PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – A late rally in the first set changed the momentum and set the tone the rest of the night, as Trinity volleyball opened the CCAC Tournament with a straight-set win over Saint Xavier, on Tuesday night inside DeVos Gymnasium.

Game Leaders

• Taryn Hinken led the attack for the Trolls (11-18), scoring 14 points on ten kills and six total blocks, with a game-high .556 attack percentage.

• Brooke Veldman matched her teammate with ten kills to go with four blocks and a .526 attack percentage.

• Cecilia Zuniga led the defense with a game-high 12 digs.

• Alexis Bartz tallied 30 assists along with nine digs and five kills.

How it Happened

• Trinity took a narrow 7-4 lead to start the night, on kills form Bartz and Sarah Neighbors. The Cougars (11-15) would respond, taking the lead with a 6-1 rally at 10-8, and remaining in front throughout nearly the remainder of the set.

• Trailing by as much as six at 23-17 following a four-point run for Saint Xavier, The Trolls responded, first with a pair of kills from Raimey Owens 24-19 to avoid set point.

• The Trolls would then reel off six straight set points, reclaiming the lead at 25-24. Veldman would score two kills during the rally. After Saint Xavier tied the game again at 25-25, kills from Veldman and Neighbors would give the opening game to Trinity, 27-25.

• Saint Xavier would lead to start game two, 4-2, before the Trolls scored nine of the next eleven, highlighted by a pair of kills from Hinken and Dej'a Williams. The Trolls would use another 8-2 run to lead 20-11 later in the game, and would go on for the 25-14 win.

• After scoring the first two points in game three, Saint Xavier would be held to just three over the next 13 as the Trolls took control, jumping out to a 13-5 advantage. Shannon Simpson's third ace of the night would close out the match, securing the sweep with a 25-13 win in game three.

Up Next

• The Trolls advance to the CCAC Tournament Semifinals for the first time since 2020, where they will meet up with the No. 2 seed, St. Ambrose. The Trolls can clinch an automatic bid into the 2023 NAIA Women's Volleyball National Championship with a road win over the Bees in addition to top-seeded Judson advancing to the conference tournament final.

• First serve from Davenport, Iowa is scheduled for 7:00 pm on Thursday, November 9.