Trine Rolls Over Albion

Posted: Sep 14, 2011

ALBION, Mich. - It was an all-around solid game for the Trine University volleyball team as they swept MIAA opponent Albion College 3-0 (25-9, 25-19, 25-23). The Thunder are now 3-6 on the season and 2-1 in the conference. 

The Britons won the first point of the opening set, but that would be their only lead as the Thunder tallied the next five points to lead 5-1 and never looked back. Trine scored multiple points on six of their seven time of service, as they easily took the first set. Trine hit an astounding .500 percent in the first set.

The second set saw Albion hang close with the Thunder to open the set including leading 6-2. However, Trine refused to let the Britons maintain their lead as the scored six straight points. Albion would tie the match and eight-all, but the Thunder would again score four straight points to take the lead for good.
The final set proved to be a barn-burner for the Thunder as the Britons fought to the end. Trine lead early on 5-2 but consecutive points by Albion tied the game at six. Trine again would pull ahead of the Britons, who would once again claw back. That theme would stay true for throughout the set, as there were eight lead changes and 18 tie scores. Three straight points late in the set gave Trine the 21-19 lead. Both teams would trade points over the never several serves, but it was the Thunder who would take the final point and the match.

Junior Betsy Irwin (Athens, Ohio/Alexander) led all players with a game-high 14 kills and three blocks (two solo and one assists). Freshman Melanie Troyer (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Memorial) had yet another solid game where she led Trine with a team-high 10 digs to go along with six kills. Senior Julie Kooienga (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton), freshman Jordan Bell (Coldwater, Mich./Bronson) and junior Chelsea Oren (Lima, Ohio/Shawnee) each added in five kills.

Junior Sarah Radekin (Athens, Ohio/Alexander) had a solid game leading the offense with a game-high 31 assists while adding in five digs and four kills.

Defensively, sophomores Darcy Crabtree (Gaston, Ind./Wes-Del) and Carlee Faber (Newman, Calif./Orestimba) had nine digs each.
On the night, the Thunder led most of the offensive and defensive categories. Trine held a 40-to-27 kill advantage. The thunder also led Albion 47-to-40 in digs. Trine also had five total blocks compared to just one for the Britons.

Trine will travel to the Rochester, New York for four games at the Rochester Institute of Technology tournament beginning September 16.