PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – Trinity Volleyball took advantage of the off-night in CCAC play, as the Trolls took a straight-set win over non-conference foe Justice (Ariz.), 25-18, 25-13, 25-16, on Tuesday night inside DeVos Gymnasium.
Dej'a Williams and Brooke Veldman led the way with six kills in limited action, as the majority of the Trinity roster saw action on the night. The freshman class would in large part carry the team to the win, with Aalyssa Gunn pacing her classmates with five kills, ahead of Raimey Owens, Mia Querciagrossa, and Katie Timmer's four kills apiece. Freshman setter Alexis Bartz posted 32 assists to go with seven digs and four aces.
After an early 2-1 lead for the visitors, the Trolls (7-13) went on a 9-2 run to take the lead, behind a pair of kills from Veldman and Taryn Hinken, and an ace by Cecilia Zuniga. Justice (3-10) pulled back to within a point at 11-10 before the Trolls pulled away again and for good, with two straight kills from Veldman starting a four-point run.
Trinity took an early lead in game two, going up 7-2 on Lauryn Yonker's ace, before the Lions responded again, scoring four in a row to make it a narrow 7-6 Trinity lead. A pair of aces from Andria Ewalt helped fuel a 5-1 rally that would keep the Trolls in front the rest of the way.
After the first two points of game three went for Justice, Trinity bounced back with an 11-3 run to take control and close out the match. Kills from Makenzie Ritsema and Owens would give the Trolls match point at 24-16, with a Justice attacking error ending the night on the next point.
The Trolls will look to continue the momentum this weekend, when they compete at the Viterbo (Wisc.) V-Hawk Fall Classic on Friday and Saturday. Trinity will take on No. 6 Viterbo at noon on Friday before a rematch from earlier this season against Saint Francis (Ind.) at 4pm. The Trolls wrap up the trip on Saturday afternoon against Waldorf (Iowa) at 1pm.
