(Story courtesy of Trinity University Athletics Communications)
ATLANTA, Ga. -- No. 16 Tiger Volleyball falls to No. 6 Emory in regional final of NCAA Playoffs.
The Tigers lost in the third round of the NCAA Playoffs to host institution Emory University 3-1. Courtney Pope led Trinity offensively with 11 kills. Maddie Fate and Reagan Whatley were both right behind Pope with 10 kills apiece. Jenna Rodriguez was the top defender today as she collected 24 digs while Annabelle Lanik tallied 14 digs of her own. The setting duo of Jozie Dhayer and Kendall DeRivel combined for 43 assists, Dhayer with 22 and DeRivel with 21. With their performances, Fate and Rodriguez were named to the Atlanta Regional All-Tournament Team.
The Rundown
The match began with both teams trading big runs. Emory opened with a 4-1 run, but Trinity answered with four consecutive points to take a 5-4 lead. The Eagles responded with a 4-0 run of their own, reclaiming the lead at 8-5. The teams continued trading runs, but Emory maintained control, scoring two points for nearly every one from Trinity. A late 3-0 run extended Emory's lead to seven and then the Eagles secured the first set 25-20 later.
Set two featured a back-and-forth battle early on, with Trinity edging ahead 9-8 after a small run. Emory responded with four straight points to regain a three-point advantage. However, a key kill by Connelley McWilliams sparked a 5-1 Tiger rally, giving Trinity a 15-14 lead. Despite a brief setback from an attack error, Trinity surged ahead with a 4-1 run, capped off by Fate's decisive swing to seal a 25-22 set victory.
Riding the momentum, the Tigers started set three strong, jumping out to a 7-3 lead. Emory, however, countered with a dominant 9-2 run to regain control. The Eagles finished the set with a commanding 7-0 run, taking it 25-17. Set four followed a similar pattern, with both teams trading points early. A crucial mid-set run gave Emory the edge they needed to close out the set 25-21, winning the match 3-1.
The Tigers end their season with a 26-6 overall record, including a 13-1 record in SCAC play. Their impressive campaign featured an SCAC Regular Season Championship, an SCAC Tournament Championship, six All-SCAC selections, SCAC Player of the Year, SCAC Freshman of the Year, SCAC Coaching Staff of the Year, and four All-Region honors, with additional awards yet to be announced. Trinity's NCAA Playoff record now stands at 47-29, and they are 12-16 all-time against Emory University.
