Volleyball team battles but loses in five sets to Trine

ANGOLA, Ind. – Three Olivet College volleyball players reached double figures in kills, but it was not enough as Trine (Ind.) University rallied to beat the Comets in five sets tonight at Hershey Hall in Angola, Ind. Olivet won the first (25-19) and third (25-20) sets, but the Thunder won the second (25-14), fourth (25-15) and fifth (15-13) sets.

The Comets dominated the first set, winning it behind a .361 hitting percentage with 16 kills and only three errors on 36 attempts. In the set, junior Stefanie Lang (Valparaiso, Ind.) had four kills on seven attempts, while freshman Lydia Drikakis (Battle Creek/Lakeview) had a team-leading five kills and one error on eight attempts.

The Thunder came back with a 25-13 win in the second set. Olivet had only five kills and posted a negative hitting percentage in the set. Olivet answered with a 25-20 victory in the third set backed by 12 kills and .250 attack percentage.

Trine forced a fifth set by winning the fourth set, 25-15. The Comets led the final set 12-10 before the Thunder scored five of the last six points to win the set 15-13, and also win the match.

As a team, Olivet collected 46 total kills. Drikakis topped the team with 14 kills and .206 hitting percentage. Lang and junior Tina Westendorp (Nashville/Maple Valley) each had 10 kills, while sophomore Emma Brann (Ann Arbor/Pioneer) had seven.

Sophomore Taylor Pringle (Haslett) posted a double-double with a match-high 38 set assists to go along with 11 digs. Sophomore Megan VanderVlucht (McBain) also recorded 11 digs.

The Comets will rest tonight and play two matches tomorrow. Olivet will play a MIAA match against Saint Mary's (Ind.) College at noon, followed by a non-conference match against Finlandia University at 4 p.m. Between the Comets' two matches, Finlandia plays Saint Mary's.