Springer Tallies 1,000th Assist as Offense Explodes for Trojans  

MARION, Ind. – Lindsay Springer notched her 1,000th assist for the Trojans in the four-set victory over Saint Francis (Ill.) (6-13) in the final game of the IWU Tri-match. 

The sophomore transfer, Springer, has run the offense with precision, spraying the ball with elite vision. The Bluffton, Indiana native leads not only the Crossroads League but the entire NAIA with 1,051 assists and averages 10.72 assists per set. 

Taylor capped the three-match event with an incredible offensive display, notching a .291 hitting percentage, which is the team's highest since a victory over Roosevelt on September 9. 

After dropping a tight first set 25-22, TU turned things around in impressive fashion. 

Leading throughout much of the second set, Taylor fell behind before shutting down two set points for the Saints. Three straight points capped by a kill from Gracie Conway evened the match at a set apiece. 

The swing in momentum allowed Taylor (12-14, 2-9 CL) to cruise to victory with identical 25-16 set victories, which stopped a five-match losing streak. 

Five Trojans recorded double-digit kills, with Conway and Sarah Scott tied for the team lead at 13. Jaylynn Dunsmore and Grace Ieremia each notched 11 kills, and Reagan Salzbrenner recorded a career-high 10 kills as she continued to find her groove after being inserted into the lineup in the second half of the season. 

McKaylah Flagle grabbed 16 digs to lead the team while adding two service aces. 

TU began the day with a match against No. 13 Columbia (19-4), which started about as well as possible with a first-set victory, 25-16. The TU defense held the Cougars to a .000 attacking percentage in the opener, and Salzbrenner had four kills to give TU the early advantage.

The Cougars stormed back to take the final three sets and the match, including an impressive .491 hitting percentage in the second set. 

Taylor steps back into Crossroads League action on Wednesday, October 11, when Grace (15-7, 6-5 CL) comes to Upland, Indiana, for a rematch of a five-set thriller earlier this season, with the match set to begin at 7:00 pm.