MEDFORD, Mass. – The #2 Trinity University volleyball team finished the Tufts Invitational with a 3-0 win over Bowdoin College (ME) on Saturday afternoon, wrapping up the tournament with a 2-1 record.
The Tigers (6-1) won 26-24, 25-20, and 25-15 to defeat Bowdoin (3-2) and secure their second sweep of the weekend. Trinity split its matches yesterday, winning 3-0 over Salisbury University (MD) and falling 3-0 to #21 Tufts University (MA). Trinity posted a .343 team hitting percentage in today's match, including a high of .464 in the second set. The Tigers also held Bowdoin to a hitting percentage under .200 overall and allowed just six kills in the third set.
Kendall DeRivel (Westlake Village, Calif. / Viewpoint) led the team with 21 assists, adding six digs and an ace.
Lily Long (Glenview, Ill. / New Trier) finished with a team-best 19 kills to go with a .412 hitting percentage.
Amelia Payton (Acworth, Ga. / Harrison) had a .727 hitting percentage with eight kills on 11 attacks.
Lauren St. Charles (Southlake, Texas / Carroll) and
Brynn Bishop (Indianola, Iowa / Indianola) tied for the team lead with nine digs each, with Bishop also recording a team-high two aces.
Lauren McCarthy (Corrales, N.M. / Horizon) had three blocks to lead the Tigers and also chipped in with five kills.
Emma Reeves (Plano, Texas / East) added 14 assists and four digs.
The Rundown
The two teams traded points early in the first set, but Bowdoin broke an 8-8 tie by scoring eight of the next nine points to take control of the match. The Tigers rallied to tie things up 18-18 and level the game once again. Long and Payton had two kills each during the 9-2 run that turned the tide. After Bowdoin pulled back in front, but Long had two kills during three straight Trinity points to put the Tigers up 22-20. Bowdoin rallied again in the back-and-forth game and took a 24-23 lead to set up game point. Long had another kill to start a 3-0 run as Trinity roared back for the win and the 1-0 lead.
Bowdoin scored four of the first five points of the second set, but Trinity had the game even at 6-6. Bowdoin was up 10-9 when the Tigers rattled off four straight points with kills from three different players. After a couple of points from Bowdoin, Trinity scored six of the next eight points that included three Bowdoin service errors and two attacking errors. The Tigers were up 19-14 by then and in full control. Bowdoin pulled within two late in the set, but Trinity scored four of the next five to close out the win.
With a sweep in sight, Trinity sprinted to a 7-0 lead to start the third game and Bowdoin never fully recovered. Long had two kills during the run and Bishop added back-to-back service aces. The Tigers immediately went on another run behind three kills and an ace from Long, putting Trinity in front 13-2 at the time. Long finished with seven kills in the third set alone and Bowdoin never got closer than a seven-point deficit the rest of the way.
Up Next
Trinity returns home for the Trinity Fall Classic next weekend, hosting Johns Hopkins University (MD), Washington University (MO), and the University of St. Thomas (TX). Last week's poll had Johns Hopkins ranked ninth and Wash U ranked 16th in Division III.
