BANNOCKBURN, Ill. --- The TIU women's volleyball team returned to Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) play on Friday night as they hosted the Redhawks of IU-Northwest at Van Dixhorn Arena. Fresh off a three-set sweep at Lake Forest College on Wednesday, the Trojans looked to continue their recent stretch of success and earn their eighth straight win.

The Trojans started off the night strong with a 12-4 run after dropping the first two points of the opening set. Despite some errors along the way, Trinity scored the final six points of the first set to win 25-17. In the second, things would get much tighter as IU-Northwest turned up the heat to hang with TIU through the first half of the set. After the Redhawks pulled within two points at 12-10, the Trojans responded with a 6-0 run of their own to bolt ahead and take control, ultimately winning the second set 25-16.

Trinity would start out the third set strong, but gave IU-Northwest some breathing room with a set of TIU errors and Redhawk kills. While IU-Northwest took a brief one point lead, the Trojans closed the evening out with an impressive 12 team kills to clinch the final set 25-21 to complete the clean sweep.

Senior outside hitter Brianna Torres led the TIU offense with 14 kills in the win, with seven kills from Matty Hawkins. Junior Anna Skrzypchak notched 33 assists and a pair of service aces against IU-Northwest, while Madeline Trippett led the defense with 13 digs. Emma Gallegos also recorded 11 digs and a service ace in the victory.

ADDITIONAL GAME NOTES

• TIU improves to 11-1 all-time against the Redhawks after tonight's win. The Trojans have also won seven of the last eight meetings.

• Trinity's victory is their eighth in a row this season, tying the program's longest win streak in the last 14 years. It is also the third time in the Luke Ward era (since 2015) that the Trojans have won eight straight (September 2017 and September 2019).

• The Trojans are now 8-2 in three-set matches this season.

• Seven of TIU's last nine wins have come in three-set fashion.

• TIU improves to 3-1 at home inside Van Dixhorn Arena this season after Friday's win. Trinity's only loss came against Cardinal Stritch on Sept. 7 in their 2021 home opener.

• With the win, the Trojans move within one game of first place in the CCAC standings, trailing Saint Xavier, IU-South Bend, and St. Francis (IL)

• Anna Skrzypchak's 33 assists against IU-Northwest gives her 1,218 on her career, passing Maggie Jakus (2007-08) for sixth all-time in program history.

UP NEXT

The Trojans (10-7) return to action next Tuesday, September 28 as they travel to north-central Indiana to take on the co-conference leaders in the IU-South Bend Titans. First serve from the Student-Activities Center is scheduled for 7:00pm EST, and can be watched LIVE on the Regional Radio 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.