Varsity Volleyball Advances to Region Semifinal
Textbook teamwork led to victory Tuesday night as the Trinity Christian Academy Conquerors Varsity Volleyball defeated the Seminoles of Florida State University High School in the Class 3A, Region 1 quarterfinal. The Conquerors started strong in each of the first 2 sets and faced a major challenge in only the 3rd in winning the match in 3 sets by scores of 25-10, 25-16, and 29-27 and advancing to the Region 1 Semifinal next week.
Incredible Set 3: TCA 29, FSU High 27
Set 3 saw the Seminoles start hot and score 5 of the first 6 points. Trinity battled back to tie the score at 7-7, and the set went back and forth from that point on. The Conquerors never trailed again, but each time they started to pull away, the Seminoles would come right back. Trinity’s biggest lead was 4 at 16-12, 18-14, and 20-16.
With only 2 points left to secure the match, the Conquerors saw their lead slip away as FSU High scored 2 in a row to tie the score at 23-23. The teams traded points for the next 8 serves. Trinity took the lead each time after a tie, but the Seminoles got the equalizer each time until the score was 27-27.
The Conquerors finally put the game away with the next 2 points to take the lead at 28-27 and earn the hard-fought Set 3 win at 29-27.
Set 1: TCA 25, FSU High 10
Sets 1 and 2 came more easily for the Conquerors. After FSU High scored the first 3 points of the night, TCA scored 5 in a row and eventually built a 12-5 lead. From that point on, it was all Conquerors. At various points, Trinity led 15-8, 18-9, and 21-9 before scoring 4 of the next 5 points to win the set 25-10.
Set 2: TCA 25, FSU High 16
Set 2 started in similar fashion with the Seminoles scoring 4 of the first 6 points to take an early lead. Trinity then scored 8 in a row before FSU High pulled back to within 2 at 10-8. Trinity, though, never relinquished the lead and built the margin to 7 at 18-11 and 20-13. After FSU High scored 2 more to get to 20-15, the Conquerors scored 5 of 6 to finish the set and take a commanding 2-0 lead in set play.
TCA Statistics
Amaria King ked the Conquerors with 17 kills, and 5 teammates combined for 19 more.
FSU High received serves well, holding Trinity to 6 aces; Sheridan Beck had 3 of those aces.
King (19) and Ally Carter (14) combined for 33 digs, and Alyssa Crews (8) led 5 more teammates with 25 additional digs to keep balls alive and help the Conquerors’ points.
Coach’s Thoughts
Head coach Crystal Dow expressed her joy in the win, not only for herself, but especially for her players. “I am so proud of this team and how they are working to make all of these statement wins!. We have to stay humble and hungry and keep going.”
Next Up
The Conquerors (20-9) will keep going when they take their #4 seeding to Pensacola to face top-seeded Pensacola Catholic School (26-1) on Tuesday, November 2. Game time is at 7:00 p.m. EDT (6:00 p.m. CDT).
Pensacola Catholic defeated Episcopal in straight sets 25-9, 14, and 15 Tuesday night.
Should the Conquerors win, they will play in the region final on November 6 against either Winter Haven’s Trinity Prep (#6 seed, 18-10) at home or Ocala’s Trinity Catholic (#2, 22-4) in Ocala.
Photos by: Steve Meadows
Raymond Bureau | October, 2021