South Cook News

Trinity Christian College men's volleyball (17-11, 7-6 CCAC) took the first two sets at Olivet Nazarene (8-22, 6-7 CCAC) 25-18 and 25-16 on Thursday night in Bourbonnais. At the same time up in Wisconsin, Viterbo stunned Cardinal Stritch. If the Trolls took the final set over Olivet, they would host Tuesday night in the opening round of the CCAC Tournament. 

Unfortunately, the Tigers bounced back and took the final three sets of the night, 25-19, 25-21 and 15-12. Trinity will now go up to Cardinal Stritch on Tuesday night at the #5 seed to take on the #4 seed Wolves. 

Sophomore Alex Costa led the Trolls with 26 kills and a K% of .370%. Trinity as a team had an attack percentage of just .224%. Adam Becker anchored the Trolls defense with 18 digs – a season high. 

In the first set, The Trolls led 20-18 and went on a 5-0 run with senior Jake Ostema serving to end the set. In the second set, Trinity made their push when leading 12-10. Another 5-0 run gave the Trolls a 17-10 lead. Sophomore Nick Mioni had the final swing of the second set. His kill gave Trinity a 25-16 win in set two. 

In the third set, the Trolls trailed 19-18 but Olivet took advantage of two service aces from freshman Collier Kahaku Marquez. The Tigers won the set 25-19.

In set four, Trinity fell behind the eight-ball quick. A 12-8 Olivet lead forced the Trolls to take a timeout. Later in the set, Trinity tied it on a Costa kill to make it 18-18. A 7-3 run though for Olivet forced a fifth set. 

Olivet dominated early. They led 13-8, but the Trolls wouldn't go away. Costa had a kill, followed by a block assists with sophomore Mike Hay helping out. An Olivet attack error and a kill from sophomore Ryan Schmidt made it 13-11.

A service error for the Trolls though made it 14-11, but Olivet gave it right back on a service error and it was 14-12 Tigers. The match ended on a Trolls service error and Trinity lost the fifth set, 15-12.

NOTES & NUMBERS: 

• Costa added 26 more kills and finished the regular season with eight 20+ kill performances. Of the 28 matches he played in, only twice did Costa not reach at least 10 kills. 
• Hay had seven kills on an attack percentage of .875%. He also brought his defense with him. Hay posted eight blocks.
• Ostema went for eight kills and three blocks.
• Sophomore Nick Mioni had 36 assists. 

UP NEXT: Trinity Christian College men's volleyball (#5 seed) will take on familiar foe Cardinal Stritch (9-13, 7-6 CCAC)(#4 seed) in the first round of the CCAC Tournament. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Panella Court. In the lone meeting between the two teams this year, Trinity fell in five sets in Milwaukee.