DAVENPORT, Iowa – The Trinity Christian College men's volleyball team didn't go to Iowa on Tuesday, Jan. 26 to run a marathon, but they certain ended up in a marathon of sorts. In their first Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) match of the season, the Trolls not only went five sets with the Fighting Bees of St. Ambrose University (Iowa), but the went five LONG sets. In the end, the Trolls came out victorious – 25-13, 21-25, 31-29, 26-28, 15-8.

Rookie Ryan Schmidt is quickly making a name for himself in the CCAC, recording a season-high 49 assists, a game high thus far this season in the conference. He also added three kills and eight digs on the evening. Schmidt kept the Bees on their toes as he spread out the offense with Ben Gabor and Alex Costa each finishing with 13 kills, Djordje Novakovic with 12 and Jake Ostema adding 10. Gabor also led the team in digs with 12, while Alex Becker added 10.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• Ryan Schmidt: Season-high 49 assists; three kills, eight digs
• Ben Gabor: 13 kills in 33 attempts (.273), two service aces, 12 digs, block assist
• Alex Costa: 13 kills in 35 attempts (.000), eight digs, block solo
• Djordje Novakovic: 12 kills in 28 attempts (.321), three service aces, seven digs
• Jake Ostema: 10 kills in 21 attempts (.381), two block solos
• Adam Becker: 10 digs, three assists

NEWS AND NOTES:

• The Trolls are ranked in the top-20 in the NAIA in 10 statistical categories, including 10^th in Assists per Game (11.00).
• Ryan Schmidt ranks 7^th in the NAIA in Assists per Game (9.75) and 15^th in Total Assists (78).

Trinity (1-1, 1-0) returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 30, on the road at Viterbo University (Iowa). Last season the Trolls split with the V-Hawks. The match is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. in La Crosse, Wisconsin. No visitor spectators are allowed at this time.