ASHLAND, Ohio. – The Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team (21-11, 11-6 Great Midwest) defeated Tiffin University (15-17, 8-9 Great Midwest) in the Great Midwest Semifinals 3-1 (20-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-14) on Friday night.

The win sends the Trojans to the Great Midwest Championship match where they face #2 Hillsdale College (26-6, 16-2 Great Midwest) tomorrow 4:00 p.m. (CT).

THE SERIES

The Trojans and Dragons met for the third time this season, the first contest on a neutral court. During the regular season, the two sides split, earning victories on the road. The Trojans move a game closer in the all-time series with the win. Tiffin leads 6-5 all-time.

THE FLOW

Out of the gate, the Trojans gained an early lead at 6-3 before a 5-0 run shifted things for the Dragons. Leading 8-6, Tiffin steadied its lead for much of the opener. The Trojans retook the lead at 9-8 and 17-16. In the end, the Dragons finished off the set with a 4-1 run to take their only set, 25-20.

The tightly contested second set once again favored the Trojans in the early going. The set had seven ties before it was the Trojans' 4-1 run that finished off the second set, 25-22.

The Trojans enjoyed an early lead in the third set, jumping out to a quick 3-1 lead. A Wakaya Wilson kill leveled the set at 7-7 before a Trevecca attack error gave the Dragons their first lead. From that point, Tiffin maintained its lead for much of the middle stages. Trailing 20-19, a 5-0 run by the Trojans put the set out of reach for the Dragons with Trevecca winning 25-23.

Riding off the momentum earned to close the third, the Trojans secured five of the first six points in the fourth. After taking the next three points, the Dragons could only manage to pull within a point the rest of the way. The Trojans' 4-0 run put the set and match out of reach as the five-point lead doubled to 10 at 22-12. The Trojans pushed into the finals with a Tiffin attack error, taking the fourth, 25-14.

THE NOTES

The Trojans make the Championship match for the first time since the 2015 season and the third time overall in the Great Midwest era. With tonight's win, the Trojans have 21 wins on the season, it is the second-most in the NCAA era. It is the first 20-win season since the 2015 team made the NCAA Regionals with 20 wins. The 2012 team, the first in the NCAA Era, won 23. 

Ellie Buffler snagged a season-high 22 kills, finishing the night with a .302 attack percentage. Buffler's 22 kills are the second-most in her career since she hit 23 kills also against Tiffin during her freshman campaign. Maddie Wilds collected a double-double with 10 kills and 14 digs while Emma Titus smashed 11 kills of her own.

UP NEXT

The Trojans square off against the #2-seeded Hillsdale College tomorrow in the championship match. Hillsdale and Trevecca have never met in postseason volleyball. The Trojans have never beaten the Chargers through nine all-time matches since Hillsdale joined the Great Midwest prior to the 2017 season.

TREVECCA'S HISTORY @ GREAT MIDWEST CHAMPIONSHIPS

*Great Midwest Champions, advance to Midwest Region

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