COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- In a battle of the nation's top two teams, top-ranked Colorado College fought back from a early 1-0 deficit to take the next three sets and defeat second-ranked Trinity University, 3-1, in the championship match of the 2020-21 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament. Official Championships Website | Postgame Interview (Players) | Postgame Interview (Rick Swan)
The match lived up to the hype, especially during the monumental and pivotal third set when Colorado College eventually pulled out a 30-28 victory. The third set featured 14 ties and three lead changes and catapulted the CC Tigers to an eventual victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In the opening set and with the score even at 8, Trinity scored four straight points to move out to a 12-8 lead and did not trail again en route to the 25-22 victory. TU's Avery Tuggle had four of her team-high 11 kills in the opening set.
- CC bounced back big to even the match at 1-1 after a 25-21 second set victory. CC hit .414 in the set, which included Isabella Vasquez posting five kills on six swings to aid the effort.
- The third set proved to be the pivotal set of the match, and CC outhit Trinity .356 to .233, which included eight kills from Allie Freeburg, to take the 2-1 lead. The third set was the highest scoring championship set in league history (dating back to 2007 and the 25-point set era).
- CC took the first two points of the fourth set, opened up an 8-2 lead and never trailed in closing out Trinity, 25-19.
COLORADO COLLEGE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Allie Freeburg: 19 kills, .424 hitting percentage, 12 digs
- Georgia Mullins: 15 kills, .345 hitting percentage, 3 block assists
- Isabella Lipacis: 15 kills, 15 digs
- Isabella Vasquez: 13 kills, 9 digs, 2 block assists
- Isa Aragon-Menzel: 53 assists, 14 digs, 2 block assists
TRINITY UNIVERSITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Avery Tuggle: 11 kills, 6 digs, 3 blocks assists
- Emma Funk: 8 kills, .294 hitting percentage, 6 block assists
- Emily Ellis: 8 kills, 6 block assists
- Lexie Acevedo: 17 assists, 12 digs
- Annie Rose Leggett: 6 kills, 2 service aces, 11 digs, 2 blocks assists
NOTABLES
- Saturday's championship was the fifth time the two conference and national powers had met for the conference crown. CC is now 4-1 in those meetings.
- This year's meeting was a reversal of last year's championship match when CC won the first set only to have Trinity come back and win the next three.
- The title is the sixth for the CC volleyball program, the second most behind Trinity's 12.
- The All-Tournament Team was announced following the championship match. The team included Emma White of Southwestern, Mari Prazak of Austin College, Lexie Acevedo of Trinity, Emma Funk of Trinity, Georgia Mullins of Colorado College, Allie Freeburg of Colorado College and Isabelle Aragon-Menzel of Colorado College. Aragon-Menzel of CC was named the 2020-21 Tournament MVP. The SCAC Setter of the Year posted her 12th double-double of the year.
UP NEXT
Colorado College ends its season with a perfect 17-0 mark. The Tigers will finish the 2020-21 season as the No. 1 team in the nation. Trinity University ends the season with a 13-3 record, with all three losses having come at the hands of CC.
