Box Score Shreveport, Louisiana - The 16th-ranked Trinity volleyball team won the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship by defeating fifth-ranked Southwestern (TX) University 3-1 in the conference tournament final on Saturday evening.
MATCH SUMMARY
After dropping the first set 25-18, the Tigers battled out a 25-23 win in set two, then won 25-14 and 25-20 to clinch the title.
Southwestern never trailed in the opening set, but couldn't pull away until the very end. Trinity closed a 20-15 deficit to just three points (21-18), but the Pirates finished with four straight points to take the lead in the match.
The second set proved to be the turning point in the match. Neither team led by more than two points until Southwestern inched ahead 16-13. Trinity promptly responded with six consecutive points to take control of the set at 19-16. The Pirates got to within one late, but the Tigers held on for the win to tie the match at 1-1.
Trinity carried the momentum into the third set, sprinting out to a 16-5 lead and never looked back. Southwestern never got closer than eight points after that initial scoring spree, and the Tigers took the 2-1 match lead.
In the fourth, Trinity couldn't shake Southwestern early, leading by no more than three points. Clinging to a 14-13 advantage, the Tigers snapped off 10 of the next 11 points to take a commanding 21-14 lead. The Pirates rallied to within three at 20-23, but Trinity held on for the win.
NOTABLES
Trinity and Southwestern meet in the SCAC Championship for the fourth consecutive season, and the two schools played each other for the title for the eighth time in SCAC Tournament history. Trinity is 5-3 against Southwestern in SCAC Championship matches.
The win clinched the program's 18th overall SCAC Championship, and the third in the last four seasons - all of which have been wins in the final match against Southwestern.
Rebecca Hayes, Madeline McKay, and Kirby Smith had 12 kills each to lead the Tigers in the match. Smith also tied for the team lead with 19 digs and her 16th double-double of the year, while Hayes recorded a team-best four blocks.
Sarah Mullens led the team with three aces and had 19 digs to tie Smith for the top mark in that category.
Erika Edrington had 16 digs to go with her match-best 39 assists, also marking her 16th double-double this season.
Rebecca Hayes, Madeline McKay, and Erika Edrington were named to the SCAC All-Tournament Team. Hayes was named the Tournament MVP.
UP NEXT
Trinity clinches the SCAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Playoffs. The Tigers await the official announcements from the NCAA on Monday.
