Trinity Volleyball Team making History!
By Samantha DePriest
Our Trinity Christian Volleyball team made it to the GHSA Class 4A Final Four. We couldn’t be more proud of our Lady Lions who made history as a GHSA volleyball program after winning 4 GISA state titles. Our Lady Lions put up a good fight against Pace Academy last Saturday and will come back even stronger next season. We are excited about the growth of the program at Trinity and can’t wait to see what next year holds for this amazing group of student athletes.
Coach Sara Kuchinski shares “This season was one of growth. From the very beginning back in June, when we were working out on the field and getting as many touches as possible on the court, all the way to just last week competing in the Final Four of the state playoffs, this team grew. They grew together as a unit rather than individuals, they grew as players each getting stronger in every single aspect of the game. I am so very proud of the amount of improvement they made this season. You can look at every player on the roster and you can see from point A to point Z that they improved in their game! We competed against some big teams, and although the outcome may not have been what we wanted, the amount of fight and tenacity that this group showed was awesome to see.”
How did your team overcome adversity?
“How didn't we overcome adversity is the real question! You start off with a brand new coach, add in five freshmen, only four varsity returners, plus we had several injuries throughout the season to key players on the team. That amounts to (if you ask me) an absurd amount of adversity! The lack of experience this team had not only playing together, but also playing at this high a level was difficult to overcome. However, they worked very hard together to communicate, encourage, and push each other in practice to be better. Injuries were abundant for us this year as well. Lily Floyd, our starting setter, went down in late August, and Genna Rinkenberger, a Freshman, stepped up and stepped into her role and filled it beautifully! Then, Lindsey Carter went down with an ankle injury, putting us down a starting all around outside hitter. And then we lost Peyton Hayes to yet another ankle injury right in the middle of our run in State! Kaylyn Tackett, our lone Senior, stepped up and filled Peyton's role as a middle hitter without a single complaint! I'd say this team learned how to lean on each other when things got tough, and how God has a plan for every little thing that happens in our lives. That was one of our biggest focuses this season, what can you control? Only you. Do your best, give it your all, and don't worry about the rest because God has it.”
What are your hopes for the program moving forward?
“My hope for the program moving forward is just that, keep moving forward. There is so much potential in the entire volleyball program at TCS, and I hope to continue to help foster it's growth! We have a competitive group that only graduates one Senior, so I'm telling you now, keep your eyes out for TCS Varsity Volleyball because they could be fighting for a State title next season.”
Pictures below were taken by Trinity Mom and Volleyball Mom Brandy Floyd. For more pictures from that night, click on the link: Elite 8 pictures
