SAN ANTONIO - No. 11 Tiger Volleyball gets their Calgaard Crossover started with two wins over the University of St. Thomas and Southwestern.
 
The Tigers got senior weekend off to a great start with a 3-1 victory over the University of St. Thomas. Then, the Tigers would bring their brooms to the next match as they swept Southwestern 3-0. 
 
Game One: Trinity 3, St. Thomas 1
 
It was a shaky start for the Tigers as the Celts would grab a quick 5-0 lead, but first-year Courtney Pope (New Braunfels, Texas / Canyon) would get the scoring started for the Tigers. The Tigers would see themselves down 12-7 in the middle of the set but then scored six unanswered points, highlighted by multiple blocks from senior Carley Broekhuizen (Kalamazzo, Michigan / Kalamazoo Christian) and two service aces by Jenna Rodriguez (San Antonio, Texas / Antonian) to bring the Tigers a 13-12 lead. The Tigers and Celts would trade blows until the Celts scored six points in a row to bring the score to 22-24. The Celts would score two serves later and take the first set 22-25.
 
However, it was time for the Tigers to dig in. The second set wasn't looking good when the Celts grabbed a 9-4 lead early. However, Julie Jenkins would sub in sophomore Jozie Dhayer (Houston, Texas / Summer Creek) and she would turn the set on its head. To begin, the two energizers for the Tigers, Dhayer and Brette Thornton (Rockwall, Texas / Rockwall), would combine to get the serve back to the Tigers. The Tigers would finally grab the lead when Reagan Whatley (The Woodlands, Texas / The Woodlands) stepped on the service line. Whatley would serve as the Tigers score five straight points to put them ahead 22-20. The set would need to go to extra points but back-to-back rockets by Whatley and Mackenzie Logan (Calgary, Canada / Bishop Carroll) would finish the set 26-24 and bring the game back to even.
 
The Tigers weren't done. They used their momentum to jump out the 10-5 lead in the third set. The Tiger offense was riveting, scoring from every part of the court. The Tigers would go up big when they saw the scoreboard read 18-10. The Tiger lead would never diminish, as Thornton would put the Celts away. Logan would take over in this set, collecting 8 total kills. The Tigers would win the third set 25-16 and look to end the game. 
 
The Tiger offense was locked in as they got the fourth set started going up 9-6. Then, Thornton and Pope would nab back-to-back blocks to give the Tigers their biggest lead of nine points. The Celts tried to mount a comeback by scoring three points in a row but Thornton would put a stop to it with a kill. A ball put down by a monster swing by Logan would put the Tigers up 24-18. As the last ball went over the net, it would be none other than Logan and Thornton to block the ball down for the Tiger win. 
 
Logan had an excellent game, setting a new career-high with 21 kills. Whatley would collect 11 kills of her own. The Tiger block would see themselves put 12 balls to the floor.
 
Game Two: Trinity 3, Southwestern 0
 
The first set was absolute domination by the Tigers. It would be close early, but the Tigers take the lead at 5-4 and never give it back. Trinity would go on big runs throughout the set, but made their best move at the end, scoring 7 of the last 8 points to win the set 25-12.
 
The Pirates took the first set to heart and played the Tigers much closer in set two. The squads would trade blows all the way to 14-14. Two kills put up by Logan and Connelley McWilliams (Austin, Texas / St. Michaels) would give the Tigers a two-point lead. The Tigers tried to pull away but the Pirates would score three points in a row late in the set to bring the score to 24 all. Logan and Thornton would come up clutch again, scoring the final two points to give the Tigers the set. 
 
Set three would be another close set. Pope would get the scoring started and Logan would add on. The Celts would grab a three-point lead and got comfortable, but the Tigers were ready to win.  The Tigers would absolutely explode with five points in a row to take the lead 10-8. The Tigers would try to pad the lead but the Pirates would close the gap. The Pirates would take a three-point lead 23-20, but they forgot that the Tigers have 99 clutch. The Tigers would score the next five points, led by Logan and finished off by a Nadia Kern (El Paso, Texas / Montwood) ace to give the Tigers the set 25-23 and the match. 
 
Logan would add 14 more kills during this match and Thornton would bring on 10 more. Kern would lead the way defensively with 14 digs and Marisa Amarino (Calabasas, California / Notre Dame Prep) would collect 26 assists. 
 
Up Next - Senior Day
 
The Tigers will conclude the Calgaard Crossover with a match against Texas Lutheran at 3:30 PM in Calgaard. The Tigers will honor their seniors and super seniors during this match.