NASHVILLE – Senior Mackenzie Martin powered an offense that attacked the volleyball at a .299 clip on Tuesday afternoon, as the Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team (15-3, 9-0 GSC) protected their home court at the Trojan Fieldhouse in Mark R. Moore Physical Education Center in a 3-0 victory over Christian Brothers University (7-13, 2-7 GSC). The Trojans won the match 26-24, 25-18, 25-16.
The Trojans were able to run their winning streak to 10 in a row, including nine straight to open Gulf South Conference play, which set a new record winning streak for the Trojans in the NCAA era, and tied the 2002 TNU team who also won 10 in a row from September 6 through September 21. Trevecca is one of only two unbeaten teams remaining in the GSC.
SERIES HISTORY
The win draws TNU level in the series in the NCAA era, where TNU and CBU have split their 10 all-time meetings right down the middle. The win was Trevecca's fourth in the last five matches in the series.
MATCH RECAP
CBU took four of the first six points in set one, but the Trojans regained their footing quickly. Three consecutive kills - two from Mackenzie Martin and one from Brooklynn Smith, gave the Trojans the 7-6 lead, and the teams' struggle intensified in the middle stages of the set. Neither team claimed consecutive points again until, with the match tied at 11, Trevecca rattled off three straight to take the 14-11 lead. CBU responded with a 6-1 run that helped them claim the lead at 17-15, The Bucs continued to hold a small lead late into the set, but a quick 3-0 spurt from the Trojans gave Trevecca a 23-22 lead. CBU won the next two points to earn the first set point opportunity, but Martin finished things off with three kills in a row to give the Trojans the 26-24 set victory.
After CBU took two of the first three points of the third set, but that's when Trevecca took control. TNU posted a 6-1 run that included four kills and a service ace from Isabella Sherrod to open a 7-3 lead, and moments later, Trevecca put together another run - this time an 8-2 spurt - to take a 15-8 lead. The two runs helped Trevecca pull out to a comfortable lead, and the Buccaneers never recovered as Trevecca took set two 25-18.
The teams split the first four points in the third stanza, but another Martin kill sparked three straight points from the Trojans who opened a 5-2 lead. After a quick point from CBU, Martin added two more kills as a part of a 4-0 Trevecca run that helped the Trojans open a 9-3 lead. CBU used an 8-3 run run to close the gap to 15-12, but Trevecca took 10 of the final 14 points to take the set 25-16 and complete the sweep.
TROJAN HIGHLIGHTS
· Mackenzie Martin led the Trojans with 17 kills, and she attacked the ball at a .448 pace.
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· Skias Hainline notched her sixth double-double of the season with 33 assists and 11 digs. She is now only 17 assists shy of the 2,000 assist mark for the season.
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· Lily Vanbebber led Trevecca back row players with 18 digs, and Kayla Bullard (11) also reached double-digits.
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· Trevecca Nazarene posted a .299 attack percentage, while they held CBU to an attack percentage of .174.
UP NEXT
Trevecca is in the midst of a key week as they wrap up the first half of GSC play. In addition to the match with CBU, the Trojans 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.
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