The Trenton Lady Bulldog varsity volleyball team, as has been the case for many years, schedules some of its toughest opponents toward the end of the regular season in mid-October. This week has seen the competition level ramp up for Trenton, with the Bulldogs falling in straight sets at Lexington on Monday night, followed by a home rout at the hands of Bishop LeBlond on Tuesday night. Next week, in a final tune-up before district play at LeBlond, Trenton will play two teams well above the .500 mark in Savannah and St. Joseph Christian.
The trip to Lexington High School was the more competitive of the two matches this week, with THS falling to the Minutewomen 25-18, 25-12, 25-19. Ava Simpson had 15 assists and Ally Yoder 12 digs for Trenton, while Lilly Berti added five kills and Saige Gott two aces and three kills. Yoder had five digs on the defensive end for Trenton.
Coach Brad Ewald called the loss “the same story on repeat” for the Lady Bulldogs, saying the team has moments were they better than they have ever been, but then “slump for 6 to 8 points”, describing the ability to conquer that inconsistency as a “mental barrier” the program needs to get through to improve.
The Trenton JV lost to Lexington 25-13, 25-22.
On Tuesday night, LeBlond blitzed Trenton in the THS gym, winning 25-2, 25-6, 25-8. Makenzee Epperson had two kills and seven digs, with Zoie McGowan adding nine digs and Ava Simpson three assists. Coach Ewald was direct in his praise of the Golden Eagles, saying that Trenton doesn’t play teams “of that caliber too often”. He did add that THS got better each set, and the team is hopeful they got better by playing such a tough opponent.
The LeBlond JV won 25-3, 25-5, with the Golden Eagles C team winning at THS, 25-3, 25-9.
Trenton’s volleyball team will be in Class 2, District 16 for postseason play later this month. The good news for the Lady Bulldogs is they have a #2 seed, and historically, good success against #3 seed South Harrison, #4 seed Brookfield, and #5 seed Penney. Unfortunately for the four teams mentioned, the #1 seed in the tournament is the powerhouse from Bishop LeBlond, with the Golden Eagles also hosting the event at the Grace Gymnasium in St. Joseph.
In first round action on Thursday night, October 21st, Brookfield and Penney will duel at 6 o’clock, with the winner earning a spot in the semifinal round on the afternoon of Saturday, October 23rd, taking on the host Bishop LeBlond at 3 o’clock. In the 4:30 semifinal that afternoon, Trenton will play South Harrison.
The semifinal winners play in the Class 2, District 16 championship match on Monday night, October 25th at 6 o’clock in the evening.
