NASHVILLE - The Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team (1-1) fell to No. 10 the University of Missouri St. Louis (1-0) in three tightly contested sets in the opener of the Ray Thrasher Classic at Trevecca. UMSL won 25-23, 25-17, 25-20. In the second match of the day, Trevecca swept Carson-Newman University (1-1) evened their season mark with a 25-22, 25-18, 25-16 final.
 
TNU vs No. 10 UMSL (25-23, 25-17, 25-20)
Trevecca took an early 3-2 lead in the first set and led the set until UMSL closed the match with four straight points, first tying the match at 23-23, then the set 25-23. Trevecca led 9-4 after that early advantage and led by as many as six on more than one occasion. The first six-point advantage came at 14-8 and then again at 16-10. With TNU leading 20-16, UMSL outscored the Trojans 9-4 to close the set.
 
In the second set, UMSL scored the first point again, but TNU battled for a 2-1 lead again as they did in the first set. The last Trojan lead in the second set came with the score 7-6. UMSL began to slowly build a margin that became comfortable at 19-12.
 
In the third, Trevecca saw UMSL score the first six points. Following a timeout, the Trojans began to tally points. With the Tritons leading 10-5, Trevecca broke serve and followed with four points on the serve of Maddie Wilds and tied the match at 10-10. Trevecca gained the serve back a point later and took a one point (12-11) lead on the serve of Elizabeth Wells. The Tritons surged again with six straight points on serve for a 21-14 advantage. Trevecca answered back, cutting the Tritons lead to just four at 22-18, forcing another UMSL timeout. UMSL held off the Trojans for the 25-20 win.
 
TEAM NOTES
Trevecca hit .126 (33-20-103) for the match with a .226 (12-5-31) hitting percentage in the third set. Trevecca served well overall, but only produced one ace. UMSL turned in six aces. Trevecca led the block battle 7-4 with a 47-46 edge in digs. UMSL hit .211 (41-17-114) for the match with a peak of .289 (17-6-38) in the third.
 
PLAYER NOTES
Maddie Wilds led Trevecca with nine kills and just missed a double-double with a team high 15 digs. Katie Crutchfield had 11 digs and added five assists. Emilee McDonald topped Trevecca with 23 assists and added four kills and a .429 attack percentage.
 
TNU VS CN (25-22, 25-18, 25-16)
The visiting Eagles jumped out to a 5-1 lead and were in control of the first set early. Trevecca cut the lead to one a couple of times, but finally leveled the match again at 16-16. Trevecca took the lead at 17-16 took the lead for good at 19-18.
 
Trevecca had the lead early in the second set, but Carson-Newman rallied to take a 8-7 advantage and the match remained tight until Trevecca turned a 16-16 match into a 20-17 Trojan lead. Trevecca outscored CNU 9-2 to close the set.
 
In the third, Carson-Newman jumped out to a 7-2 lead and looked to be set on extending the match. Trevecca answered with a 5-0 run to tie the match a 7-7. The Eagles regained the lead at 8-7, but TNU turned the match in their favor (18-11) with a 11-3 run.
 
TEAM NOTES
Trevecca hit .240 (44-20-100) for the match and peaked in the second hitting .317 (18-5-41). Trevecca had four service aces, all off the serve of Katie Crutchfield. Trevecca had 43 digs, 12 from Crutchfield.
 
PLAYER NOTES
Trevecca had three players with double-digit digs, Maddie Wilds (10), Emma Titus (10), and Cara Maguire (10). Emilee McDonald had a double-double with 29 assists and 10 digs. Cara Maguire added 10 digs as well and a double-double (10 kills).
 
UP NEXT
Trevecca plays two more on Saturday in the Ray Thrasher Classic. At 1 PM its No. 25 Lynn University (1-1) and at 7 PM it's Bemidji State University (0-2). Lynn beat Bemidji Beavers 3-0 on Friday. Bemidji lost 3-1 to Alabama Huntsville. Lynn lost to No. 10 UMSL 3-1.
 
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