Trinity volleyball in good shape for playoff spot

The Trinity volleyball team split its last two home games, taking a match in four sets over Richland (25-17, 22-25, 25-18, 25-13) before dropping a three-setter (25-12, 25-12, 25-17) to Southlake Carroll, the No. 1 ranked Class 6A volleyball team in the state according to the Texas Girls Coaches Association. The Lady Trojans (25-12, 5-4 District 7-6A) are still in a good postseason position, though, sitting fourth in the district standings with just three regular season games left on the schedule.

A 6-6 run through the district slate would probably get the Lady Trojans into the postseason for a fourth consecutive season. Trinity has advanced to the playoffs and lost its bi-district matchup in each of the last three years.

Junior setter Margaret Dean nearly broke through with a triple-double in the win over Richland, leading Trinity in kills (9) and assists (33), while totaling 22 digs on defense as well. Libero Amanda McDowell led the defense with 32 digs in the win.

Against Carroll, though, the Lady Trojan attack couldn’t get through the Lady Dragons’ block and defense in the back. Abby Morphew led Trinity with six kills in the loss, while Elli Merchant had three blocks and Dean had 17 assists.

Trinity will host Colleyville Heritage before traveling to Coppell on Friday and Haltom next week to finish the season. The first time through the district schedule, Trinity lost to Heritage and Coppell, ranked 13th in Class 6A, and beat Haltom in three sets.

▪  L.D. Bell (14-23, 2-7) played just one match last week, dropping Friday’s three-setter (26-28, 24-26, 21-25) at Colleyville Heritage. Outside hitter Allison Barton led the Lady Blue Raiders with 10 kills in the loss, while setter Sophie Rodgers notched 32 assists.

Libero Bella Burns led the Bell defense with 22 digs.

Bell finishes the season with matches at Coppell and at home against Haltom on Friday before closing out the season at Richland next week.

This story was originally published October 19, 2015 at 10:22 AM with the headline "Trinity volleyball in good shape for playoff spot."