TCA volleyball off to 5-0 start

Michael Odom
JacksonTN-Unknown

HENDERSON – Success is familiar to the Trinity Christian Academy volleyball team. The Lady Lions have made seven straight trips to the Class A state tournament with a runner-up finish in 2014.

But last year’s TCA team was new to the court, and that group had to bond and grow as a team to make that seventh straight trip to the state tournament happen.

The 2016 Lady Lions look to be back to a top-level team as they knocked off Chester County in four sets – 25-14, 25-20, 24-26, 25-20 – on Thursday for a fifth straight win to open the season.

“We are still a young team, but we have a great energy on the floor,” TCA coach Kelly Elliott said. “This group enjoys playing together, and we have a balanced attack. Last year, we struggled offensively at times. Now we trying to pair our offense with our defense.”

TCA (5-0) used its many weapons in attack to keep the Chester County defense on its heels.

Six Lady Lion attackers had more than three kills, led by Anna Elliott and Maggie Brooks with 10 each.

“Team can’t focus on one or two players on attack,” Kelly Elliott said. “We have players that are capable.”

But to make that attack go, TCA has two quality setters who know the rotation and which one is responsible for the set at what point. Lauren Petty finished with 18 assists, while Brooks added 11.

“All of us have a good chemistry on and off the court,” Petty said. “We encourage each other.

“We have been blessed with an experienced group of girls this year. Some went and played travel ball for the first time, and they are all getting in and getting kills.”

Last year’s TCA team had to rally from a 2-0 deficit at Halls in the Class A sectionals to make the state tournament, but the team has taken the lessons learned and tried to apply them to this season.

Chester County had a few communication errors and serves into the net that gave away points, but the Eaglettes are in a position like TCA was last year, trying to learn starting roles quickly.

But in the third set, Chester County started to put things together, and with three straight service points by Allie Humphry, the Eaglettes were back in the match with a 26-24 win in the third set.

“We try not to worry about their side of the net and worry about us,” Petty said.

But TCA went back to its strong offensive attack in the fourth set to finish off the win.

“This group is getting used to each other and playing together,” Kelly Elliott said. “We are learning to push back. When someone takes over, we have to learn to not be on our heels. We have to work to be in control of the match.

Chester County was led in attack by Paige Pipkin with nine kills and Baylee Smith with eight. Peyton Davidson had 10 assists followed by Allie Humphry with seven.

Michael Odom, 425-9754