NASHVILLE - The Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team (3-8, 0-2 Great Midwest) lost for the second night in a row in five sets to a Great Midwest opponent. This time, it was preseason South Division favorite Ashland University. The Eagles (7-3, 1-0 Great Midwest) topped the Trojans    25-22, 22-25, 23-25, 25-21, 14-16 at Trojan Fieldhouse on Friday.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The match was well played by both teams and each team had several player shine in a back-and-forth contest.
 
The first set went the way of the Trojans who started the set with an ace by Mackenzie Martin. Neither team gained more than a two-point margin until TNU broke a 6-6 tie and pulled ahead 16-11 with a 10-5 run. Trevecca did not relinquish the lead the remainder of the set.
 
Emma Titus gave the Trojans a brief 1-0 lead with a kill on the opening point of the second set, but AU gained a 2-1 lead and built on it to lead 7-4. Trevecca rallied back to gain a 11-10 lead and the teams didn't have more than two points of separation from the 10-9 AU lead until AU gained a 21-18 lead. Trevecca close the margin to one, 23-22, but the Eagles matched the Trojans set one with with an identical 25-22 win.
 
Trevecca scored the first point of the third set and this time built a modest early lead. AU gained its first lead at 9-8, and eventually led 20-12. The Trojans rallied and forced two Ashland timeouts down the stretch, eventually closing to within on on several occasions, but Ashland held off the the run for a 25-23 win.
 
Trevecca scored the first point of the fourth set, a must win set for the Trojans. The set was tight early, but Trevecca started to gain some distance following a 4-4 tie. Trevecca used a 16-7 run to build a 20-11 edge. Ashland threatened to rally all the way back and end the match in four, but Trevecca held them off at 21-20 and closed out the set 25-21.
 
For the fifth straight set, Trevecca scored the first point. Trevecca built a 9-3 lead, but the Eagles would not go quietly. Ashland fought all the way back and gained a set and match point at 14-13. Trevecca evened the match at 14-14, but on the next play the Trojans were called for a ball handling error, giving the point and serve back to the Eagles and this, time they finished the set and the match.

TEAM REPORT
Both teams played well throughout, with each coming through with big plays late to win their respective sets.
Ashland hit .158 for the match, but hit over 200 in each of their wins. The Trojans hit .199 for the match and hit a match high .259 in the fifth. Ashland ended with eight aces and 12 blocks, Trevecca had six aces and 16 blocks.   
 
TROJAN PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS
Emma Titus, Emilee McDonald, and Cara Maguire all had a double-double for the Trojans. Titus had 23 kills and hit .290 and added two service aces, 14 digs, and a block. Maguire had 11 kills, one ace, 13 digs, and four blocks. McDonald had 41 assists, four kills, and 14 digs. Mackenzie O'Loughlin had eight kills and six blocks. Mackenzie Martin had seven kills, a service ace, and 14 digs. Catie Crutchfield had 24 digs.
  
UP NEXT
Trevecca hosts Tiffin University on Saturday at 1:00 PM.

MORE ABOUT THE TREVECCA TROJANS
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