SAN ANTONIO, TX – The Cabrini volleyball team stumbled in its 2018 debut, as it suffered a pair of 3-0 losses at the Trinity University National Invitational in San Antonio, TX.
The Blue and White faced a pair of teams who appeared in the 2017 NCAA Tournament, falling to No. 11 Trinity 25-17, 25-13, 25-20 and suffering a 25-17, 25-21, 25-13 loss to Aurora University in the nightcap.
The Blue and White seemed primed for the upset in the first set against the host, as both teams exchanged points in the early going. The Cavalier trailed 17-16 late in the set, when the Tigers (2-0) scored five consecutive points to take a commanding 22-16 lead, before netting the final three points of the set.
Cabrini built an early lead in the second set, but a 13-4 Tigers spurt put the momentum clearly on the host's side. Trinity never allowed the Cavaliers to regain their footing, recording the final eight points on the frame.
Despite trailing for much of the third set, the Cavaliers kept Trinity within striking distance. The Tigers broke a 11-11 deadlock with a 6-2 run to give them the cushion they needed. The Blue and White never went away, however, trailing just 22-19 late in the set before the home team sealed the victory.
Freshman
Hannah Dalton notched a team high nine kills in her collegiate debut, one more than sophomore
Steph Judkins. Seniors
Ashley Shannon and
Emily Shannon combined for 17 digs, while freshman
Amelia Ballard tallied 12 assists.
Cabrini fell behind early in the nightcap, as Aurora (2-0) netted the first six points of the match, before the Cavaliers pulled within two points. The Spartans never surrendered their lead and rolled to a first set victory.
The Spartans built an early lead in the second set, but the Cavaliers slowly chipped away. A 6-0 Aurora run seemed to give the Spartans all of the set's momentum, but Cabrini rallied with a 7-0 run of its own, pulling within 22-21, but could never even the score.
The Blue and White built an early lead in the third frame, but an 8-0 Aurora spurt gave the Spartans an insurmountable 17-6 lead, as they close out the match.
Judkins paced the Cavaliers with seven kills and eight digs, while
Emily Shannon and Dalton posted five kills each.
Ashley Shannon added 10 kills, one more than Ballard, who also notched 11 assists.
The road gets no easier for the Cavaliers on Saturday, as they face No. 7 Gustavus Adolphus (1-1) at 2:30pm and Wisconsin-Stevens Point (0-2) at 5pm.
