ST. LOUIS, Mo. --- The TIU women's volleyball team kicked off their weekend road trip on Friday night as they took on the Cottey College Comets and UHSP Eutectics in the Gateway City in non-conference action. Entering the weekend with a 3-7 record and a win in their last outing against Governors State on Tuesday, the Trojans hoped to use this weekend's tournament as a stepping stone heading into the heart of the conference schedule.

Trinity would open their first set with the Comets with a set of back and forth runs. After tying the set at 14, the Trojans would go on a 7-0 run to jump ahead before taking the opening frame 25-18. TIU's defense at the net would play a big factor in their first match of the tournament, as would opponent errors, which help propel the Trojans to a 25-15 win in the second set. The Trojans would continue to apply pressure in the third as they forced seven Cottey errors. TIU would put together a go-ahead 6-1 run as they would finish the set strong to win 25-17, and complete the three-set sweep.

Senior outside hitter Brianna Torres led Trinity offensively with ten kills, plus ten digs of defense. Sophomore setter Anna Skrzypchak notched 23 assists in the win, while Jaylyn Freeman led the Trojans with 19 digs and two assists. Madison Williams led TIU with two total blocks.

In their second match of the night, the Trojans continued their stellar play against the UHSP Eutectics. TIU opened up with a 12-4 run early in the opening set committing just two attack errors en route to a 25-14 win, the fewest points the Trojans have allowed in a set against a non-conference opponent all season. Trinity's offense rolled in the second with 18 team kills, never trailing along the way for a 25-18 victory. The blue and white jumped out quickly in the third set, scoring 11 of the first 14 points. Thanks to a flurry of USHP errors and solid Trinity defense, TIU rolled past the Eutectics 25-17 in the third set to pick up their second clean sweep of the day.

Torres led the match against UHSP with a match-high 15 kills, with Skrzypchak notching 33 assists. Freeman recorded 20 digs, as Hawkins posted three blocks. Junior Emma Gallegos would also be responsible for three of TIU's five service aces in the win, plus ten digs.

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

• Friday's match with Cottey was the first meeting all-time between the two programs.

• TIU's win over the Comets marks the first time the Trojans have won consecutive matches this season.

• Trinity out-blocked Cottey 6-2 in the win. Madison Williams recorded three of TIU's blocks.

• The Trojans notched seven service aces against the Comets, two coming from Jaylyn Freeman.

• TIU posted their second straight match with seven service aces against Cottey. Trinity also posted seven aces against Governors State on Tuesday.

• Trinity ties up their all-time series with their win over UHSP. The Eutectics won the first meeting last season in a neutral site match in Lincoln, IL.

• TIU's win over UHSP marks their first three-match winning streak since late in the 2020 season.

• The Trojans have now won three consecutive matches in straight sets for the first time since beating Governors State, Roosevelt, and Calumet St. Joseph back in February-March 2021.

• Trinity is now 5-2 this season in three-set matches after tonight's wins.

• With 56 assists in both matches tonight, setter Anna Skrzypchak surpassed 1,000 career assists, becoming the seventh Trojan to reach this milestone. Skrzypchak ranks seventh all-time in program history in assists (1,055).

UP NEXT

The Trojans (5-7) will return to action tomorrow morning as they conclude their trip in Missouri against Iowa Wesleyan and Friends University. First serve for TIU-IWU is scheduled for 11:00am CST, while the Trojans will take on the Falcons at 3:00pm CST. Both matches will be streamed LIVE on the Eutectics 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.