Palos Heights, Ill. - On a snowy night in Palos Heights, Trinity Christian College men's volleyball (8-7, 2-3 CCAC) picked apart Concordia University Chicago (2-11, 1-2 NACC) in three sets, 25-19, 25-21, 25-21. Sophomore Alex Costa posted 15 kills and fellow sophomore Mike Hay added 11 kills. 

The non-conference victory prepares the Trolls for tomorrow's Tri-Match in Southfield, Mich. against Lawrence Tech and Rio Grande. 

In the first set, Trinity let the Cougars hang around. A service error from Concordia gave the Trolls a 14-12 lead. Costa ignited a 4-0 Trolls run, including two kills for the sophomore, and Trinity held a 17-12 lead. Concordia closed the gap at 20-18 but Hay responded with a big kill to start a 5-1 run to give the Trolls the win in set one.

In set two, Concordia took a 15-12 lead. Concordia struggled to put quality swings on the volleyball and the Trolls took advantage. They tied the set at 20. After a Trolls service error, Trinity trailed 21-20. They'd take the next five points including three on Concordia attack errors. The Cougars ended the night with an attack percentage of just .057. 

Concordia scored the first point of the third set, but it was Costa with back-to-back kills and the Trolls didn't trail the rest of the match. A kill from sophomore Bartlomiej Maciczak gave the Trolls a 10-5 advantage. Late in set three, it was senior Jake Ostema grabbing one of his four kills to make it 22-17. Trinity won the third set 25-21. 

It's the sixth time this year the Trolls have won a match in three sets.

NOTES & NUMBERS:

• Ostema recorded four blocks up front. It's the fifth time this year he's had four or more blocks. 
• Sophomore Ryan Schmidt posted a double-double with 17 assists and 10 digs. It was his fourth double-double of the year. Mioni was right behind Schmidt with 16 assists. He also contributed four kills.
• Maciczak added four kills offensively and tied a season high with three blocks. In his last three matches he's had nine blocks. 
• In his last four matches, Costa is averaging 18.75 kills per match.
• The Trolls had just one service ace as a team. It ties a season low. Sophomore Arneet Garcha had the lone ace of the night for Trinity.

UP NEXT: Trinity Christian College will take on Lawrence Tech (7-8, 0-7) at 3 p.m. CST tomorrow in the Lawrence Tech Tri-Match. At 5 p.m. CST, the Trolls will face University of Rio Grande (1-12, 0-9 RSC).