TIFFIN, Ohio – The Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team (8-4, 1-1 Great Midwest) took out Tiffin University (5-6, 1-2 Great Midwest) in a thrilling four-set match (31-29, 25-21, 17-25, 25-22) on Saturday morning in the Gillmor Center. 

THE SERIES

Trevecca closed the Dragon's lead in the all-time series to one match (5-4) in the series ninth meeting. The Trojans have won three of the last five. Tiffin visits Trojan Fieldhouse on October 22 at 1 PM.

THE MATCH FLOW

The first set was an early morning extra-point thriller. Ellie Buffler started the memorable set with a kill following an Emilee McDonald serve. A promising 2-0 Trojan start quickly turned all Dragons following an 8-2 Tiffin run. In fact, the home team appeared en route to an opening set win leading by at least three until late in the set. The Dragons served for the set leading 24-20. A TU attack error gave TNU new life and Ellie Buffler reversed the momentum on serve and leveled the match at 24-24 to extend it to extra points. Back under fire, the Trojans fought off back-to-back set points to earn their own at 27-26. The Trojans forced the Dragons to defend two set points before the Trojans got the win on a third set-point opportunity. The final set point chance came on an Emilee McDonald serve (31-29).

Set two ebbed and flowed back and forth with neither team gaining significant advantage until late in the set. With the match tied 16-16, Trevecca pushed ahead by four (20-16) on a Maddie Wilds serve. From there the Trojans closed out the set for a 2-0 advantage.

The third set had a different feel. After the Trojans scored the first point, the Dragons jumped to a 7-2 lead and never trailed again. The Trojans hit -.057 while Tiffin hit .147 (11-6-34).

In the fourth set, Tiffin showed signs of continuing to turn the match and push for a fifth set. Tiffin led 11-10, but the Trojans flexed with a 9-2 run and a 19-13 advantage gave TNU room to take the set and the match. Trevecca hit .163 (13-6-43) for the set and Emma Titus paced TNU with seven kills in the fourth.

THE MATCH NOTES

The Trojans hit .127 (15-8-55) in the first set with just one service ace. Maddie Wilds had 11 digs in the first set alone.

Emma Titus paced TNU with 16 kills and a .185 attack percentage (16-6-54). Titus added 17 digs for the double-double, with three blocks, and one service ace. Ellie Buffler also had a double-double with 13 kills and 14 digs. She added two service aces, an assist, and a block. Emilee McDonald had another double-double with 39 assists and 13 digs.

UP NEXT

The Trojans return to the Trojan Fieldhouse for their first two home Great Midwest matches of the year. On Friday (Sept. 16), Ohio Dominican University is visiting at 6 PM. The Trojans have a 5-4 advantage on the Panthers in the series. On Saturday, it is Cedarville University facing the Trojans at 1 PM. The Yellow Jackets lead the all-time series 16-6, but the Trojans have won two in a row.

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