NASHVILLE - The Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team (2-2) beat No. 25 Lynn University (1-2) in the Saturday opener of the Ray Thrasher Classic. Trevecca won 11-25, 19-25, 25-22, 26-24, 15-11. The final game with Bemidji State University (2-2) went to the visiting Beavers, finishing what was a highly competitive weekend of NCAA Division II volleyball at the Trojan Fieldhouse.
 
Maddie Wilds led the way with a team-high 48 points over the weekend collecting 42 kills (.197%), 37 digs, four blocks, four assists, and four service aces.
 
TNU vs No. 25 LYNN (1-25, 19-25, 25-22, 26-24, 15-11)
Lynn dominated the first set hitting .381 (10-2-21) while Trevecca hit -.043 (6-7-23). The second set started better for the Trojans with a 3-2 lead and though LU took a three-point (7-4) lead, Trevecca countered tying the match at 7-7. Neither team gained more than a two point lead until Lynn turned an 11-10 lead into a 16-11 advantage and didn't let Trevecca close the gap the rest of the way for a 2-0 set lead.
 
The third set was tight all the way. The match was tied 5-5 and 6-6 before Trevecca gained a modest distance, leading as much as 10-6. Trevecca led 13-8, equaling their largest lead of the set. Their last five-point lead was at 23-18. Lynn pushed, but the Trojans didn't' falter and extended the match to a fourth set with a 25-22 win.
 
In the fourth, Trevecca took the opening lead and never trailed in the set. The match was tied twice, once at 1-1, but then not again until Lynn closed what was a 21-12 Trojan lead to 24-24. Trevecca answered though and won 26-24.
 
The fifth and deciding set opened with the Trojans scoring the first five points and led 7-2 before the Knights rallied to close the gap. The teams switched sides with the Trojans up 8-3, but LU made it 10-9 with a 6-2 run. Trevecca pushed the lead back to four at the final margin, winning 15-11.
 
TEAM NOTES
Trevecca hit .124 (43-26-137) and helped the Knights with 15 service errors and only two service aces. Lynn had the edge in digs 64-48, but TNU had 22 blocks to Lynn's 14. Lynn hit .122 (57-38-156) and overcame their nine service errors with nine service aces.
 
PLAYER NOTES
Maddie Wilds (11) and Emma Titus (10) hit double figures in kills and Emilee McDonald led the team with 28 assists while also collecting eight digs and five kills. Wilds had a double-double with 10 digs. Katie Crutchfield served well with one ace and another 12 digs. Reese Payne led the team with six blocks. Mackenze O'Loughlin had eight kills and four blocks.
 
TNU VS BSU (13-25, 25-16, 21-25, 25-27)
Trevecca led 8-5 in the opening set, but the Beavers roared back to gain control of the set with a 16-2 run for a 21-10 lead.
 
The second set was similar, but in favor of the Trojans. Trevecca had a modest 6-5 lead, but TNU outscored BSU 9-2 for a commanding 15-7 lead. Trevecca led by as many as 10 (22-12) before winning 26-16.
 
Both teams held modest leads through a great deal of the third set. Trevecca had a pair of two-point advantages, but the Beavers didn't lead by more than one until they broke through late with a 19-17 lead. They held of the Trojans intentions to close the gap for a 2-1 set lead with a 25-21 win.
 
Knowing they were in a must win scenario, the Trojan played like it early in the fourth set. TNU led from the start and built as much as a five-point (14-9) lead. With the Trojans up 16-11, the Beavers chipped away and took their first lead at 19-18 with a 8-2 run. The visitors took what looked like a likely fifth set and put the Trojans on the defensive with three set point opportunities before cashing in on the final one and a 27-25 win.
 
TEAM NOTES
Both teams brought their service game. BSU had 16 aces while TNU had 14. The Beavers hit .319 for the match with an impressive .480 attack percentage in the first. Trevecca hit .229 for the match with a .400 percentage in the second.  
 
PLAYER NOTES
Maddie Wilds and Emma Titus collected 12 kills while Emilee McDonald had 35 assists and nine digs. Katie Crutchfield had 13 digs. Elizabeth Well had five service aces and Wilds added three. Reese Payne had four blocks giving her 14 for the weekend.
 
UP NEXT
Trevecca travels to face Lane College (2-1) in Jackson, TN on Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 6 PM.
 
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