NASHVILLE – The Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team (11-15, 8-7 GSC) knocked off Mississippi College (12-12, 10-6 GSC) in Trojan Fieldhouse on Friday night.

The Trojans took down the Choctaws in three sets, winning, 25-22, 25-12, 25-22.

THE SERIES
The all-time series tie was broken by MC with its four-set win over Trevecca on October 6. The Trojans evened the series (2-2) with the Choctaws by splitting the season series tonight. Before the Trojans joined the GSC, the Choctaws won the last meeting in 1992, Trevecca won the first-ever meeting in 1989.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After surrendering their service game in the opening points, the Trojans established control of the first set at the 5-5 mark. A 6-2 run gave Trevecca a 10-7 lead which it never surrendered. The Trojans built out their largest lead of the set at 21-15 before the Choctaws stormed back and pulled within a point at 23-22. The Trojans took the final two points, though, for the 25-22 set win.

Trevecca trailed just once in the second set, which was the quickest of the evening. Down 3-2, the Trojans took three of the next four points and did not look back. Maintaining a 7-6 advantage is where the second set opened up. Kills by Emma Titus bookended three attack errors and Trevecca led 11-6. The Choctaws stopped the run with two points of their own, but the Trojans countered with a 6-1 lead that put things out of reach. Scoring the final four points of the frame, the Trojans won the second 25-12.

With a sweep in mind, the Trojans quickly got out to a 5-2 lead in the third. The Choctaws hung around, though, and played to a tie at 12-12. MC, looking to extend the match, played the Trojans straight up until 20-20 where the match turned. Down the stretch it was a service error by MC that set up match point which was capitalized on by Reese Payne at 25-22.

THE TEAM
Trevecca collectively hit .244 with 37 kills and 34 assists. Trevecca collected seven total blocks and had one more service ace, 4-3, than the Choctaws. The Trojans also led in digs, 40-33.

THE PLAYERS
Mackenzie O'Loughlin produced a team-high eight kills on just 11 total attacks for an impressive .727 attack percentage. Emma Titus added seven kills to go with five digs while it was Skias Hainline who offered four kills with a team-best 27 assists.

UP NEXT
The Trojans finish off Homecoming weekend with a match against the University of West Alabama (2-22, 0-14 GSC) on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Before the October 4 match, the Trojans had never beaten the Tigers, having last played in the 2002 season. West Alabama holds a 2-1 lead over Trevecca in the all-time series.