Trinity Lutheran won its 12th consecutive girls volleyball sectional title Saturday at Hauser.
Ted Schultz | The Republic
HOPE — After winning its first Class A state championship last season, some may have expected the Trinity Lutheran volleyball program to come crashing back to earth this fall.
But even though the lost five seniors including four four-year starters, the Cougars have been ranked No. 1 in Class A again all season. Saturday night, they captured their 12th consecutive sectional title with a 25-20, 25-16, 25-12 sweep of Rising Sun at Hauser.
“I think everyone at the beginning of the season was getting a little discouraged and frustrated hearing, ‘Well, what are you going to do without your big five? What are you going to do now that you lost your five seniors?’ and I think that just drove us harder that much more, and we all stepped up and really fought for it,” junior Presley Meyer said.
Meyer and senior Maddie Adams were part of Trinity’s second unit last season that practiced against the varsity.
“Last year, we had our practice team, and this is our practice team that made (last year’s varsity) good, Adams said. “This is our practice team (from last year) that’s playing right now that beat our state team in practices. So now, we’re just shining through and showing that we are good enough to go back to state.”
The Cougars (19-11) took the first steps toward defending that state title this week with three three-set wins in the sectional. Saturday, they beat Oldenburg Academy 25-8, 25-17, 25-17 in the semifinals, then toppled Rising Sun 25-20, 25-16, 25-12 in the final.
“I thought tonight, we played well,” Adams said. “We battled hard. We have a couple girls out right now, and we’re trying our best to figure out everything. But I thought today went pretty well. We did what we came to do, and we’re going to strive to return as state champions again.”
Rising Sun led 13-12 in the first set before Trinity took control. After cruising in the second set, the Cougars led from start-to-finish in the third, stretching a 15-9 lead to 24-10 behind the serving of Meyer and Emmy Price and ending it on Rachel Bonde’s 17th kill.
“Overall, I think we have a lot of energy, and we brought it, and we had fun,” Rachel Bonde said.
“We came in and took care of business, and we’re hoping to continue,” added senior Bailey Bonde, who pounded nine kills.
Bella Wehmiller recorded 20 assists, Rachel Bonde had four blocks, Price notched nine digs and Meyer served six aces to lead Trinity. Price tallied nine kills, Meyer posted 12 assists and seven digs, Emerson Warren had two blocks, Wehmiller added six digs and Rachel Bonde and Adams each served two aces.
“I think everyone that came in adjusted really well, considering we do have people injured,” Meyer said. “I think what helps it a lot is, we all want it really, really bad.”
Wehmiller returned from an injury Saturday. But the Cougars are missing junior Zoey Dulaney, who is out for the season while recovering from a health scare.
“We’ve gone through a lot of adversity and had to have some people step up,” Trinity coach Janet VanLiew said. “I can’t say enough good things about Presley Meyer and what she has done stepping in. We have some players out, and our setter just came back today. She’s been out a few weeks, so it’s been a challenge the last two weeks.”
The Cougars will play North Decatur at 1 p.m. Saturday in a regional final at Morristown.
“I think a lot of people are probably surprised, but I’m not,” VanLiew said. “I told this group last year in July that this group that I knew was going to be my JV team last year could win a state championship, also, and I truly believe that. It’s a a very different group. Now, I didn’t count on all the adversity we’ve had the last two weeks, but I truly believe this group is capable of leading us.”
