COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - No. 3 Trinity University Volleyball defeated University of St. Thomas, 3-0, in its first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference match of the 2021 fall season, hosted on the campus of No. 4 Colorado College Friday afternoon.

The Tigers kicked-off league action with a powerful rightside effort as both seniors Sara Flynn (Seattle, Wash. / Roosevelt) and Sarah Williammee (Denver, Colo. / East) fired through the Celts' block for seven of Trinity's first 10 kills of the match. The Tigers collected 13 kills as a unit before recording their first error, an effort which led to a ruthless .481 first-frame attack percentage. To compound the advantage at the net, senior middle blocker Emma Funk (Pass Chrsitian, Miss. / Our Lady) had a hand in all three of Trinity's first-set blocks to force the Celts down to a .029 attack mark.

Trinity's torrid start faded with the first whistle of the second game as the Tiger attack was finally met by a St. Thomas blocking presence, which led to 12 tied scores. Despite the improved effort from the Celts, senior outside hitters Avery Tuggle (Cedar Creek, Texas / Cedar Creek) and Annie Rose Leggett (Austin, Texas / Westwood) were able to resume the scoring pace as the duo logged six and five kills, respectively. Trinity ended the back-and-forth momentum with a 4-1 run powered by a pair of kills from junior middle blocker Brette Thornton (Rockwall, Texas / Rockwall).

Funk's effort switched from defensive to offensive for the final frame as she narrowly edged out Williammee with five kills to four as the Tigers returned to form en route to their 25-11 clincher. As the offense was taken over in the middle, the blocking effort shifted outside to Tuggle who was one of three Tigers to add a pair of blocks in the frame, which forced the Celts below zero in hitting percentage for Trinity's match-winning set.

Coach Speak

"Our Tigers came out with great intensity and played two solid matches today both offensively and defensively," said Head Coach Julie Jenkins. "Our right sides Flynn and Willi were on fire in our St Thomas match. Emma led our team in blocks with five. In our TLU match, our setters Marisa and Lexie led our team to a .419 hitting percentage.  Avery Tuggle had a career high .765 hitting % with no errors on 17 attempts. She led us in kills and digs in both matches."

Up Next

No. 3 Trinity Volleyball battles Texas Lutheran University at 4 p.m. CT to conlude day one of the 2021 SCAC schedule.