(Story courtesy of Trinity University Athletics Communications)

ATLANTA, Ga. --  In the first ever meeting between the two teams, Trinity got the better of Southern Virginia University to move on to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. In their 30th playoff appearance, the Tigers won all three sets to move to 46-28 all-time in the national tournament.    

Fresh off winning their 22nd Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship last weekend, Trinity (25-6) continued its good form with a dominant performance from start to finish. Fifth-year senior Mackenzie Logan led the team offensively with 15 kills – including a .323 hitting percentage – and added four service aces, while Reagan Whatley added eight kills of her own. Kendall DeRivel also had four aces and led both teams with an impressive 21 assists. Jozie Dhayer also added 11 assists. The Tigers were also resilient on the defensive end of the game, with Jenna Rodriguez recording a match-high 19 digs and Taylor Starr, staying dominant at the net with four blocks. The team had 13 total aces, the most in a three-set match this season for the Tigers. 

The Rundown

Trinity got off to a flying start, winning the first set by a convincing 25-13 score. The Tigers jumped out to an early 13-5 lead that was highlighted by three consecutive aces by Logan. She also accounted for seven of Trinity's 14 kills in the set. The Knights struggled to get any momentum going early on, with Trinity's relentless pressure limiting them to scoring consecutively just twice.

After losing the second set in their previous two matches, the Tigers were keen to get the 2-0 lead and win the match as quickly as possible, with potential latter rounds on the horizon. After Trinity raced out to a 14-6 lead, the Knights started to get into the swing of things, scoring eight of 11 points to cut the lead to just two at one point. Maddie Fate came up clutch for her team with two consecutive kills, leading to four set points and ultimately a 25-21 set in favor of the Tigers.  

The third set was fiercely competitive throughout, with multiple lead changes and long runs from both teams. Trinity looked like they were going to complete the sweep with ease, after five different Tigers combined for seven kills to give them a 14-7 lead. From there the Knights started to play some of their best volleyball of the day, determined to take the game to a fourth set. With their season on the line, Southern Virginia took the lead in a set for just the second time all day, with a five-point run that made the score 18-17 in their favor. As often in this case in the NCAA Tournament, the game started to go back and forth with intense defensive play from both teams. Two more kills from Logan got Trinity back in the driver's seat before the teams started to exchange points, leaving the set tied at 22-22. An attacking error and an eighth kill from Whatley, gave the Tigers two match points at 24-22, and it was only fitting that Logan rounded off her fantastic performance with the match-clinching kill to send her team into tomorrow's second round. 

Up Next

The Tigers will now face Berry College (GA) in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament tomorrow, Friday November 22nd, at 4:30pm (ET) at Emory University, with a place in the Regional Final on the line.