PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. - The Stephens College Stars made an impressive showing on the first day of the Trinity Christian College Trolls Tournament, securing two commanding wins over Trinity Christian (3-1) and Lourdes University (3-0). These victories improved the Stars' overall record to 7-12.
Match 1: Stephens Defeats Trinity Christian 3-1 (17-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-13)
The evening began with a strong comeback against the host team, Trinity Christian. After a sluggish start and a 17-25 loss in the first set, the Stars found their rhythm in the second set, securing a 25-17 win. The offense, directed by Emma Whitson's 34 assists, was firing on all cylinders.
Makenna Bollinger led the attack with 11 kills, while Izzy Benson contributed 10 kills and 10 digs for a double-double. Elyse Strader was highly efficient, delivering 8 kills on just 13 attempts with a .462 hitting percentage.
Stephens' aggressive play continued into the third set, as they took control for a 25-19 win. By the fourth set, the Stars were in full command, rolling to a 25-13 victory.
Defensive standout Jatnna Pena-Perez was pivotal, tallying 14 digs and 3 service aces.
Match 2: Stephens Sweeps Lourdes 3-0 (25-17, 25-12, 25-16)
In their second match of the day, Stephens carried their momentum into a dominant sweep of Lourdes University.
Jamie Russell was the star of the night, recording 16 kills with a scorching .696 hitting percentage.
The Stars came out strong in the first set, winning 25-17 behind Russell's attack. The second set was even more convincing, with Stephens surging to a 25-12 win, as Whitson again distributed the ball effectively, racking up 28 assists.
By the third, the Stars closed out the match 25-16, aided by key contributions from Benson, who added 8 kills, and Madison Threlkeld, who chipped in 6 kills.Defensivel y, Pena-Perez continued to be a standout with 15 digs in the sweep, while Russell and Benson combined for 3 blocks to stifle Lourdes' offense.
Stephens' relentless pressure from the service line and efficient hitting were crucial in maintaining control throughout the match.
The Stars will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 11 a.m. for the second day of the Trolls Tournament, looking to continue their strong run.
