JACKSON, Tenn. – The Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team (4-8, 1-0 GSC) opened its inaugural season in the Gulf South Conference by defeating former longtime NAIA rival Union University (2-8, 0-1 GSC) in Fred DeLay Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
The Trojans defeated the Bulldogs in four sets, winning, 27-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-17.
THE SERIES
The first GSC meeting with UU is the tenth meeting since both schools moved to NCAA Division II play in 2012. Trevecca owns a 6-4 edge in the Div. II era. The teams played 31 times in the NAIA era with the Bulldogs controlling a 21-10 advantage.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Facing its first conference foe of the season gave the Trojans a little something extra to play for tonight. After the teams played to a 4-4 tie to start things off, it was Union who threw the first punch, routing off four straight for the 8-4 lead. Trevecca responded with a 6-1 counterattack highlighted by a trio of errors and a service ace to take the lead back. Down 18-16, the Trojans used another six straight points to set up a 22-18 lead. The Bulldogs fought back and even held a pair of set points before three consecutive errors gave the Trojans the opener, 27-25.
Union's offense responded in the early stages of the second, taking the opening four points. Trevecca managed to rally and hold a three-point lead on two different occasions at 9-6 and 14-11 before the sides knotted up at 15-15. From there, in the end, it was the Bulldogs who were two points better as service error and attack error made way for set point which was finished off with a kill.
After taking the opening point of the third, the Trojans did not look back. The 5-2 start set up a 9-4 advantage. The five-point lead for Trevecca was a common theme of the third as the visitors held this mark on seven different occasions the rest of the way. Trevecca took set three, 25-19.
The fourth set tilted quickly in favor of the Trojans. After earning the opening two points Trevecca settled in and did enough to put itself in a position to win. Tied at 12-12, a 10-1 extended run gave the Trojans a 22-13 cushion and put things out of reach for the Bulldogs. Despite four straight Bulldog points to cut it to a five-point game, the Trojans picked up the 25-17 win behind a service ace from
Mackenzie O'Loughlin.
THE TEAM
The Trojans put together a dominant performance up front with 42 kills and 31 blocks as a team. Trevecca hit .151 for the match with six service aces and 39 assists along with 83 digs.
THE PLAYERS
Emma Titus secured a double-double with a team-high 14 kills and 16 digs.
Skias Hainline provided 29 assists and 10 digs along with six kills in the win while
Reese Payne offered nine kills and nine total blocks.
UP NEXT
Trevecca's first home GSC game is on Friday when the University of Montevallo (4-7, 1-0 GSC) visits Trojan Fieldhouse for a 6:00 PM match. The Falcons have a 4-1 edge in the all-time series.
