DEERFIELD, Ill. – Olivet Nazarene University went up against Trinity International at Van Dixhorn Arena in Deerfield, Ill. on Tuesday evening. 

The Trojans asserted their dominance on their home court early on into the first set. They scored points back to back, the Tigers seemed to struggle to keep up. Kaitlyn Kolb scored the first kill for ONU, brining the Tigers within four points of Trinity. Despite snatching up kills by Kaylee Cozen, Techiya Jackson, and Sophia Johnston, ONU continued to trail by over ten points, eventually losing the set with a score of 12-25. 

ONU didn't let the first set deter them from lighting the court on fire. Cozen showed she didn't come to mess around, securing the first kill of the set, putting ONU on the board immediately. The Trojans kept the energy, matching every point that ONU made, resulting in a few change in the lead. The Tigers displayed incredible skill on the court, grabbing the lead and keeping it for the entirety of the set. Trinity pushed hard but couldn't keep up, dropping the set to ONU with a score of 25-20. 

The Trojans used their homecourt advantage to rally off seven straight points early into the third set of the match. Jackson, Cozen, and Julianne Kielion managed to get a few kills for the Tigers but the squad couldn't make up for lost time, losing the set to the Trolls with a score of 17-25.

The final set of this matchup saw a lot of back and forth ball play. Trinity secured the lead early into the set, despite a kill by Sutton Bate giving ONU the first point of the set. A lead was well beyond ONU's reach, eventually the squad was trailing by 11 points. Kielion and Kylie Hasselbacher put up a few kills, but ONU couldn't hold on, surrendering the set and the match to the Trojans with a score of 14-25.

GAME VITALS

Final: First Set: ONU 17, TIU 25 | Second Set: ONU 25, TIU 20 | Third Set: ONU 17, TIU 25 | Fourth Set: ONU 14, TIU 25

Records: Trinity International 18-5 (8-2 CCAC) | Olivet Nazarene 6-15 (5-5 CCAC)

Location: Van Dixhorn Arena | Deerfield, Ill. | Trinity International University

QUICK HITS

WHAT'S NEXT

The Tigers will have a week break before squaring off against St. Ambrose on Oct. 18, 2022. The match is set to take place at McHie Arena at 7:00 p.m. CST.

--ONU—

*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu