The Trenton High School Lady Bulldogs volleyball team entered the Class 2, District 16 Tournament on Monday night with their 1-22 record in hand, facing the number three seed and host school, East Buchanan. The season, as it has for many years now, was heading for another unceremonious end in the first round of district play.
But then the Lady Bulldogs showed up.
“You know that team I have been telling you about all season?” Trenton Head Coach Natalie Johnson said. “The one that has the potential to win games, but they just haven’t been bringing their best game to the court? They showed up. All six of them.”
Trenton picked up a close 26-24 win in the first set and then stunned East Buchanan with a 25-22 win in the second set to advance to the tournament semifinals.
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“We played an excellent game,” Johnson said. “The girls started out strong jumping ahead in the first set and staying neck-and-neck throughout the entire game. They were playing hard and very well as a team. It was like they tasted blood and liked it, so they stayed focused and didn’t stop fighting until they got the win.”
Things looked bleak for a moment as East Buchanan took off in the second set, threatening to run away with it and forcing a third and decisive set. Trenton was able to hang with the host school, however, and stayed within striking distance. A good run of serves by senior Kori Grogan at the end allowed the Lady Bulldogs to come from behind and seal the upset.
“I told them to be prepared for the second set because East Buchanan would be out to win,” Johnson said. “We started out slower and fell behind several points and I was getting a little worried because that has been our routine all season. We usually play one good set then have one that isn’t so good. We stayed behind about five points the whole set, then jumped within three and Kori had a good run of six serves, sealing the win and the match.”
Trenton got good games all the way around the court. Micah Burkeybile finished with three aces, three kills, one assist and nine blocks and Grogan had one ace, two kills and four blocks. Holly Doolin had two aces and a kill, Gwen Delp had two aces, Katie Ireland had an ace and Amber Fischbach tallied an assist.
“I am very, very proud of the way the whole team played,” Johnson said. “I have been waiting for that night where all six show up to play their best game and I got it.”
With the win, Trenton improves to 2-22 and advances to the district semifinals, where the sixth-seeded Lady Bulldogs will face off with second-seeded Lathrop at 7:15 tonight at the East Buchanan High School in Gower.