BANNOCKBURN, Ill. --- Coming off five straight wins last week, the TIU women's volleyball team returned home to Van Dixhorn Arena on Tuesday night as they hosted the Eagles of Judson University in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play. With Eagles winning ten of their first 13 matches of the season, the Trojans prepared for a battle among two of the conference's most consistent programs

Trinity would jump out to a commanding lead in the opening set, reaching the brink of set point before the Eagles could crack ten points. 13 team kills from the Trojans helped TIU to a 25-14 victory in the first set. Things would not start well for the blue and white in the second as Judson came out strong with a 10-0 run to start the second set, aided by several TIU errors. Trinity would respond quickly however as they slowly chipped away as the Eagle lead, which fell apart thanks to 13 attack errors. TIU would roar all the way back from a slow start to take the second set by a score of 25-20.

In the third, both team's offense turned up the heat in the closest set of the night. Trinity's strong defense at the net would get them to match point at 24-18, but the Eagles would come all the way back five TIU errors and ultimately win the set, 31-29 forcing the match into a fourth frame. While Judson fought to continue the match at the end of the third, the Trojans would slam the door shut in the fourth with a dominating .684 attack percentage. The Eagles would not crack double-digits as TIU rolled 25-7 in the frame to claim victory on the night in four sets.

Outside hitter Matty Hawkins led the Trojans with 13 kills in Tuesday's win, while defending CCAC Attacker of the Week Brianna Torres notched 11 with 13 digs on defense, and Nadia Wheeler recorded ten. Wheeler also led the night with three of Trinity's nine total blocks. Conference setter of the week Anna Skrzypchak posted 41 assists and two service aces in the win, while Jaylyn Freeman notched 16 digs. Junior Emma Gallegos also became a key factor in TIU's defense in the middle sets, ending the night with 15 digs.

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

• With Tuesday's win over Judson, the Trojans are now 10-13 all-time against the Eagles. TIU has also won six of the last eight meetings with Judson dating back to 2017, including the previous two.

• For the first time this season, TIU has a winning record. Trinity started the season 3-7 before winning their next six.

• TIU improves to 2-3 this season in four-set matches.

• Tuesday's victory was TIU's sixth consecutive, their longest winning streak since winning six in a row during October of the 2019 season.

• Senior defensive specialist Jaylyn Freeman picked up her 700th dig as a Trojan against Judson. Freeman, who earned her 2,000th career dig over the weekend, now sits at 2,029 career digs, the majority of which came from her time playing at Gadsden State Community College in 2018 and 2019.

• Setter Anna Skrzypchak earned the 400th dig of her collegiate career in Tuesday's win.

UP NEXT

The Trojans (8-7) will have a quick turnaround as they travel to nearby Lake Forest to take on the Foresters of Lake Forest College, an NCAA Division III program. First serve from the Sports & Recreation Center is scheduled for 7:00pm, and can be watched LIVE on the Forester 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.