SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The California Lutheran University women's volleyball team traveled to the Trinity University National Invitational for their third and final tournament. The Regals defeated Texas Lutheran 3-2 (23-25, 25-20. 25-23, 18-25, 15-9), before falling to No. 3 Trinity (Tex.) 3-0 (16-25, 19-25, 25-18) on Friday afternoon.

CLU/TLU Box Score | CLU/TU Box Score

Seniors Morgan Given and Maci Haddad led the Regals against the Bulldogs of Texas Lutheran. Given tallied 17 kills, hitting with a .400 percentage, and Haddad put up 16 while hitting .351. Both were valuable around the net as Haddad added five blocks and Given had three more. 

Junior setter Jenna Jones kept the offense rolling with 30 assists and sophomore Tess Holbert added 21 more. The Regals had three in double-figures for kills as freshman Kennedy Crane was set up by Jones and Holbert for 11 kills. She recorded a double-double and added 14 digs. 

Sophomore Isabella Wade led the defense and recorded a team-high 33 digs and three service aces. Senior Julia Trento added double-digit digs with 18 and chipped in with two services aces.

Each set remained close. After Texas Lutheran took the first set, the Regals bounced back and won set two. The Purple and Gold jumped out early in the set and Crane smashed down a kill for a 12-4 lead. After the Bulldogs tied the match at 15, the Regals score two straight points to take the lead back. Cal Lutheran kept the distance and carried that momentum over to the third set and took a 2-1 match lead.

The Bulldogs won the fourth set and took an early 5-2 lead in the fifth. The Regals turned it on after that and went on a 4-1 run and tied the set at 6-6. A kill by Haddad and a service ace from Crane gave the Regals breathing room and Cal Lutheran coasted to a 15-9 set win and the match win. 

In the second game, the No. 1 team in the nation proved why it was the top seed. The Tigers swept the Regals for the second straight tournament. 

Junior Christina Williams led the team with seven kills and Haddad was next with six. Jones and Tolbert kept the ball moving with 12 and 11 assists, respectively. On the defensive side, Trento and Wade kept the ball alive. Trento had a team-high 12 digs and Wade was right behind her with 11.

The Regals continue the tournament on Saturday and play Southwestern (Tex.) at 9 a.m. and the Northwestern (Minn.) at 1 p.m. PST. 

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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director