Volleyball team hangs on to beat Trine in five sets

ANGOLA, Ind. – The Olivet College volleyball team hung on to beat Trine (Ind.) University in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association match in five sets today at Hershey Hall in Angola, Indiana.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Olivet def. Trine 17-25, 25-12, 25-21, 17-25, 18-16
Location: Hershey Hall; Angola, Ind.
Records: Olivet 12-12 overall, 4-8 MIAA; Trine 3-23 overall, 2-11 MIAA

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the first set, the Comets had a 14-8 lead before the Thunder scored 11 of the next 12 points to take a 19-15 lead. Olivet scored three straight points to cut its deficit to one, 19-18, until Trine ended the set on a 6-0 run to win it, 25-18. 
• The Thunder took a 2-0 lead in the second set. The Comets responded with a 6-1 run to go up 6-3. Olivet never trailed for the rest of the set.
• Trine went ahead 5-0 to start the third set. The Thunder continued to lead at 11-8. Behind the service of senior Danielle Bearden, Olivet scored six straight points for a 14-11 lead. Trine closed its deficit to one point, 22-21, before three Comets kills – two by junior Allison Turner and one by freshman Brittney Prince – ended the set.
• The Thunder held the lead for the entire fourth set.
• Olivet led the deciding set by five points, 10-5. Trine answered with six consecutive points to go up 11-10. The Comets responded with a 3-0 run to gain a 13-11 lead. The Thunder scored three straight points to get match point, 14-13. Turner's kill tied the set at 14-14. Trine scored before another Turner kill evened the set at 15-15. Olivet took a 16-15 lead on a Thunder attack error. Trine countered with a point on a Comet attack error to level the score at 16-16. A kill by freshman Madelyn Notenbaum made the score 17-16 and a kill by sophomore Andrea Rico won the match.

FOR THE COMETS

• For the match, the Comets had a .118 attack percentage, with 55 kills, 33 errors on 186 attempts.
• Prince and Turner each had 13 kills.
• Notenbaum was one kill shy of a triple double, as she had nine kills, 19 set assists and 11 digs.
• Junior Courtney Cronkright had eight kills
• Rico finished with six kills and a team-best .316 hitting percentage and 24 digs.
• Bearden recorded 24 set assists.

FOR THE THUNDER

• Janaya Wilder led Trine with 17 kills and 21 digs.
• Molly Smith was next with 12 kills.
• Samantha Ihrie had 20 set assists.

UP NEXT                                                                                

• Olivet will wrap-up its season next week with three matches. On Tuesday night, the Comets host Saint Mary's (Ind.) College at 7 p.m. Olivet then travels to play Adrian College Friday night at 6:30 p.m. and Calvin College Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.