This past weekend, No. 21 Trinity University volleyball hosted two Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) matches, kicking off the second round of conference play in the Calgaard Gymnasium. The Tigers won both matches against Schreiner University and Texas Lutheran University (TLU).
The first match began Friday, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. against Schreiner University from Kerrville, TX. The Tigers swept all three matches, marking their fourth sweep of the season. Trinity took the first point, and ultimately the first set, maintaining an extended lead until the game tied 13-13. Reagan Whatley, junior outside hitter, had two kills in the next three points to regain the lead.
“In stressful situations, I’m really trying to weigh the odds. If I have a great set and I can see the court, I’m going to be aggressive,” Whatley said. “If the ball isn’t there or I’m not in the best position to score, I’m trying to keep the play going. I think this balance helps me do well, knowing when and when not to take risks. It’s also all about trusting the person next to you. I have a lot of faith in my teammates so I feel very calm regardless of the score because I know how talented the people standing next to me are.”
In the second set, the score remained closer. Three kills from Marissa Drange, junior outside hitter, kickstarted the Tigers’ comfortable lead against the Schreiner Mountaineers. The Tigers took the second match after scoring six consecutive points 25-13. Trinity entered the third match with several unanswered points securing an early lead. The Mountaineers cut the lead to 10-7, but the Tigers responded by winning seven of the eight following points. The match drew to a close as the Tigers saw kills from four different players during the rest of the game.
Drange was a leading player this match with a total of eight kills, and a hit rate .444 in the first match. Following her performance this weekend, Drange shared her thoughts on the game.
“Our game against Schreiner was our first time back in Calgaard Gym in 10 games,” Drange said. “It was great to be on our home court and we came into the game focused and energized. I am happy that I was able to contribute to our team’s success. I love playing volleyball and am extremely grateful that I get to compete with my best friends. Every week we are improving in practice and working hard to become the best that we can be.”
They played their second, and final game of the conference against Texas Lutheran University from Fort Worth, TX. Friday Oct. 18 at 6 p.m., the first set began. The match remained close throughout as the teams were tied 12 times. Both Reagan Whatley and Jenna Rodriguez had nine digs and 10 assists. After a close match, the Tigers lost the first set. Heading into the second set, the Tigers were down until a timeout was called at the score of 7-4.
The Tigers came out of the timeout and scored 14 unanswered points to take an 18-7 lead. The Tigers were able to win the set, as Connelley McWilliams, sophomore rightside hitter, sealed it with a kill. Assistant Coach Maggi Linker reflected on the decision to call the time-out in the second set.
“We started off a little bit slow, and the call is so you hopefully change momentum, to regroup, make sure we cover our game plan, but then really just make sure that we refocus the team,” Linker said.
The third set was a close contest. The two teams switched leads four times and tied the score 11 times. The Tigers took the third set with over 20 digs from the team throughout. Entering the fourth set, the TLU Bulldogs started with an early lead. The Tigers fought back to maintain a lead and win the fourth set after another hard-fought game.
“TLU is a great defensive team. They rarely give up on balls and the rallies are really long. Going into that game I knew I had to be on my A-game, defensively. I knew we had to outplay them in that aspect. I’m proud of how the team and myself played in that game. We were diving and flying all over the court and really working hard for each other. We didn’t let a ball drop without a body on the floor going for it.” Whatley said.
The weekend extended the Tigers’ winning streak to six matches. Linker discussed the Tigers’ performance this weekend and what this momentum will do for the rest of their season.
“We’re definitely starting to hit our stride a little bit more. This is, you know, the time of year when you really do want to start getting close to your peak as a team. It’s awesome to see ourselves continuing to improve as a team,” said Linker.
Before this weekend, The Tigers were No. 21 in the SCAC. Their next match against Southwestern University will place them back in the Calgaard Gym on Oct. 25 at 6 p.m.
