenix finished last season with an 11-18 overall record, and 8-8 mark in Mid-South Conference play.

 

    Bethel University (IN) Pilots

   Saturday, October 9

   Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center (Winona Lake, Ind.)

                     First Serve: 3:00pm EST

To close out their appearance in Winona Lake, the Trojans will take on the Pilots of Bethel University (Ind.) in an early afternoon matchup. TIU is 0-3 all-time against Bethel, most recently falling to the Pilots in three sets last March in Mishawaka. This is arguably one of the toughest non-conference opponents the Trojans will face in 2021, as Bethel finished 2020 with a strong 25-8 record, 14-3 mark in the Crossroads League, and an appearance in the NAIA Tournament.

 

    Olivet Nazarene University Tigers

   Tuesday, October 12

   McHie Arena (Bourbonnais, Ill.)

                      First Serve: 7:00pm CST

After one of the most thrilling matches of 2020 that saw TIU hand the Tigers their only conference loss of the season, the Trojans will travel to Bourbonnais for this mid-October matchup with the defending CCAC regular season and tournament champions. Last season's five-set thriller was only Trinity's second win against ONU all-time. The Tigers, who finished with a 20-2 mark overall and 17-1 CCAC record last year, were one of two CCAC teams to qualify for the NAIA Tournament.

 

    Calumet College of St. Joseph Crimson Wave

   Thursday, October 14

   Rittenmeyer Center (Whiting, Ind.)

                      First Serve: 7:00pm CST

Trinity has dominated their series with Calumet St. Joseph, winning 14 of their last 15 meetings. TIU has also shutout the Crimson Wave in straight sets in six consecutives matches. CCSJ finished the 2020 season with an 0-18 mark in CCAC play, and 0-21 on the year.

 

    Lincoln Christian University Red Lions

   Friday, October 15

   Van Dixhorn Arena (Deerfield, Ill.)

                      First Serve: 6:00pm CST

In this rare Friday night match, the Trojans will host Lincoln Christian in their final non-conference match of the regular season. TIU is 3-0 all-time against the Red Lions, sweeping all three matches in straight sets, including a 3-0 win in Lincoln last March. The Red Lions finished 2020 with a 6-10 overall mark.

 

    Saint Xavier University Cougars

   Tuesday, October 19

   Shannon Center (Chicago, Ill.)

                      First Serve: 7:00pm CST

TIU's two meetings last season against Saint Xavier were like night and day. The Trojans struggled in their first meeting on the road in Chicago in a 3-0 loss, before defeating SXU in five-sets at home just a few weeks later. While the Cougars have dominated the all-time series, Trinity has won two of the last three meetings. SXU finished with a 10-10 record overall, and 8-10 CCAC mark, just missing out on qualifying for the conference tournament.

 

    Trinity Christian College Trolls

   Thursday, October 21

   Van Dixhorn Arena (Deerfield, Ill.)

                      First Serve: 7:00pm CST

The Battle of the Trinity writes a new chapter into its history as the Trolls come to town on October 21. This meeting will include the return of former assistant and current TCC head coach Beck Eller to Van Dixhorn Arena for the first time. The Trolls finished one game ahead of TIU in the CCAC standings, finishing the season with an 18-9 record overall with an NAIA Tournament appearance. The Trojans will also seek their first win against the Trolls since 2009.

 

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.