Cristin Richards (Olympia, Wash.) and Kaytlyn Dill (Bothell, Wash.) each notched double-doubles, with Richards collecting 15 kills and 12 digs along with two aces, and Dill earning 15 kills and 11 digs along with a service ace and three block assists. Raissa Licano-Sanchez (Grandview, Wash.) did not commit an attack error during the match, finishing with seven kills, a .500 hitting percentage, and three total blocks.
Down by four early in the second set, Seattle University scored seven unanswered points to pull ahead, 10-7. The Redhawks slowly increased the lead throughout the rest of the set, eventually winning the set to tie the match at 1-1 heading into the intermission on a service ace by Dill.
A 6-0 run early in the third set, thanks in part to two kills and a block assist from Dill, allowed SeattleU to go ahead, 12-7. Trinity Western came within two at 13-11, but the home team again pulled away, going on a 7-2 run to extend its advantage to 20-13, with Dill finishing off the third set with a kill to give the Redhawks a 2-1 match advantage.
Seattle University jumped on top early in the fourth set, scoring six of the first eight points, and kept the Spartans at arms' length throughout the rest of the set. The Redhawks ended the set and the match when Sarah Lewicki (Herald, Calif.) set up Richards for the final kill of the night.
SeattleU came out of the gate quickly, scoring eight of the first ten points of the match thanks in part to three kills from Richards. Trinity Western came back, going on its own 8-2 run to go ahead, 14-12. After a couple of Spartan mistakes allowed the Redhawks to tie the first set, 14-14, Amy Leschied picked up a kill and a block assist to help the visitors take the lead for good. The Spartans scored the final four points of the opening set, as Jordan Rupps earned a kill and an ace, followed by Kim Klassen with a block assist and a kill.
SeattleU setter Jamie Mellies (Henderson, Nev.) collected 41 assists, three service aces, six digs, and two block assists, while Janet Beckerman (Bellevue, Wash.) earned five kills and three total blocks and Kelly Biette (Brighton, Colo.) contributed four kills and a team-high five block assists. In the back, libero Emily Deleissegues (Aromas, Calif.) led the way with 16 defensive digs, and Megan Augustavo (Shoreline, Wash.) collected nine digs in the match.
Trinity Western was led by Klassen, who finished with 11 kills, 11 digs, and three total blocks. Kara Jansen Van Doorn earned nine kills, six digs, and three block assists, and Leschied added five kills and a match-high seven total blocks. Lauren O'Reilly served as the setter for three of the four sets, finishing with 27 assists, and libero Andrea Ball collected 11 defensive digs.
After earning the same number of kills and errors in the first set, Seattle University posted a .330 hitting percentage in the last three sets and also notched more digs than Trinity Western (56-45). Each team finished with 8.5 team blocks, but the Spartans helped the Redhawks by committing 17 service errors and seven block errors during the match.
Seattle University (5-14) takes a much-needed break before its next match, as Portland State travels north next Wednesday, Oct. 7, for a 7 p.m. match at the Connolly Center. This will be the final home match for the Redhawks before heading out on a seven-match road swing over the next 34 days. Live stats for next Wednesday's match will be available through GoSeattleU.com.