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Photo credit: Loren Martin
Photo credit: Loren Martin
Posted: Feb 10, 2023

TIGERS UPEND THE TROLLS IN STRAIGHT SETS

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BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University bounce back with a 3-0 win over the Trinity Christian Trolls Thursday night to revenge their NCCAA Invite Championship loss earlier this year. Jake Ostema led the team with 11.5 points and 11 kills on 13 total attacks in the victory.

 

The Tigers jumped out to an early 11-5 lead after a kill by Jaiton Kamaunu from Tomas Gonzalez. The Trolls cut into the lead to make it 20-18 down the stretch before ONU rode the momentum after a Kahaku Marquez and Cade Ooms' block for a 5-1 run. A Marquez kill and a TCC service error gave the Purple and Yellow-Gold the early 1-0 lead in the match.

 

The two sides played an extra two rallies after a 24-24 draw. The Tigers looked to take a decisive match advantage leading the Trolls 23-20 late in the set. The visitors responded with four straight points before a kill from Thoralf Schmelzer thwarted Trinity Christian's set point. A pair of attack errors on the visitor's side proved the difference as Olivet went into the third set leading 2-0.


The Trolls did not go away easy as the third and final set witnessed neither team leading by more than three points and five ties. Olivet trailed to start before a Jake Ostema kill sparked a mini 3-0 run to level the score at 17-17. Schmelzer's service ace gave the home side their first lead of the set at 21-20 and the Tigers did not look back. Ostema ended the match with a kill set up by Gonzalez for the win.

 

QUICK HITS

  • Ostema (11.5) and Schmelzer (10.5) both finished with double-figure points.
  • Gonzalez set a new season-high with 36 assists on the night.
  • Tigers as a team out hit the Trolls 45-33 with a .290 kill percentage to TCC's .161.
  • Schmelzer, James Ballance, Cade Ooms, and Gonzalez combined for 24 of ONU's 31 digs.

 

WHAT'S NEXT

Olivet will play the backend of their back-to-back matches against Bethel (Ind.) tomorrow night (Friday, Feb. 10). The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT in McHie Arena. Please visit ONUTigers.com for all the links to follow along.

 

--ONU—

 

*Contact: Patrick Kaindl; Sports Information Graduate Assistant, email pkaindl@olivet.edu