TIGERS OVERCOME SLOW START TO SECURE FINAL CONFERENCE WIN

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL. - Olivet Nazarene University's men's volleyball team secured a thrilling 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-15) victory over Trinity Christian College on Tuesday night, capping off their conference road schedule on a high note. 

The first set unfolded with both teams trading points early. However, Trinity gradually established control, capitalizing on a few ONU miscues and exploiting weaknesses in the defense. The Tigers struggled to find their offensive rhythm, and Trinity secured the first set 25-21.

Undeterred by the early setback, ONU emerged from the break with renewed focus and determination. The Tigers' offense, led by Brody McAfee (15 kills) and Cade Ooms (12 kills, 2 assisted blocks), came alive. Setter Tomas Gonzalez (34 assists) orchestrated the attack with precision, distributing the ball effectively and keeping all options involved. Defensively, the Tigers tightened up at the net, forcing Trinity into errors. This collective effort propelled ONU to a convincing 25-20 victory in the second set, tying the match score at 1-1.

The momentum shifted decisively in ONU's favor in the third set. The Tigers carried their confidence from the second-set win and dominated play from the start. The offense continued to click, with McAfee and Ooms finding gaps in the Troll defense with consistent kill attempts. The Tigers' serving game also came alive, creating pressure on the Trinity reception. ONU capitalized on these opportunities, extending their lead throughout the set and ultimately securing a comfortable 25-20 victory to take a 2-1 lead in the match. 

The fourth set was a display of pure dominance from the Tigers. ONU continued their relentless offensive attack, with all attackers contributing to the scoring effort. The Trinity offense struggled to find rhythm against the Tigers' stifling defense. ONU extended their lead throughout the set, ultimately securing a decisive 25-15 victory to claim the match 3-1.

Looking Ahead

The Tigers will embark on their final road trip of the regular season, traveling to face Cumberland University on April 13th. The game is scheduled for 10 a.m. CST.

--ONU—

*Contact Anyssa Hampton, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, ahampton@olivet.edu