San Antonio - The 11th-ranked Trinity University Volleyball sweeps Centre for the second time this season at the Calgaard Gymnasium.
 
The Tigers (13-3, 7-0 SAA) kept their undefeated conference streak alive with another balanced offensive performance. Reagan Whatley (The Woodlands, Texas / The Woodlands) led the team with 13 kills (.278 hitting percentage) while adding 11 digs and 1.5 blocks. Marissa Drange (Boerne, Texas / Boerne Champion) followed with 6 kills on 10 attempts (.500) and five digs. Courtney Pope (New Braunfels, Texas / Canyon) contributed 5 kills and 6 digs, while Connelley McWilliams (Austin, Texas / St. Michael's) matched her with 5 kills (.286) and 2 blocks. Taylor Starr (Southlake, Texas / Carroll) also chipped in 5 kills (.214) to round out a deep attack. Defensively, Lauren McCarthy (Corrales, N.M. / Horizon) posted 3.5 blocks, and Brynn Bishop (Indianola, Iowa / Indianola) added five digs off the bench.

As a team, the Tigers recorded 38 kills on a .245 hitting percentage, finishing with 44 digs, 12.5 total blocks, and 3 service aces, while holding their opponent to just a .082 attack percentage.

The Rundown
 
Trinity started well early into the first set finding themselves 3-0 after a brilliant kill from Whatley and two errors from Centre. The Colonels started to find their feet however and took the lead for the first time at 5-6. Centre continued their strong offensive performance and took a four point lead at 8-12. A prompt timeout from Head Coach Julie Jenkins meant the Tigers could regroup. A kill from Drange was followed by a block from Pope and Starr and the Tigers fought back to 11-12.  Centre made another charge after some back and forth play and took the lead at 16-20. A kill from Starr, a block from Drange, and a kill by Pope brought it to 19-21 setting up an exciting end to the first set. After the Tigers retook the lead it was levelled up at 25-25 but a determined block followed by clinical kill from McWilliams meant Tigers took an exciting first set 27-25.  
 
Consecutive blocks by Starr and a kill from Whatley early into the second set gave Trinity a commanding position at 6-2. The Colonels made an impressive fightback to level the set at 8-8, however consistent pressure from the Tigers led to opposing mistakes and a subsequent 14-9 lead going into the first timeout called by Centre. A McCarthy kill and Whatley block meant Trinity continued to hold a lead going into their first timeout at 18-15. McCarthy showed all sides of her game producing a block, hammering home a kill and then a service ace to take the score to 22-18. A final dominant by Starr capped off a more routine set for Trinity finishing 25-19 and giving them a 2-0 lead. 
 
An impressive dig by Bishop was followed by a powerful kill from Whatley, giving the Tigers a lead once again to open the set. Trinity and Centre began to trade points with the scores reaching 10-10 in the third set. Nevertheless, the Tigers continued to show impressive offense, with kills from Starr, Whatley and Drange resulting in Centre calling a timeout at 16-12. Despite a more impressive performance from The Colonels, a diving dig from Whatley and subsequent block by Drange and Starr meant they took a 20-16 lead. An ace from Jozie Dhayer (Houston, Texas / Summer Creek) and then from Bishop made the match all but assured, with Pope earning the final point with a clever tip to take the match. 
 
Looking ahead
 
The Tigers conclude their weekend of SAA play against Sewanee on Sunday at 12pm, tomorrow afternoon, attempting to keep a perfect SAA record.