BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – Bouncing back from an opening-set stumble, Trinity volleyball rallied for a four-set victory over Olivet Nazarene on Thursday night, winning on the road 20-25, 25-16, 25-19, 25-21.
The win marks the first for the Trolls (4-10, 3-1 CCAC) in the series since Halloween Night 2019, and is the first for head coach Becky Eller over her alma mater.
Sophomore Dej'a Williams led the way for the Trinity attack, recording 10 kills on the night. Taryn Hinken collected eight kills with four total blocks, and Jorieliss Caraballo led the defense with 16 digs.
The host Tigers (2-6, 0-2 CCAC) took the first, leading from start to finish after opening with a 10-5 run. Trailing 20-12 late in the game, Trinity rallied for seven of the next eight points. Highlighted by back-to-back aces from Cecilia Zuniga, and three straight kills from Raimey Owens, Brooke Veldman, and Sarah Neighbors, the Trolls would cut the deficit to 21-19, but run out of time before completing the comeback.
The Trolls responded in game two, starting out with a 6-2 lead capped by a Caraballo ace. Olivet would tie the game at 8-8, but another six-point rally midway through the game put the Trolls back on top, 16-11, with aces from Shannon Simpson and Caraballo as part of the run. Trinity would even the match with four of the last five points to take the set, 25-16.
Game three saw both sides even until a 6-1 run for the Trolls put the visitors ahead 12-7 on a Neighbors kill. The Trolls would maintain a lead throughout the rest of the way to go up 2-1 in the match with a 25-19.
Olivet would take an early lead in game four, looking to extend the match, but a block from Veldman and Williams started a five-point run for the Trolls, giving Trinity a 14-12 advantage. Back-to-back aces from Andria Ewalt would extend the lead, as the Trolls finished out the match with a 25-21 win.
The Trolls will look to extend their three-match conference win streak next Tuesday night, when they travel to Saint Xavier. First serve with the Cougars is set for 7:00 p.m.
