HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team (3-4) lost a pair of matches on the first day of the University of Alabama Huntsville Invitational presented by the Huntsville Sports Commission. Undefeated Anderson University (7-0) took out Trevecca in three (19-25, 15-25, 22-25). Later, No. 12 Barry University (3-1) took the Trojans down 15-25, 27-29, 18-25. 
 
UAH Invitational Home
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
TNU VS ANDERSON 
It is believed to be the first meeting with Anderson University (SC) Trojans for the Trevecca volleyball program.
 
Before the dust settled to start the battle of Trojans, Anderson established a comfortable margin with an 8-2 lead. Trevecca cut it to four (first at 13-9) a couple of times and looked to be turning the momentum in their favor. With AU leading 18-14, the South Carolina Trojans eased the lead to as much as seven again and won by six, 25-19.
 
The second set started with back-and-forth rallies and side outs. The match was tied several times, with the last coming at 9-9. AU outscored TNU 16-6 over the rest of the set for a 2-0 set lead.
 
Trevecca took the lead, 3-2, in the third set. They weren't finished there, they took the lead back again at 11-10 and eventually established a 14-10 advantage. They didn't trail again until AU rallied from a 20-17 deficit to take a 21-20 lead. Trevecca tied the match at 21-21, but Anderson closed the set with a 4-1 run to take the set and the match.
 
TNU VS No. 12 BARRY 
Trevecca scored first, but No. 12 Barry turned the set and the match in their favor with a 9-2 run. TNU pulled withing two (10-8) on a 5-1 run, but Barry pushed their lead back to five and kept the lead at five or more for the rest of the set.

Both teams held a modest lead early in the second set, but with the match tied at 4-4, Trevecca used a 6-1 run to build a 10-5 lead. The Trojans held that lead and built it eight (20-12) and looked to be in good shape to even the match at 1-1. The nationally-ranked Bucs had other ideas. They rallied and pushed the match to extra points, first with a 11-2 run that put them ahead 23-22. Trevecca bounced back with a set point on a Mackenzie O'Loughlin kill for a 24-23 lead. The Bucs got the side out, but TNU got a kill from Cara Maguire to set up another set point, but a service error put the ball in the Bucs hands again. After the Trojans turned away Barry on set point (25-26), the Trojans had a third set point (27-26) on a Maddie Wilds kill. The Bucs got the side out and were able to take the set 29-27.
 
The loss inspired Barry who exploded to a 12-1 and then 19-2 lead. Trevecca looked out of the set and match, but continued to fight and used a 16-5 run to close the Barry lead to six (24-18) before Barry won 25-18.  

TEAM REPORT
TNU VS ANDERSON 
Trevecca hit .017 (28-26-119) for the match. Anderson hit .161 (37-18-118) with six service aces.
  
TNU VS BARRY 
Barry hit .320 (42-11-97) with 14 service aces. Trevecca hit .183 (36-16-109) and had six service aces. Trevecca hit .250 in the third (11-4-28).  
 
TROJAN PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS
TNU VS ANDERSON 
No Trojan reached double figures in kills, but Maddie Wilds led the way with nine. Wilds added one of the Trojans three service aces and had five digs. Emma Titus had a team-high 11 digs, the only Trojan in double figures. Elizabeth Wells had two service aces. Cara Maguire had seven kills and seven digs.
 
TNU VS BARRY 
Maddie Wilds (13) and Emma Titus (11) each reached double digits in kills. Wilds hit .321 (13-4-28) and added a service ace adn seven digs. Emilee McDonald had a double-double with 22 assists and 11 digs. Katie Crutchfield tied McDonald for the team lead with 11 digs and added two service aces. She also had seven assists. Cara Maguire had six kills and two service aces.

UP NEXT
On Saturday, TNU faces the University of Montevallo (0-5) at 2:30 PM and the host Chargers of UAH (2-3) at 7:00 PM at Spragins Hall..
 
Montevallo and Trevecca are even 1-1 all time, with the Falcons taking the last meeting in 2022 and TNU winning in 2019. Huntsville leads the series 20-5, but TNU has won two of the last three, including a three-set sweep in the last meeting.

MORE ABOUT THE TREVECCA TROJANS
Visit the Official Home of Trevecca Athletics at www.tnutrojans.com | www.trevecca.edu
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