ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team (1-6) finished up its first of two weekends in the Sunshine State on Saturday, playing a pair of strong opponents in the Flagler College Saints Classic.
First up was Embry-Riddle University (5-1) out of the Sunshine State Conference. The Eagles took the Trojans 3-0 (15-25, 24-26, 25-15).
The last match of the weekend for the Trojans came against the undefeated and No. 18 Central Oklahoma (9-0) Bronchos out of the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The Bronchos won 3-0 (23-25, 21-25, 16-25). UCO has lost just four sets all year.
THE SERIES
Embry-Riddle University defeated Trevecca in their only previous meeting, back in 2015, in Nashville at Trojan Fieldhouse. The Eagles knocked off the Trojans 3-1 (25-21, 25-20, 23-25, 25-14) in the Scott Jones Classic. ERAU have now won both meetings all-time.
This is the first meeting for Trevecca volleyball with the University of Central Oklahoma.
HOW IT HAPPENED
EMBRY-RIDDLE
The Eagles and Trojans were knotted 10-10 in the first set when ERAU used an 8-2 streak to take control of the set, winning 25-15.
Trevecca took control of the second set with a 6-1 start. The Eagles rallied to tie the set at 13-13 with a 12-7 run. But ERAU wasn't finished, they added the next three points for a 16-13 lead. Trevecca bounced back, tying the set at 20-20 before TNU had three straight errors, falling behind 23-20. TNU rallied again, scoring four straight to reach set point at 24-20. The Eagles fought off the set point to level the set at 24-24 and added two more points for the 2-0 set lead.
Up just 9-8 in the third, the Eagles rolled off a 9-2 streak to take an 18-10 lead and finished off the Trojans 25-15.
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
The Bronchos opened a 9-5 advantage in the opening set, eventually building a 11-point (22-11) lead. Trevecca rallied, pressing the nationally ranked Bronchos outscoring them 12-2 to pull to within one at 24-23. UCO got the sideout and first set win 25-23.
Trevecca kept the momentum early in the second, taking a 7-4 lead. UCO took the lead 8-7, but neither team gained more than a two-point advantage until late in the set. Trevecca led 17-16, but the Bronchos pulled ahead 21-17 on a 5-0 run and held off the Trojans for a 2-0 set lead.
An early 14-6 run put the Bronchos up 16-8 in the third set. TNU got within four a couple of times, but could get no closer eventually falling 26-16 in the third.
THE TEAM
EMBRY-RIDDLE
The Eagles used a 10-2 ace edge to their advantage, including five in the first set. ERAU hit .300 for the match, peaking with a .364 attack percentage in the third. Trevecca hit .186 for the match, highlighted by a .229 attack percentage in the extra point second set.
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
Central Oklahoma hit .315 for the match, padded by a .478 hitting percentage in the third. Trevecca hit .126 with a match-high .250 in the second. TNU helped their cause with eight aces, five in the first. Five different Trojans had at least five kills.
THE PLAYERS
EMBRY-RIDDLE
Makenzie O'Loughlin led the Trojans with 10 kills while Reese Payne and Skias Hainline added a team-high three blocks.
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
Reese Payne led a balanced effort with six kills and four blocks.
UP NEXT
Trevecca heads to Winter Park, Florida next weekend for the Rollins College Invitational Sept. 20-21. On Friday, Trevecca faces Southern Connecticut State University (1-6) at 9:00 AM and No. 25 Lynn University (7-0) at 3:30 PM. Trevecca leads the series with Lynn, 1-0, edging the then No. 25 Fighting Knights 3-2 in the 2023 Thrasher Classic. Lynn went on to reach the region finals with a 26-8 mark. On Saturday, the team faces Millersville University (6-1) at 10:30 AM and Rollins College (6-2) at 6:00 PM.
Then it's on to Gulf South play for the first time in school history when Trevecca visits old conference rival Union University (1-6) on Tuesday, September 24 at 6:00 PM in Jackson, Tennessee. The first GSC meeting with UU is the tenth meeting since both schools moved to NCAA Division II play in 2012. TNU owns a 5-4 edge in the D2 era. The teams played 31 times in the NAIA era with the Bulldogs owning a 21-10 advantage.
Trevecca's first home GSC game is Friday, Sept. 27 when the Univ. of Montevallo (1-6) visits Trojan Fieldhouse for a 6:00 PM match. The Falcons have a 3-1 edge in the series, Alabama Huntsville (5-1) is next in another GSC home match at 1:00 PM on Saturday, Sept. 28. The Chargers lead the all-time series 21-5, including. UAH has an 11-3 edge during the D2 era, but the series is 2-2 over the last four meetings.
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