UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. & PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. -- The Trinity Christian College men's volleyball had a pair of matches this week as the Trolls fell to Governors State Thursday (March 12) and Aquinas Friday (March 13).
THURSDAY'S RESULT: Governors State 3, Trinity Christian 0
SET 1: Governors State 25, Trinity Christian 14
Governors State scored the first nine points of the match to take an early 9-0 lead. Sam Cain ended the drought with a kill.
The Jaguars went on another run to extend their lead to 20-5 late in the set. The Trolls tried to respond after Juvantae Thompson recorded a kill on the next possession.
TCC scored four straight points late in the set, including kills from C.J. Lafin and Conner Dargan, but it was too late. GSU closed the set with back-to-back points to win 25-14.
SET 2: Governors State 25, Trinity Christian 15
GSU jumped out to a 15-6 lead early in the second set. The Trolls tried to chip away after a kill from Daniel Whaley and a block assist from Whaley and Dargan made it 15-8.
The Jaguars forced set point at 24-13 late in the set. Trinity Christian attempted a rally after back-to-back kills from Cain and Lafin, but Governors State recorded the final point to secure the set.
SET 3: Governors State 25, Trinity Christian 17
Governors State took control of the third set after building an 18-6 lead. Trinity Christian attempted to respond with three straight points, including a pair of kills from Cain to make it 18-8.
The Trolls cut the deficit to six at 20-14 after a couple of attack errors and another kill from Cain, but that was as close as they would get. GSU closed the set on a 5-3 run to win 25-17 and complete the sweep.
FRIDAY'S RESULT: Aquinas 3, Trinity Christian 0
SET 1: Aquinas 25, Trinity Christian 21
Trinity Christian jumped out to an early 5-3 lead after a block assist from Anthony Fabre and Evan Whaley. Aquinas responded with five straight points to take an 8-5 advantage.
Whaley tried to spark the Trolls with a kill on the next play. AQ extended its lead to 17-13 before Trinity Christian rallied with three consecutive points. Kills from C.J. Lafin and Juvantae Thompson, followed by an ace from Sam Cain, cut the deficit to 17-16.
Both teams traded points before Thompson recorded another kill to make it 21-20. Aquinas regained control the rest of the way, scoring four of the final five points to win the set 25-21.
SET 2: Aquinas 25, Trinity Christian 12
Both teams traded points early in the second set. Cain recorded a kill for the Trolls to tie the score at 3-3, but that would be the final tie of the set as the Saints outscored TCC 22-9 the rest of the way.
The closest Trinity Christian came afterward was 9-7 following an ace from Eddy Serna. Aquinas closed out the set with a 25-12 victory to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
SET 3: Aquinas 25, Trinity Christian 19
Aquinas held an 8-5 lead early while looking to complete the sweep. Trinity Christian responded with three straight points, including kills from Thompson and Fabre and an ace from Whaley, tying the score at 8-8.
The Saints answered with a 5-0 run to build a 13-8 advantage and maintained control for the remainder of the set. The Trolls attempted a late push with three consecutive points to cut the deficit to 23-18, but Aquinas secured the set 25-19 to finish the sweep.
UP NEXT
Trinity Christian will be back in action Tuesday, March 17 as the Trolls take on Olivet Nazarene at the DeVos Gym starting at 7 p.m. CT.
