BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Trinity Christian College defeated the 17th-ranked Bellevue University volleyball team 3-2 (9-25, 26-24, 21-25, 25-20, 15-13) Saturday afternoon in the NAIA Volleyball National Championship Opening Round at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
With the win, Trinity Christian improved to 37-7 and advanced to the 24-team NAIA Volleyball National Championship final site in Sioux City, Iowa on Dec. 3-7 at the Tyson Event Center/Gateway Arena.
Bellevue ends its season with an overall mark of 34-9.
Symone Faulkner recorded a match-high 17 kills while Sydney DeBoer registered 14 kills. Faulkner and DeBoer each recorded three blocks apiece.
Caitlyn Rueth led the defense with a career-high 28 digs to go along with 10 kills, two assists and a block.
Courtney Hendricks tied a career-high with 13 kills on .379 hitting.
Beth Walker finished with 57 set assists, 20 digs and four kills for her 17th double-double of the season. She also chipped in two blocks and a service ace.
Libero Meghan Evans added 21 digs and two assists.
The Bruins outhit TTC .158 to .100 while the Trolls held a 16-7 edge in total team blocks.
The Trolls were led by Kaitlin Feddema's 18 digs and 15 kills.
BU was 4-3 on the season in five-set matches.
