UPLAND, Ind. – The Lawrence Technological University women's volleyball team closed out the opening day of the Taylor University Tournament with a dominant performance Saturday morning, sweeping Indiana University East, 3-0, at Odle Arena.
The Blue Devils controlled the match from the start, taking the opening set 25-18 before edging Indiana East 26-24 in a tightly contested second set. LTU then closed out the sweep with a 25-15 victory in the third set to improve to 7-5 on the season.
Maria Trevino Nunez led the Blue Devils offensively with 12 kills while hitting .122 and added 15 digs and a block. Catelyn Chapin delivered an efficient performance at the net, recording five kills on 10 attacks (.400) while adding three total blocks. Kyndal James also provided a strong offensive effort, finishing with three kills without an error and hitting .429.
Dru Temple orchestrated the LTU offense with 27 assists while also contributing 10 digs, while Emily Hagelthorn anchored the defensive effort with a team-high 19 digs. Kaden Perkins added six digs and helped the Blue Devils with a service ace.
As a team, Lawrence Tech finished with 33 kills and hit .093 for the match while recording 47 digs and five total blocks. The Blue Devils also limited Indiana East to 24 kills and a -.037 hitting percentage.
The Blue Devils jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the opening set and never trailed after taking a 5-4 advantage. LTU built its lead to as many as nine points at 22-13 before closing out the set 25-18.
The second set proved to be the most competitive of the match. The teams battled throughout, with the score tied at 24-24 before LTU secured the final two points to take the set 26-24. Ella Aberlich finished the set with a service ace to give the Blue Devils the set-clinching point.
Lawrence Tech then came out strong in the third set, building an early 8-3 advantage and extending the lead to 11-3. The Blue Devils maintained control the rest of the way, eventually finishing off the sweep with a 25-15 victory.
