Day one of the 2023 East-West Battle was exhilarating. The No. 6 Tigers would compete during every point in both of their matches. Some unique heroes, record breaking performances, and setting career bests were the main attractions for the Tigers today.
 
The No. 6 Tigers (4-2) would defeat Cal Lutheran University in a five set thriller. Then, the Tigers would go on to play in another five set match where they would eventually fall to the No. 17 ranked Tufts. 
 
Game One: Trinity 3, Cal Lutheran 2
 
Set one was a hard fought battle for the Tigers, with both teams trying to build their lead early. None could pull away until a 6-1 run by the Royals put them up 15-8 in the middle of the set. The Tigers clawed their way back with a couple of huge kills by freshman Courtney Pope (New Braunfels, Texas / Canyon) and brought the set to within two points, but another big run by the Royals led them to win the set 24-26. 
 
The second set saw much of the same as the first, both teams trading points and neither team gaining an edge. However, the Trinity veteran middle blocker put the team on her back. Fifth year Brette Thornton (Rockwall, Texas / Rockwall) came up huge for the Tigers, with three blocks and three kills in the set. She was slamming balls left and right. With her efforts, she helped the Tigers take the second set 25-19.
 
The third set was yet again another seesaw battle between the two teams. A small run by the Royals brought the score to 12-8 in the middle of set, the largest lead that either team would have in set three. With Reagan Whatley (The Woodlands, Texas / The Woodlands) and Courtney Pope rocketing multiple balls on the floor, then a kill and an ace by Thornton, the Tigers came back to tie it at 16 all. After another back and forth of points, a late 5-2 run by the Royals would give them the set by a score of 22-25. 
 
Set four started out with the two teams trading more blows, but then an unlikely duo took charge and the Tigers went to work. Just when the Tiger energizer bunny Brette Thornton started a hitting parade, fifth year Nadia Kern (El Paso, Texas, Montwood) wanted to get in on the action. Collecting three kills of her own, Kern helped lead the Tigers on a massive 7-2 run to close it out and the Tigers took the set 25-19. Thornton had another monster set, collecting five kills and two assisted blocks.
 
As the fifth and final set opened up, Head Coach Julie Jenkins got her team fired up. The Tigers continued their red hot hitting and opened up the set going up big with a 10-4 lead. The Royals tried to bring back even, but the Tigers were determined to come away with the victory. After kills by Maddie Fate (Croton on Hudson, New York / Croton Harmon) and Nadia Kern, the Tigers were up 14-12 and ready to put the game away. As the ball came over, Amarino set the ball up for Pope, and she put it down as the Tiger bench roared and the Tigers defeated the Royals in the fifth set, 15-12. 
 
Thornton and Kern had career games. Thornton set a career high in kills (17) and total blocks (10), beating her previous best games by seven kills and four blocks. With only 19 kills in her career, Kern set her career high in kills as well (12). Fate also had an impressive game, collecting 9 kills and Whatley collected 11. Sophomore setter Jozie Dhayer (Houston, Texas / Summer Creek) also set a career high in digs (19). Can't forget about Jenna Rodriguez (San Antonio, Texas / Antonian) either, she set the single game record for digs in a match with 39, breaking a 31 year old record. 
 
Game Two: Trinity 2, Tufts 3
 
As soon as the set started, the Tigers gave Tufts a taste of the same medicine that they handed to Cal Lutheran; a Nadia Kern kill. With a kill and a block from Thornton, the Tigers saw themselves up by three in the middle of the set. After fighting with the Jumbos for a few points, the Tigers were ready to put the set away. Led by fifth year setter Marisa Amarino (Calabasas, California / Notre Dame Prep), the Tigers finished up the match on a 7-4 swing to take the set 25-21.
 
The second set did not start well for the Tigers, as they went down 5-1 early. After clawing their way back to tie the game, the Tigers just could not grab the lead. The Jumbo took a comfortable lead after capitalizing on Tiger mistakes. The set would end with the Jumbo taking it 22-25
 
The Tigers would not let that set affect them, though, as they came out scorching hot in set three taking a commanding 8-3 lead. The Tigers took that lead and never looked back, going on an insane run, scoring 12 unanswered points. Capped off by some ferocious swings by Marissa Drange (Boerne, Texas / Champion), the Tigers would take the set 25-13. 

Set four of this battle would see these two ranked powerhouses trade blows, back and forth until the game was even at 15 a piece. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the Jumbo's 6-1 run would put them up big late in the set. Even though the Tigers fought tooth and nail to mount a comeback, the Jumbo would take the set 22-25. 
 
Set five of this match was an absolute thriller, the Tigers saw themselves down early 3-0, but Pope and Thornton were determined to not let this game slip away from the Tigers. Combining for 6 kills in the set, the Tigers went full speed ahead against the Jumbo. When the dust settled, Tufts would be able to hold on for the victory 13-15.
 
Kern, Thornton, and Pope would lead the way with 10 kills a piece. Fate would also have an impressive game, notching 9 kills and 4 blocks. 
 
Up Next
 
The Tigers conclude the 2023 East-West Battle Tournament when they face off against No. 2 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Saturday, September 9th at 1:30 PM. Then the Tigers return home to host the 2023 Trinity Fall Classic on Friday, September 15th and Saturday, September 16th.