Jeff Yoder | Echo
The Taylor volleyball team got off to a rough start in their opening weekend but bounced back in a big way last weekend as they took three out of four matches in a quartet of home contests in the Taylor Tournament.The Trojans won both of their matches on Friday, sweeping Indiana Tech (3-0) and Olivet Nazarene (3-0). Senior Montanna Ashline had 11 kills while junior Jackie Close tallied 13. Sophomore Olivia Griffith added 21 assists in the Trojans first victory of the season.
Taylor kept their momentum as they swept Olivet Nazarene in the next match as Griffith and fellow sophomore Julia Willey dished out 35 assists as a pair (Griffith-18, Willey-17). The Trojans owned the Tiger in the first set, 25-18, and had to battle to shield off ONU for two wins in the next two sets, 25-23 and 26-24.
Saturday's contests started out differently for Taylor as they fell 0-3 to Davenport. But Taylor got back to form in the tournament finale as the Trojans stole a win against No. 22 Point Park in a five-set thriller.
The Pioneers took the first set 28-26, before Taylor recharged in the second and third sets to win 25-18 and 25-23. With a 2-1 lead, the Trojans entered the fourth set looking to close out the upset, but the Pioneers scored six straight points to cap off the fourth set and win 26-24. In the fifth and final set, Taylor sparked a 6-1 start and never trailed again, winning the fifth 15-12 and knocking off their first ranked opponent of the season (3-2).
Setter Olivia Griffith had a phenomenal showing in the final match as she accounted for a career-high 43 assists.
The Trojans (3-5) will face Grace College on the road Wednesday at 7 p.m. before a match at rival No. 17 Indiana Wesleyan on Friday at 6 p.m.
