NASHVILLE – The Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team (5-8, 2-0 GSC) won its first home match of the season taking down the University of Montevallo (4-8, 1-1 GSC) in Trojan Fieldhouse on Friday night.
The Trojans defeated the Falcons in four sets, winning, 25-23, 20-25, 34-32, 25-13.
THE SERIES
With the win, the Trojans narrow the all-time series to 4-2 in favor of the Falcons. Prior to tonight's match, Montevallo had won two of the three previous meetings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Looking for their first home victory of the season, the Trojans played the Falcons to a 4-4 tie in the early stages of the first set. Montevallo used a 7-0 run to create some separation for the 13-5 lead. The Trojans responded with seven points of their own to trim the deficit to 13-12. A pair of kills, attack errors and a service ace later, the Falcons led 19-14. Trevecca dug its way out of the five-point hole by slowing targeting the Falcon attack game earning a couple of attack error points along the way to tie it at 22-22. The Trojans secured the opener after kills by both
Emma Titus and
Mackenzie O'Loughlin, 25-23.
Set two tipped towards the Trojans favor in the early going before Montevallo got its footing and secured a 10-7 lead. Trevecca pulled to within two on multiple occasions but could not close the gap any further, falling 25-20 in the second, the only set loss of the match.
The third set was tied on nine occasions before the Trojans gained the upper hand just a bit at 17-15. After Trevecca took the point out of the 17-15 timeout, the Falcons tied the set again at 19-19. From there, four of the next six points were collected off errors as the teams played to a 22-22 tie. After a Falcon kill gave the visitors a one-point lead, the Trojans responded with two straight points to set up set point and another Montevallo timeout. The Falcons found a way to extend the set out of the timeout. Both sides held four set points apiece as the Trojans played their longest set of the season, winning 34-30 off a service ace.
Riding the momentum off the third set thriller, the fourth swayed for the Trojans with a 5-0 run tied at 6-6. With the 11-6 lead in hand, the Trojans maintained their advantage and pressure on Montevallo, forcing a Falcons timeout up 16-11. After Montevallo took the opening point out of the timeout, the Trojans then rattled off nine of the next 10 to take the set 25-13 and the match.
THE TEAM
The Trojans put together a dominant performance up front with 50 kills and 22 blocks as a team. Trevecca hit .141 for the match, including an impressive .316 mark in the fourth. The Trojans had five service aces and 42 assists along with 55 digs.
Trevecca played its fifth extended set of the season tonight in the set four win. The Trojans are 3-2 in extended sets this season with the 34-30 win being the longest set Trevecca has played in this year.
THE PLAYERS
Reese Payne led the way with 13 kills for the Trojans producing a team-best .440 attack percentage. Payne added six blocks, a dig and assist on the night as well.
Mackenzie O'Loughlin helped out with 12 kills and blocks on .409 hitting while
Elizabeth Wells offered six kills on 18 total attacks with four blocks.
UP NEXT
Trevecca closes out the weekend by hosting GSC-leading the University of Alabama-Huntsville (11-1, 2-0 GSC) tomorrow in Trojan Fieldhouse at 1:00 p.m.
The Chargers, who are riding a six-game winning streak, lead the all-time series 21-5 over the Trojans. UAH holds an 11-3 edge in the Div. II era, but the sides have split the past four meetings.
