ANN ARBOR, Mich. --- After the shortest offseason in program history, the TIU women's volleyball team kicked off the 2021 season on Tuesday afternoon with a pair of matches against Concordia University-Ann Arbor, and Huntington University. Following a 17-9 campaign during the COVID shortened and postponed 2020 season, the Trojans looked to start off the new year on the right foot.

In their opener against Concordia, Trinity would struggle for the first two sets to find consistency in their attack, with the Cardinals jumping out to an early 2-0 lead in the match. The Trojans would find their groove in the third set, leading the frame from start to finish. TIU was able to use their height and ability to block at the net to keep long rallies alive, but would struggle to cover a number of CUAA serves. Trinity would drop the opening match by a final score of 3-1 (15-25, 12-25, 25-19, 22-25).

Senior Brianna Torres led the Trojan offense with 14 kills, while junior setter Anna Skrzypchak posted 35 assists with two service aces. Defensive specialist Jaylyn Freeman also posted a pair of aces along with 24 digs, while middle blocker Matty Hawkins notched four total blocks. 

In the second match of the afternoon against Huntington, the Trojans would be on the other side of the blocking game, as the Foresters racked up 20 block assists in the match. After dropping the opening set, TIU responded with a late second set rally to take the second frame by three points. Trinity would struggle the rest of the way however, giving up 16 Huntington kills in the third to their own six, and committed a number of errors down the stretch in the fourth to drop the match in four sets (15-25, 25-22, 10-25, 19-25).

Torres again led TIU with nine kills in the loss, while Lana Vujosevic posted seven in her Trinity debut. Skrzypchak notched 14 assists as Madison Feagans posted 12. On defense, Freeman recorded 18 digs, as Hawkins and Madison Williams combined for five total blocks.

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

*With her 23 kills on Tuesday, Brianna Torres surpassed 1,100 career kills, becoming the sixth Trojan in program history to reach that milestone. Torres also currently ranks sixth on the program's all-time kills list (1,121).

*Torres also joined TIU's 1,200 career dig club during Tuesday's losses, the eighth member of the women's volleyball program to do so.

*Matty Hawkins' nine kills against Concordia and Huntington put her past 800 in her career with 802.

*Setter Anna Skrzypchak earned her 700th career assist on Tuesday during Trinity's opening match against CUAA.

*Senior defensive specialist Jaylyn Freeman surpassed 1,800 digs in her career on Tuesday with 42 total during both matches. Freeman has posted 495 digs as a Trojan, and 1,319 while playing at Gadsden State Community College (AL).

*With their loss to Concordia, the all-time series record between the Trojans and Cardinals is now tied at two wins a piece.

*Brianna Torres' 14 kills against CUAA are the most recorded in a season opening match since Matty Hawkins notched 14 kills in the 2019 season opener against Presentation College (S.D.)

*Anna Skrzypchak's 35 assists vs. Concordia are the most notched in a season opener since Suzanne Knudtson's 19 on Sept. 10, 2015 at Robert Morris (IL).

*With Tuesday's loss to the Cardinals, Trinity falls to 4-8 against opponents from the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) since 2015. 

*Despite the loss to Huntington, the Trojans still lead the series against the Foresters, having won three of the five all-time meetings.

*After falling to the Foresters, TIU's record against Crossroads League opponents since 2015 sits at 3-6. 

*Tuesday's losses mark the first time since 2016 that the Trojans have started the season 0-2. Five years ago, Trinity dropped their first two matches of the season to Stephens (MO) and Central Methodist (MO) at the Stephens College Tri-Match in Columbia, Missouri.

UP NEXT

The Trojans (0-2) will return to action next Tuesday night as they open up Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play on the road at Saint Ambrose University. First serve is scheduled for 7:00pm CST at Lee Lohman Arena in Davenport.

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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.