SAN ANTONIO – No. 8 Trinity volleyball put on a statement performance at home, sweeping Southwestern 3-0 to clinch the SAA Regular Season Championship and secure the top seed heading into the conference tournament.

Trinity displayed its composure on the big occasions with a 3-0 sweep over Southwestern, powered by another standout outing from Reagan Whatley (The Woodlands, Texas / The Woodlands), who tallied 12 kills, 3 aces, 3 blocks, and 12 digs for 16.5 points. Courtney Pope (New Braunfels, Texas / Canyon) followed with 9 kills and 10.5 points, providing a steady offensive spark throughout the match. Lauren McCarthy (Corrales, NM / Horizon) continued her efficient form, recording 7 kills on a .412 hitting percentage and adding 4 blocks. Taylor Starr (Southlake, Texas / Carroll) added 3 kills and 6 blocks, contributing on both sides of the court with energy and consistency. Marissa Drange (Boerne, Texas / Boerne Champion) rounded out the group with 5 kills and a block for 5.5 points, reinforcing Trinity's control as the Tigers secured the SAA regular-season title.

Trinity outperformed Southwestern across every category, finishing with 57 total points, 40 kills, and 38 assists compared to the Pirates' 43 points and 32 kills. The Tigers also led defensively with 55 digs and 10 blocks, reinforcing their dominance on both sides of the net.

The Rundown
Trinity overcame an early 3–0 deficit to take control of a back-and-forth opening set defined by long rallies and momentum swings. After a slow start, Jozie Dhayer (Houston, Texas / Summer Creek) provided a lift with a sharp kill and a service ace to even the score at 6–6. From there, the set became a tight exchange, with both sides trading points and neither leading by more than two. Pope delivered multiple well-timed kills to keep Trinity level, while Southwestern's attack faltered under pressure, committing several key errors that allowed the Tigers to stay within striking distance. The game remained tense, but Whatley came through with two crucial kills to put Trinity ahead 21–20. The Pirates refused to back down, rallying late to tie the set at 23–23 and showcasing the competitive nature of the matchup. Still, the Tigers' offense was unmatched, and Pope delivered a clutch, powerful kill to reclaim the lead. McCarthy finished the job with another emphatic strike at the net, securing a hard-fought 25–23 victory to open the match.

Trinity carried its momentum into the second set, starting strong with early kills from Starr and McCarthy to grab a 5–3 advantage. Whatley then caught fire from the service line, delivering back-to-back aces and helping extend the lead to 7–3 as the Tigers took control. Southwestern battled back with a string of kills and a service ace to level things at 9–9, eventually pulling ahead briefly. Trinity responded with poise, as Whatley and Starr each delivered crucial kills to halt the run and bring the score even again at 12–12, reasserting the Tigers' momentum and keeping the set finely balanced. From there, Jenna Rodriguez (San Antonio, Texas / Antonian) took control at the service line, delivering a sharp run of serves that fueled a 4–0 burst and pushed Trinity ahead 16–12. Southwestern closed the gap again, but McCarthy's quick kill through the middle steadied Trinity before Whatley and Pope combined for key points to reach 20–16. The Pirates fought back to tie things at 21–21, but Trinity's determination shone through. Connelley McWilliams (Austin, Texas / St. Michael's) and Starr powered down consecutive kills to reclaim the lead, and Drange followed with a composed finish to bring up set point. Annabelle Lanik (Sugar Land, Texas / St. John's) then sealed the frame with a pinpoint service ace, closing out a 25–22 win and giving Trinity a commanding 2–0 match lead.

Trinity came out firing in the third set and never looked back, opening with six straight points behind sharp execution from Kendall DeRivel (Westlake Village, Calif. / Viewpoint), whose strong serving and precise setting set the tone early. Pope and Starr combined for an opening block that energized the Tigers and the home crowd, followed by Whatley hammering down back-to-back kills to cap the run and give Trinity a commanding 6–0 start. Southwestern finally found rhythm, earning the next five points to stay within reach at 6–5, but Whatley, Drange, and Pope powered home three consecutive kills to push the lead back to 9–5 and reassert Trinity's control. A well-struck service ace from Lanik extended the lead to 14–10 before Trinity's block began to dominate. Starr came up huge at the net, recording back-to-back blocks alongside McWilliams, then adding two more with help from Whatley and Pope, pushing the lead to 17–11 as the Tigers' front line completely shut down Southwestern's attack. The pressure resumed from the offensive line, with Whatley delivering a kill and an ace while Drange added two emphatic finishes, extending the advantage to 24–14 and putting the sweep beyond doubt. A final block from Starr and Drange sealed the deal at 25–15, completing the sweep in dominant fashion and capping Trinity's regular-season title run with authority.

Up Next
The Tigers will return to the Calgaard Gymnasium tomorrow, closing out the weekend with Hardin Simmons at 3 PM on Saturday. After the game, the 4 Tiger seniors will be honored for Senior Night.