TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The Knox College volleyball team was unable to secure its first victory of the 2025 season in a pair of neutral-site matches on Friday evening at the Rose-Hulman Invitational as Anderson (Ind.) University (3-1) and Ohio Northern University (2-2) each handed the Prairie Fire (0-8) a 3-0 defeat.
Knox's opening match at the invitational began in promising fashion with the Fire building up a 9-7 lead in the first set. But the Ravens ran off the next four points and gradually pulled away before scoring the final six points in a row to take the set, 25-15.
It looked like Knox was on its way to even things up by taking a 9-2 lead in the second set, thanks in part to three consecutive aces served up by senior Sam Black. Even when Anderson ripped off 10 straight points for a 17-13 lead, the Prairie Fire showed resiliency by roaring back to go up, 18-17. Knox was on the cusp of taking the set, leading 24-22, only to have the Ravens peck away and take the next four points for a 2-0 lead.
Both sides had five-point runs early as momentum swung back and forth, and the third set was tied up at 13 when Anderson produced a six-point run to take command en route to a 25-17 victory, clinching the match.
Knox was back on the court to square off against Ohio Northern, and the Polar Bears cooled the fire quickly in winning the first set, 25-12. The Prairie Fire showed some spark in the second set, finding themselves tied at 13 before ONU roared to a 25-17 win. In the third and final set, the Polar Bears led wire-to-wire and finished off its three-game sweep, 25-15.
- Knox matched a season high with 21 kills against Anderson, with junior Elle Haddon and sophomore Maria Jabor Jahn each providing seven.
- Sophomore Zoe Thunhurst had the team's first double-double of the season in the opener, dishing out 11 assists and digging out 12 attacks.
- Jabor Jahn led the Prairie Fire attack against the Polar Bears with five kills while sophomore Rebeca Hernandez-Rivera matched Thunhurst with nine digs on the back line.
Knox will conclude its play at the Rose-Hulman Invitational tomorrow, starting with a showdown against the host Fightin' Engineers (4-0) at 11 a.m. (EDT) followed by a 1 p.m. match against Westminster (Mo.) College (4-2). Fans can follow the action through the live stream or stats; links are available through PrairieFire.Knox.edu, the official website of Knox College Athletics.
