Box Score MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Trevecca Nazarene volleyball team (14-3, 8-0 GSC) had to battle hard on the road at the Auburn University-Montgomery Warhawks (2-15, 1-7 GSC), but the Trojans were able to run their winning streak to nine in a row to open Gulf South Conference play. Trevecca used a 63-kill attack - marking only the third time the Trojans have reached that total in a four-set match in the NCAA era - to take the win 23-25, 25-17, 25-23, and 25-20.
Trevecca is one of only two unbeaten teams remaining in the GSC.
SERIES HISTORY
The win gives TNU the upper hand in the series in the NCAA era, where TNU and AUM split the meetings a year ago. The win was Trevecca's first in Montgomery, ans their second consecutive in series play.
MATCH RECAP
Trevecca started quickly in the opening set, racing out to a 9-3 lead thanks to four kills and a block, but AUM battled back. In the middle stages of the frame, The Warhawks used an 8-1 run that was aided by several Trojan miscues to take the lead at 14-13, and the battle was on. As Trevecca tried to regain their footing, the Trojans struggled to pass the ball consistently, and AUM took advantage, twice taking a 3-point lead on their way to the set win 25-23.
With the Warhawks riding the momentum into the second set, the Trojans continued to battle to try and find a rhythm. The Trojans' offense was more efficient than that of AUM, but Trevecca was unable to shake free of the Warhawks into the middle stages of the set. That's when the momentum turned on a dime, thanks to a service ace from
Kayla Bullard that helped Trevecca rattle off four straight points to take a 17-14 lead and force an AUM timeout. Out of the timeout, AUM scored the next point, but Trevecca stretched the spurt to 8-1 to open a 21-14 lead on their way to the 25-17 set win to square the match at 1-1.
In the pivotal third set, AUM inched out to a 7-4 lead, but Trevecca answered emphatically. The Trojans put together an 8-1 run that helped TNU take a 12-8 lead. AUM battled fiercely to defend their home court, as they rallied to take a 19-16 lead, but Trevecca bounced back to knot things at 22. Moments later, with the set hanging in the balance, Trevecca recorded back-to-back blocks - a solo block from
Addison Cunnagin and an assist block from Cunnagin and Kaitlyn Grant - to close the set out and take the 25-23 win to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Trevecca jumped out to a quick 6-3 lead in the fourth frame, but AUM refused to go quietly, as they battled back to tie things at 6. Trevecca, though, found the answer, as the Trojans opened a 16-10 lead with a 10-4 run that featured a pair of kills from
Reese Payne, and one each from Bullard, Cunnagin, Grant, and
Mackenzie Martin. That run finally gave Trevecca the upper hand for good, as Trevecca kept AUM at arm's length for the remainder of the match on their way to the 25-20 set win that capped the 3-1 victory.
TROJAN HIGHLIGHTS
- Addison Cunnagin (13 K, 11 D) and Skias Hainline (42 A, 22 D) each had double-doubles in the match. For each player, it marked their fifth double-double of the season.
- Mackenzie Martin led the Trojans with 16 kills, and Kaitlyn Grant was also in double figures with 12 kills.
- Lily Vanbebber led Trevecca back row players with 33 digs, and Isabella Sherrod (16) and Kayla Bullard (14) also reached double-digits.
- Trevecca Nazarene posted a .244 attack percentage, they notched 103 digs, and they posted nine blocks. The Trevecca defense also held AUM to an attack percentage of .153.
UP NEXT
Next up for Trevecca is the first meeting of the year with Christian Brothers University (7-12, 2-6 GSC) at Trojan Fieldhouse on October 14 at 6 PM. The Bucs own the NCAA D2 era series 5-4. Each team won on the other team's home court last year. TNU has won three of the last four meetings in the series.
That tilt opens a key week for the Trojans as they wrap up the first half of GSC play. In addition to the match with CBU, the Trojans will face key road tests at Valdosta State University (6-11, 5-3 GSC) at 5 p.m. on Oct. 17, and at preseason favorite University of West Florida (15-3, 8-0 GSC) on Oct. 18 at 2 p.m.
The Blazers won both meetings last season, and The Argonauts swept the Trojans last year as well. In both cases, the 2024 matches are the only two meetings between the schools in volleyball.
