(Story Courtesy of Trinity University Sports Information Department)
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - No. 2 Trinity University Volleyball stumbled in its NCAA III Championship quarterfinal Thursday night in a five-set drama with No. 5 Calvin University (MI). The event held on the campus of Washington University (MO) marked the conclusion of the 2021 campaign.
The Tigers (34-3, 16-0 SCAC) went to a fifth set for just the fifth time this season, and rallied after dropping just their sixth first set of the year as well before ultimately ceding the match to the Knights, 25-20, 19-25, 18-25, 25-19, 15-10. Trinity's two set victories came with notably-better hitting percentages as the second and third frames combined for a .312 attack rate compared to a .160 mark elsewhere.
Senior outside hitter Annie Rose Leggett collected a trio of service aces in the match to set Trinity's new program mark at 252 career aces. The first-team AVCA All-American also came one kill shy of a double-double with 10 digs.
Seniors rightside hitter Sara Flynn, outside hitter Avery Tuggle and middle blocker Emily Ellis all tied with 13 total points apiece to lead the Tigers scoring. Flynn, the All-America honorable mention, lead the way with four blocks and tied Tuggle with 11 kills while Ellis scored in all three phases with a team-high three aces, three blocks and eight kills.
The Rundown
Slow starts ultimately did the Tigers in Thursday night as they trailed by five or more points in the early going in three frames including the first and fifth that were left for Calvin. The first set even featured a late 9-1 rally for Trinity to briefly gain a 20-19 advantage before a 6-0 Knights run undid that effort.
Seemingly unphased, Trinity unloaded a signature second set on the attack, posting a team rate over .330 coupled with career service aces 250 and 251 from Leggett en route to the 25-19 tally. By that point, Flynn had taken command of the Tiger offense with eight of her 11 kills. Between the second and third frames, Ellis amassed six of her kills and two of her aces without a recorded error.
The tide began to shift away from the Tigers as they returned to a trail position in the fourth and slipped into 6-2 skid for Calvin late en route to the 25-19 mark in the final full set. The key indicator of hitting percentage returned as Trinity dipped below the .200 mark.
Another tough start for Trinity came in the clincher, falling behind as far as 7-1 in favor of the Knights. In what may foreshadow the next cycle for the Tigers, junior middle blocker Brette Thornton stormed onto the court with back-to-back kills which triggered not only a Calvin timeout while holding an advantage, but also a burst for Trinity into just a two-point deficit at 9-7, Calvin. The margin held, however, and eventually expanded to the 15-10 fifth set finale.
Notables...
A season for the record books concluded for No. 2 Trinity Volleyball Thursday night in the Gateway City. The Tigers:
Logged their first undefeated season in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play since the 2007 campaign, and the 14th overall since 1991.
Defeated 10 opponents ranked nationally by the American Volleyball Coaches Association at the time of competition, going 10-2 overall in such matchups in 2021.
Entered the NCAA III Championship in St. Louis leading NCAA III in team hitting percentage, team kills, total blocks and blocks per set, all while playing one of the toughest schedules overall in the nation.
Collected the 20th SCAC Championship in program history, all under the direction of Head Coach Julie Jenkins.
Earned Coach Jenkins her milestone 1,000th career victory, seventh NCAA III Regional title and 18th 30-win season at the helm. Jenkins's career total stands at 1,019 victories, including a 37-26 record at Trinity in the NCAA III postseason.
Placed two players on the AVCA All-American First Team for the first time since 2003, and third time in program history.
Turn The Page
No. 2 Trinity Volleyball concluded the 2021 campaign Thursday night with an overall record of 34-3, the third time the Tigers have lost just three matches in a full season under Coach Jenkins's command (2007, 1999), and 16-0 in regular-season SCAC play.
