Trinity volleyball plays well at MISD tournament

Trinity, a bi-district volleyball team in 2014, is off to a good start this season – performing well at the Mansfield ISD Sunrise Rotary Tournament Aug. 13-15.

The Lady Trojans (7-2) went 1-2 to begin the tournament Aug. 13, but finished with five straight wins.

They started off shaky, losing to Midland – a 30-win team last season – 21-25, 18-25, and to Keller Fossil Ridge 21-25, 25-23, 14-25.

They defeated Arlington Seguin 25-8, 25-12 at Mansfield Legacy in between.

“I liked the three-day tournament format because it gave our team a chance to assess the different things we did well and the things we needed to work on,” junior setter Elli Merchant said. “It was a good season starter to allow us to see the different things we need to work on in practice.”

Entering play Friday, the Lady Trojans dominated from start to finish, defeating Crowley (25-9, 25-13), Dallas Bryan Adams (25-9, 25-5) and Dumas (25-21, 21-25, 25-16), all at Mansfield.

Saturday was no different, as Trinity finished the tournament strong with victories over Maypearl and Hereford.

“This is definitely one of the most fun teams I have ever been on,” fellow junior setter Margaret Dean said. “We all get each other and can be ourselves. I think you can really see that on and off the court. We really are a family.”

They were one of 32 teams competing.

“We have a team who is willing to work as hard as it takes to achieve a common goal,” Dean said.

Along the way, Trinity succeeded thanks to five seniors, and Dean and Merchant, both of whom earned second-team all-district honors last season.

Both setters talked about what stood out during the tournament.

“The one moment that stands out to me the most is when our Zoe Howard (senior outside hitter) got set and the whole bench yelled line and she heard us, swung line, and got the kill,” Merchant said.

“Watching our freshman, Hannah Zuege, feel more comfortable at the varsity level. She was a difference-maker in several critical moments throughout the weekend,” Dean added.

Coach Mia Langi and the Lady Trojans opened up the regular season with a sweep over Duncanville, 25-16, 25-11, 25-14 on Aug. 11.

“So far I feel like we are communicating very well and the thing that is so different from last season is that we are all leaders. There isn’t one girl that consistently leads the team, but we each have our moments when we lead each other,” Merchant said. “We really seem to feed off of each other’s words and excitement which will really help us as the season progresses.”

Next up for Trinity is the Granbury Tourney Aug. 20-22. The Lady Trojans will also host Granbury and compete in their own Double T Tournament Aug. 28 and 29. They begin District 7-6A play Sept. 15 against L.D. Bell.

They also played Saginaw Boswell on Monday.

This story was originally published August 17, 2015 at 8:47 PM with the headline "Trinity volleyball plays well at MISD tournament."