TIGERS OPEN CCAC PLAY WITH FIVE-SET WIN OVER TRINITY CHRISTIAN

PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University women's volleyball team opened play in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference with a thrilling 29-27, 21-25, 25-22, 19-25, 15-12 five-set victory at Trinity Christian Wednesday evening in DeVos Gymnasium.

ONU opened the first set with a strong performance, quickly establishing a lead with a 7-2 run, highlighted by Emma Edmonds' kill and consecutive attack errors forced by Sabrina Sanif. Despite a late charge by Trinity Christian, who closed the gap and tied the score at 24-24, the Tigers maintained their composure. Naomi Monney-Hori and Ayla Dorsey delivered crucial kills, with Dorsey securing the final point from Skyler Dorsey's assist, sealing a 29-27 victory in the set.

The second set opened with ONU taking an early lead, thanks to a kill by Astyn Casey. Trinity Christian responded to close the gap, but consistent efforts from Monney-Hori, including a crucial kill, helped the Tigers maintain a slight edge. Despite their strategic timeouts to halt Trinity Christian's momentum, the set concluded with a late push from the Trolls, who capitalized on several attack errors by ONU to secure a 25-21 set win.

The third set saw the Tigers overcome an early deficit to secure a 25-22 victory against Trinity Christian. After falling behind 7-1, the team rallied with a series of key plays, including a kill by Brynn Nikonchuk and a string of errors from the Trolls that allowed the visitors to close the gap and eventually take a tie. Monney-Hori was instrumental in pushing the Tigers ahead, delivering crucial kills late in the set, which prompted a timeout from Trinity Christian. Despite a brief surge from the home team, ONU maintained their composure, sealing the set with a final kill by Monney-Hori.

The fourth set commenced with a close exchange of points, highlighted by a kill from Monney-Hori, courtesy of Skyler Dorsey's assist. Despite a subsequent scoring surge from Trinity Christian that pushed them ahead, the Tigers called a strategic timeout to regroup. This proved effective as they mounted a comeback, closing the gap with Monney-Hori and Sanif contributing significant offensive plays. However, the Trolls regained their footing with consistent plays, ultimately securing a 25-19 victory in the set.

The fifth set began with a service error from Trinity Christian, granting ONU the first point. The teams exchanged points early, but a strategic timeout by the Tigers proved pivotal. Following the timeout, Olivet capitalized on errors from the Trolls and strong plays from Skyler Dorsey, who facilitated key kills by Monney-Hori and Breanna Lamie, allowing them to tie the game. A decisive service ace by Monney-Hori shifted momentum, and the Tigers maintained their lead, eventually winning the set 15-12, thanks to a crucial kill by Nikonchuk set by Jayley Fisher.

Monney-Hori led the ONU offense with 20 kills, contributing 22 points. Sanif added 13 kills and recorded 16.5 points, showcasing her offensive impact. Fisher facilitated the attack with 24 assists, efficiently guiding the team's distribution. Lamie was steady in defense, collecting 18 digs to bolster the back row.

Olivet Nazarene (IL) holds a 1-7 overall record and is 1-0 in CCAC play. They will take a quick break from conference action to compete in the Aquinas Tournament this weekend in Grand Rapids, Mich.

--ONU—

*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu