CHICAGO, Ill. – Trinity would take the first two sets at Saint Xavier, but the host Cougars would rally to come back in five sets, as the Trolls fell 23-25, 17-25, 26-24, 25-6, 18-16 on Tuesdsay night.
The host Cougars took an early lead in the opening set, scoring the match's first three points and leading until an attacking error tied the game at 10-10. The Trolls took their first lead of the day when Brooke Veldman and Dej'a Williams combined for a block at 14-13. Trinity stayed in front until a five-point rally for the home team allowed the Cougars to move in front 22-21, but kills from Taryn Hinken and Veldman put the Trolls ahead. Two plays later, the block from Veldman and Sarah Neighbors clinched the set for Trinity, 25-23.
Trinity came out firing in game two, never trailing as the Trolls opened a 6-3 lead on Hinken's solo block. The Trolls would go up by as much as six on Raimey Owen's kill at 11-5, but the Cougars quickly responded to tie the game at 12-12. A 6-1 run would put Trinity back in front, and the Trolls went on to take a 25-17 decision on Williams' set-point kill.
A back-and-forth game three saw Owens' kill and a Shannon Simpson ace put the Trolls ahead late, 22-20. Hinken would get another kill to go up 23-21, but the Cougars rallied to take three straight points, giving Saint Xavier set point at 24-23. Veldman's kill tied the game on the next point, but Saint Xavier closed out the set to extend the match with back-to-back scores, 26-24.
Game four was all Saint Xavier as the Cougars opened with a 17-1 run en route to a comfortable win, forcing a decisive game five.
The fifth set would see three lead changes in the first nine points, with the Cougars taking an 8-4 edge midway through the set. The Trolls would respond with four straight of their own, capped with a Hinken kill to tie the game at 8-8, then go on to take six of the next seven to set up match point at 14-9. The Cougars would hold off five points and get their own match point at 15-14. Trinity would survive three match points themselves, but the Cougars would hold on to finally close out the win at 18-16.
The Trolls will look to bounce back next week, when they host Roosevelt on Tuesday, September 26. First serve from the DeVos Gymnasium is set for 7:00 p.m.
