(Story courtesy of Trinity University Athletics)
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The seventh-ranked Tiger volleyball team clinched the Regional Championship with a 3-0 win over Marymount (VA) University on Sunday afternoon.
Trinity jumped in front by scoring five of the first six points in the opening set and never looked back. Marymount never got closer than a three-point deficit after that, and the Tigers scored nine of the final 12 points to clinch the 1-0 match lead.
The second set was more of the same for the Tiger team, which jumped out to an early 10-2 lead. Marymount scored three straight to attempt a comeback, but Trinity scored six of the next eight to take a 16-7 lead. The Tigers closed by scoring the final seven points of the game to take a 2-0 lead.
Trinity trailed for the first time in the match early in the third set, but the Tigers still enjoyed another quick start with a 12-5 lead. That lead slowly built to double figures at 20-10, then the teams traded points down the stretch, and the Tigers finished off the sweep.
Trinity improves to 36-4 this season with its 22nd consecutive victory, finishing the weekend with a 9-1 game record at the Newport News Regional.
This marks the first time the Tigers have won the Regional Championship since 2009, and it will the sixth overall NCAA Quarterfinals appearance for the program.
Avery Tuggle was named the Regional Tournament Most Valuable Player after leading the team with 16 digs, two service aces, and three blocks in today's match. She also added nine kills and a .444 hitting percentage to her stat line.
Annie Rose Leggett also earned All-Tournament honors with a double-double of a team-leading 10 kills and 10 digs, hitting .321 for the Tigers.
Emily Ellis was the final All-Tournament honoree for Trinity, posting seven kills and a team-leading three blocks, and also sporting a .538 hitting percentage.
Emma Funk tied Ellis and Tuggle for the team lead with three blocks, as well as hitting .500 and recording six kills in the win.
Marisa Amarino led the team with 17 assists and seven digs, while Lexie Acevedo scored 12 assists and nine digs on the day.
Trinity will travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the NCAA Division III Championships round Thursday through Saturday, November 21-23. Matchups are to be determined as the field will be re-seeded heading into Thursday's NCAA Quarterfinals.