ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Golden Eagles dropped their final road match of the 2024 season to the St. Thomas Tommies in four sets (18-25, 27-25, 16-25, 20-25).
 
The Golden Eagles opened the match on a 3-0 run behind a kill from Trinity Freeman and two attack errors from the Tommies. Tied at 12, the Tommies had logged eight kills while the Golden Eagles recorded five. Down 14-15, UST put together a 6-0 run to break open set one. Five service aces from the Tommies helped them gain the advantage after the first set.
 
Four UST attack errors and a kill from Nadia Wheeler helped ORU jump out to a 5-1 lead to begin set two. Up 14-7, ORU allowed a 4-1 run. Later in the set, the Tommies sparked a 5-0 run down 20-14 to cut their deficit to one. Three straight points from Trinity Freeman led the Golden Eagles to a set two win, 27-25.
 
The third set seemed to be neck-and-neck with ORU and UST trading points up until the two teams were level at 12. The Tommies went on a 13-4 run to close the set, logging six kills in the final stretch of set three.
 
Set four started on a 5-2 Tommies run with the Golden Eagles fighting from behind throughout the set. Down three (12-15), St. Thomas went on a 9-3 run to blow the set open. Five kills from Trinity Freeman and four from Hope Hickman weren't enough to outlast UST, dropping their 24^th match of the season.
 
Match Notes

• Trinity Freeman recorded her fourth double-double of the season and 16th of her career as a Golden Eagle, tallying 14 kills (hitting .314%) and 14 digs to go along with three service aces and one block assist.
• Maite Solabarrieta carded her ninth 30+ assist match on the season and the 11th of her career. Her 32 assists
• Hope Hickman and Natassia Baptiste followed close behind Freeman, logging seven kills and 1.5 blocks and five kills and two blocks, respectively. Baptiste led the Golden Eagles in hit percentage, hitting .357% on the match while Hope Hickman was one kill and one dig off her first career double-double.
• Thaynara de Jesus racked up 13 digs, her 10^th 10+ dig match of the season and 18^th of her career.
• ORU is three wins away from 1,000 wins as a program.

 
Up Next
The Golden Eagles host senior night at the Mabee Center against Denver on Tuesday, November 19^th at 7:00 p.m.
 
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