PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. — The Trinity Christian College men's volleyball team was unable to complete the comeback as the Trolls fell in a five-set thriller at DeVos Gymnasium Tuesday (Feb. 10). The Maple Leafs improve to 5-8 on the season, while the Trolls drop to 1-2.
Sam Cain led the Trolls with 13 kills, while C.J. Lafin recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 13 digs. Juvantae Thompson added four blocks, and Danny Staskunqs dished out 27 assists.
SET 1: TCC 25, GC 23
Goshen jumped out to an early 9-6 lead to begin the match. Trinity Christian responded with four straight points to take a 10-9 advantage.
The Maple Leafs later built an 18-14 lead, but the Trolls answered with four consecutive points, highlighted by a block from Vinnie Arias and Conner Dragan. After Goshen took the next point, TCC scored three in a row — capped by another block from Arias — to take a 21-19 lead.
Goshen tied the set at 22-22 late, but Trinity Christian held off the rally, scoring three of the final four points. Thompson sealed the 25-23 win with a kill.
SET 2: GC 25, TCC 20
Trinity Christian grabbed an early 3-2 lead after a kill from Staskunqs, but it would be their only lead of the set as Goshen took control. Lafin helped spark a brief rally with a kill to make it 19-16, but the Maple Leafs maintained their advantage and closed out the set, 25-20.
SET 3: TCC 27, GC 25
The Trolls jumped ahead 7-4 following a service ace from Caden Figus. Goshen answered with four straight points to take an 8-7 lead.
After several lead changes, the Maple Leafs went on another run to build a 14-11 advantage and later appeared poised to take a 2-1 match lead after going up 22-17.
Trinity Christian refused to fold, rallying with four straight points to cut the deficit to 22-21. Goshen reached set point at 24-22, but Cain responded with back-to-back kills to tie it at 24-24.
After GC took a 25-24 edge, the Trolls scored the final three points of the set — beginning with an ace from Eddy Serna — to secure the 27-25 victory.
SET 4: GC 25, TCC 17
Arias gave TCC an early 9-7 lead with a kill, but Goshen answered with three straight points to reclaim the advantage. The teams traded points throughout the middle portion of the set.
Goshen pulled ahead 17-15, and although Lafin recorded a kill to keep the Trolls within striking distance, the Maple Leafs closed the set on a 7-1 run to win 25-17 and force a decisive fifth set.
SET 5: GC 15, TCC 11
Carrying momentum from the fourth set, Goshen jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the fifth. Cain recorded a kill to make it 6-3, but the Trolls were unable to get closer than three points, the last time coming at 8-5.
The Maple Leafs scored four straight to extend the lead to 12-6 and seize control of the set. Trinity Christian mounted a late push with back-to-back points to cut it to 14-11, but Goshen recorded the final point to claim the set and the match.
UP NEXT
Trinity Christian returns to action Thursday, Feb. 12, as the Trolls travel to Watertown, Wis., to face Maranatha Baptist at 7 p.m. CT.
