HUNTINGTON, Ind. --- TIU women's volleyball opened their season on the road today with a tri-match against Concordia University (MI) and Huntington University (IN), splitting the two games with a 1-1 record for the trip home after ten sets.

The Trojans' opening match against Concordia went to five sets after attempting the reverse sweep. Plagued by errors, Trinity fell behind 2-0 before tightening their play and winning sets three and four to force the fifth set. Ultimately, TIU lost the final set by four points in a close comeback run.

Capitalizing on Cardinal errors and attack attempts, the Trojans went up 5-3 in the third set. The two teams traded as the score gap decreased until a kill by the Cardinals tied the game 9-9. The score would be tied ten more times before Trinity pulled away after a kill by Brianna Torres started a string of kills by Nadia Wheeler and Madison Williams to take the lead 21-19. Two additional kills and a couple of errors by the Cardinals rounded out scoring and gave the Trojans the third set victory.

Trinity took an early lead in the fourth set, going up 8-4. Concordia grabbed back a couple points before Trinity went on a five point run, increasing their lead 14-6. With the score at 20-10 and the Trojans still leading, the Cardinals had a short run before TIU claimed the final points and set.

Forcing the fifth set, Trinity and Concordia remained within a point of each other before the Cardinals pulled away following a Trojan error. Concordia ended the tiebreaker set, handing the Trojans their first loss.

Brianna Torres led the Trojan attack with 12 kills, and just one behind her Lana Vujosevic contributed eleven. Defensively, Jaylyn Freeman tallied 23 digs.

In their second match of the day, Trinity looked to continue the momentum from the previous game despite the result. With the Foresters of Huntington across the net, TIU opened serving from freshman Lily Crosby. Taking an early lead, Huntington went up 5-2 before a kill by Madison Williams, assisted by Anna Skrzypchak, broke up the run. A slew of errors by the Trojans gave the Foresters an increased lead 14-8 when a kill by Nadia Wheeler tightened the Trojans focus. With a score of 18-11, TIU pushed hard on the attack but waited too long and Huntington took the first set 25-17.

Keeping a close game through the first 24 points, the Trojans began to distance themselves from the Foresters after  two service aces by Lana Vujosevic sandwiching a kill by Wheeler. Later, a kill by Madison Williams brought the Trojans score 21-15. TIU benefited from a Forester error and Vujosevic notched two kills before Brianne Torres hit the final kill to end the set and secure victory.

Maintaining the push from the prior set, Trinity started strong and took a 16-8 lead before the Foresters landed a pair of kills and service aces to shorten their deficit. The Trojans led 20-15 before taking a timeout to refocus and determine the plan to solidify their second victory. Out of the break, Huntington scored two then had a service error, returning the serve to the TIU. A kill by Williams then two consecutive by Brianna Torres took the Trojans one point from winning as the Foresters pushed back with three kills of their own. Williams ended the set with a kill, 25-21.

A total swing of momentum gave Huntington a 16-9 lead before taking a couple of errors. Kills by Isabella Acosta and Nadia Wheeler closed the gap 18-13. The Trojans stole a couple more points from Forester errors, but couldn't stop their opponents attack and dropped the fourth set 16-25, forcing a tiebreaker.

After a tied score at 5-5, TIU sprinted full speed ahead with a five point run from consecutive Huntington errors surrounded by two more kills from Torres before the Foresters called a timeout. From the break, Huntington regrouped and landed four points to Trinity's two, with the Trojans still leading 12-9. After a Trojan timeout, the score evened out at 12-12. Trading points and the lead, Trinity finally pulled away for the two-point victory.
 
Up Next
The Trojans are back in Deerfield for their home opening game as they co-host a tournament with Trinity Christian College. Friday afternoon, TIU will face Ohio Christian University (3:00pm) and the College of the Ozarks (7:00pm) in Van Dixhorn Arena, before traveling to Palos Heights on Saturday for their remaining tournament games.
 

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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.