ST. LOUIS - No. 5 Tiger Volleyball drops two matches at the East-West Battle in St. Louis
 
The Tigers (3-2) lost to both Johns Hopkins and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 3-1. Mackenzie Logan (Calgary, Canada / Bishop Carroll) led Trinity offensively with 22 total kills and Reagan Whatley (The Woodlands, Texas / The Woodlands) had 19. Jenna Rodriguez (San Antonio, Texas / Antonian) collected 30 digs while Jozie Dhayer (Houston, Texas / Summer Creek) led the team with 37 assists. The Tigers now hold a 1-2 record against Johns Hopkins and a 5-11 record against CMS. 
 
Game One - Tigers 1, Blue Jays 3
 
After going down 2-0, Mackenzie Logan got the Tigers started with a roll shot right down the middle. After back to back kills by Taylor Starr (Southlake, Texas / Carroll) and Courtney Pope (New Braunfels, Texas / Canyon), Johns Hopkins had two errors and brought the score to 6-8. After that, the Blue Jays stepped on the gas for a 6-3 run and grew their lead to six points. Johns Hopkins went on another big run and took set one 25-14.
 
Trinity got down in set two 3-6 but three kills in a row capped off by a setter dump by Kendall DeRivel (Westlake Village, California / Viewpoint) tied it up. Set two went back and forth, Hopkins scored five in a row, then Trinity fought back with a 7-4 run. With the score at a close 18-16, the Blue Jays hit on four straight points and were just three points away. The Blue Jays won set two, 25-19. 
 
The Tigers jumped out to a 6-4 lead in set three. Starr put down two balls in a row and was followed up by a kill from Reagan Whatley to take a 9-6 lead. TU made their biggest leap of the set when Whatley had her hand in three of four straight Trinity points. The score was 14-7 in favor of the Tigers. Whatley ended another three-point swing with a shot off the block that fell straight to the floor. With the score at 24-21, Fate made a diving save and Dhayer set the ball to the right side for Connelley McWilliams (Austin, Texas / St. Michael's). McWilliams set a rocket shot down the line for the set winning kill. Tigers win set three 25-21. 
 
It was a close battle early during set four. After being down 11-10, the Tigers made a crucial three point run highlighted by two service aces by Logan to swing the set to 13-11 in favor of the maroon and white. Unfortunately, Hopkins made a 9-2 run of their own and took a 20-15 lead. The Blue Jays took the set 25-19 and won the match 3-1. 
 
Game Two - Tigers 1, Athenas 3
 
Trinity got off to a slow start in the opening set, going down 9-1. Despite three mistakes by CMS, the Tigers were still down 20-7. The Athenas finished off the set with three points in a row to win 25-8. 
 
Looking for a faster start during set two, Trinity jumped out 2-0. However, CMS played good defense on their way to a 20-9 lead. The Tigers fought to build momentum into set three with a big kill by McWilliams, but the Athenas took set two 25-14. 
 
In set three, Trinity had an early 9-7 advantage. After a single Claremont point. Rodriguez was on the service line for four-straight Tiger points. Two big Trinity points later, the score was 19-15 for the good guys. Pope and Logan put in another pair of points and middle blocker added an ace to win set three for Trinity 25-21.
 
Trinity made it close and fought tooth and nail during the fourth set, but the Athenas won it 25-23 and took the match. 
 
Up Next
 
Trinity will play against WashU tomorrow at 10:30 AM.