The 2007 volleyball season came to an end for the Lady Trojans this past weekend but not before a highly impressive performance at the Region IX Tournament.
Three weeks ago the young Lady Trojans were just hoping to climb out of the cellar of the region as the tournament approached. Wins against McCook and Lamar propelled them into a fourth place seed at the tournament where they hosted Lamar Community College in the first round.
Trinidad looked shaky in the contest dropping the first two sets 30-27 and 30-18. Trinidad jumped out to a fast start in the third set taking an early 7-2 lead. A good serving run by sophomore Tiffany Hardy sealed the Trojan win as they pulled it out 30-27. Lamar would pull out the win in the fourth match however, winning 30-28, to send the Trojans into the losers bracket. In the match setter Lauren Boehmer had 15 service points to lead the team.
On Saturday the Trojans faced off with rival Otero in an elimination match. The third seeded Rattlers were no match for the Trojans early as Trinidad came out on fire. Trinidad’s middle hitters Ashley DiPaola and Amanda Gardner overpowered Otero for the 30-23 win in the first set.
Game two saw the Trojans jump out to an early 10-2 lead behind the strong middle play of Gardner. Boehmer led Trinidad from the setter position with good sets and timely tips to move the lead to 21-15. Otero tried a late rally but Trojan outside hitters, Yadira Jacquez and Janessa Nelson, put the finishing touches on as Trinidad went up 2-0 with the 30-24 win.
In the third set the Lady Trojans went out to a huge 25-17 lead behind the strength of the net play of Jacquez but the Rattlers came flying back. Seven points in a row tied it at 26-26. A kill and a pair of blocks gave Otero the 30-27 come from behind win.
Game four was time for a Trojan comeback as TSJC came from 28-25 down to win 31-29. Jacquez had another big game for the Trojans but it was Nelson’s final three serves, one of them an ace, that sealed it for the Trojans. Jacquez had 24 kills to lead the Trojans in the stats column as they sent the Rattlers home from the tournament.
TSJC didn’t have long to rest as they faced a rematch with Lamar that same evening. Hoping for a chance to advance to face Northeastern Junior College the TSJC Ladies ran wild rolling past the Lopes in the first set. Trinidad jumped out early using four quick aces by Jessalyn Miller and Jacquez to take a 12-5 lead. Trinidad didn’t slow as they dominated the rest of the first set going on to win 30-13.
The Trojans jumped out to another big lead in the second set. Kills from both Jacquez and Miller put TSJC up 9-2. Trailing 18-6 the Lopes made a run to cut the lead to seven but the Trojans hitters settled down and kills by Jacquez and a huge block by DiPaola put the Trojans up 24-15. A pair of kills by Nelson finished the Lopes off in the second set 30-21.
Game three saw a huge switch in momentum as the Lopes came on strong. Seven straight points put Lamar up 19-16. The Trojans mounted a comeback to go up 20-19 but an injury to Trojan DS Lauren Quiroz seemed to deflate the momentum. After the injury Lamar cruised to a 30-25 win.
Lamar got the fourth set off to a hot start going up 11-6. The Lopes moved out even further as the Trojan coaches tried to get their players back into the game. A kill by Lamar put them up 28-23. Then the rally came for the Trojans. A kill by Jacquez sent her to the serving line where she hit six straight points to put Trinidad up 30-29. Kills by Nelson and Boehmer finished off the Lopes 32-30.
Saturday morning saw the Trojans face off with one of the regions powerhouses. Northeastern Junior College was able to outdistance the Trojans in straight sets. Despite the loss the Trojans finished the season with a great third place finish.
Freshmen Yadira Jacquez, Lauren Boehmer and Amanda Gardner were named to the 2007 All Tournament Team while Boehmer and Jacquez were named to the All Region Team. TSJC also received the Sheila Worley Sportsmanship Award for the Tournament.
Jacquez also earned some Trojan Accolades. The freshman became the All Time “Single Season” Kills leader surpassing the record Mary Claire Bolo set last year. Jacquez finished the season with 675 kills. 51 ahead of Bolo’s record. Proving she can play defense also Jacquez set the record for “Digs in a Single Season”. Topping Mika Beldon’s record of 606 digs set in 2000, Jacquez recorded 632 digs for the season.
Trinidad will now prepare to return much of its 2007 team to make another run at the top two teams in the region next season.