NASHVILLE - The Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team (5-8, 2-2 Great Midwest) won on the road at Thomas More University (1-9, 0-2 Great Midwest) Connor Convocation on Tuesday afternoon.   
 
The Trojans won in five, 26-24, 25-21, 21-25, 19-25, 15-8.
 
It was Trevecca's first visit to Thomas More. The Saints are in Crestview Hills, Ky. And are in their first year in the Great Midwest after their recent move to NCAA Division II athletics. It is the first meeting in volleyball between Trevecca and Thomas More.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first set was close throughout, neither team gained more than a two-point advantage at any time in the set. The Saints seemed to have the edge late in the set, grabbing a couple of two-point advantages including a 23-21 lead with serve. After Trevecca tied it at 23-23, the Saints were positioned for the win at 24-23 and on serve. Trevecca got the side out on a kill by Maddie Wilds then Katie Crutchfield sealed the win on serve with an ace then a Reese Payne kill. There were 16 ties and eight lead changes.
 
The first three-point lead of the match came with TMU leading 16-13, but Trevecca forced the eighth and final lead change of the set with a 9-2 run and a 22-18 lead. Their four-point advantage was the largest of the match. Trevecca held off the Saints for the set win and a 2-0 advantage in the match. The second set was similar to the first with 13 ties and eight lead changes.
 
The final three sets combined for just six ties and one lead change.
 
In the third, Trevecca opened with the lead on the first point as they did in the first two sets. The Saints caught fire though, gaining the lead with a 11-3 run and a 12-4 lead. Trevecca closed the gap to three, 24-21, but ran out of points and fell 25-21, pushing the match to four sets. 
 
For the first time in the match the Saints scored the first point of a set and used it to build a 18-12 lead. Again, the Saints held off any Trojan run for a 25-19 win, pushing the match to five sets.
 
The final set was tied 2-2 and Trevecca scored four straight for a 6-2 lead, forcing a TMU timeout. The Saints gained a side out, then Trevecca returned the favor and built a 9-3 lead and managed at least a five-point lead on the way to a 15-8 set and match win.

TEAM REPORT
Thomas More, who had won only four sets all season, got two set wins in the match. It is the first fifth set match of the year for the Saints and just the third match to go more than three sets.  
 
Trevecca hit .159 for the match and hit .263 in the first. Thomas More hit .149 for the match and .370 in the fourth. As a team, Trevecca had 11 service aces and seven blocks.
 
TROJAN PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS
Emma Titus, the defending Great Midwest Offensive Player of the Week, led the Trojans with 22 kills (22-11-60) and added 15 digs for a double-double. She had three service aces and three blocks. Maddie Wilds also had a double-double with 12 blocks and 10 digs. She had four aces.  
  
UP NEXT
TNU returns home for a pair of Great Midwest matches this weekend. Friday, it's Walsh University (9-0, 1-0 Great Midwest) visiting the Trojan Fieldhouse at 6:00 PM.
 
On Saturday, Malone University (2-8, 0-1 Great Midwest) visits at 1:00 PM. Thomas More was picked to finish sixth in the South Division in the Great Midwest Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
Walsh has a 6-4 edge in the series all-time, but Trevecca has won the last three meetings. Trevecca owns a 5-2 edge versus Malone and have won four in a row in the series. Walsh was picked fourth in the North Division in the preseason coaches' poll, while Malone was picked fifth.

MORE ABOUT THE TREVECCA TROJANS
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