HILLSDALE, Mich. – The Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team's (19-11, 9-7 Great Midwest) historic 2021-22 campaign ended on Friday with a three-set loss to top-seeded and #18 Hillsdale College (26-4, 16-0 Great Midwest) in the Great Midwest tournament.

The Trojans fell 25-19, 25-23, 25-8 and saw the careers of seven seniors conclude after a historic season.

The match signifies the first trip the Trojans have made to the Great Midwest semifinals since the 2015 season. The Trojans collected the program's first-ever automatic bid to the NCAA Midwest Regional that year and won an NCAA-era most 20 matches. This brand of Trojans falls just a single match behind the historic 2015 squad's win total.

THE SERIES 

Hillsdale controls an 8-0 hold on the all-time series including earning a four-set win over the Trojans in Nashville during in the regular season.

MATCH DETAILS

Staring down the nation's 18th ranked squad, the Trojans faced a tall order in Friday's Great Midwest semifinal match. It was the Chargers who secured the first two points and established a 4-1 lead before the Trojans' offense found its rhythm. The opening set was tied on five occasions, the first of which came at 5-5 after a Sami Raley kill. Moments later it was a five-point deficit for the Trojans who called timeout at 11-6. The timeout helped disrupt the Chargers' flow as four attack errors paired with four Trojan kills, the match was then tied at 15-15. A Sami Raley kill and Trevecca service ace pushed the Trojans ahead by two before Hillsdale called for time. Raley picked up another kill, but the Chargers closed out the first on a 10-1 run to win 25-19. 

SET TWO

The Chargers' run extended into the second set as they won the opening three points. Three was the lucky number for Hillsdale who used a pair of 3-0 runs to separate in the frame. The longest run of points in the set, however, went for the Trojans who erased a 20-15 deficit. An Austyn Baldwin kill even gave the Trojans a 22-20 lead. Hillsdale called timeout and secured the next three points to push momentum their way. Despite fending off one set point by forcing an attack error, but it was not enough as Hillsdale won 25-23. 

SET THREE

For the first time in the match, the Trojans collected the opening point, but the third set would quickly belong to Hillsdale. The Chargers rattled off a 6-1 response and flexed out to a 16-7 advantage. A Sami Raley kill would be the final of the season as Hillsdale closed out the third on a 9-0 stretch to win 25-8.

THE PLAYERS 

Austyn Baldwin led the Trojan effort with nine kills (.571%) two blocks and a dig.

Hillsdale saw two reach double figures in kills, but it was first-team All-Great Midwest selection Alyssa Van Wienen who put down 10 kills (.333%) and had 10 digs for the double-double.

THE TEAMS 

The Trojans hit .030 for the match while collecting a total of 11 kills in both the first and second sets.

Hillsdale produced a .265 attack percentage which concluded with a match-best .520 mark in the third set. The Chargers had 13 kills in all three sets.  

SEASON NOTES

• The Trojans opened the season with seven consecutive wins. The 7-0 start is the best in the NCAA era and the best since the 2003-04 team began 8-0.
• Trevecca produced another six-match win streak at the close of the season to push them into the tournament as the Great Midwest's No. 5 seed.
• The 19 wins are the most for head coach Emily Moore and any coach since the 2015 team won 20 matches. 
• It will be the first winning season for Moore since taking over the program. 
• The nine regular-season conference wins are the most for the Trojans in the NCAA Div. II era and equal the most since the 2009 team won 11 in the TranSouth (NAIA era).
• Coach Emily Moore is now 40-36 overall and 21-18 in Great Midwest play. 

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