HOBOKEN, NJ(SMI-SPORTS-COLLEGE, 11.14.21)-The Trinity University (Texas) Women's volleyball team(AVCa#2), defeated NYU 3-sets to 1 (18-25,25-22,25-17,32-30), in the final East Regional NCAA Div III championship match in a thrilling ending in Hoboken, NJ.

Stevens Institute of Technology hosted the 3-days tournament that began last Friday's afternoon with 8-teams competing and playing a single-elimination match over the weekend with NYU and Trinity(TX) reaching the final game.

The Tigers who are 34-2, loss the first set to NYU (18-25), but overcame the score by winning the next two sets (25-22, & 25-17) with strong offensive attack and solid blocking that neutralized the Violets' offensive line.

The 4-set was the decisive turning point of the game when the two teams battled each other to the end, exchanging leads back and forth numerous time and the Trinity's Tigers finishing on top by winning the fourth set 32-30, with a thrilling ending and claiming the 2021 East Regional NCAA Women's Volleyball Div III title. 

 

The Tigers were led by:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had the opportunity to attend the post-game press conference after the game,
and this is what Trinity women's volleyball team head coach Julie Jenkins said:

Julie Jenkins:

Julie Jenkins serves as Trinity’s Head Volleyball Coach, Associate Director of Athletics, and Senior Woman Administrator, and She is on her 37th season as the head coach of the Trinity Tigers volleyball team.

She leads active NCAA Division III volleyball coaches in terms of victories, and stands third among all-time Division III coaches.

In a 37-year coaching career - including a 1984 stint at NCAA Division I Virginia Commonwealth University - Coach Jenkins has amassed an overall record of 985-422 (.700). Since taking the reins of Tiger volleyball in 1985, Coach Jenkins has chalked up a Trinity record of 956-401 (.704). She also has amassed a mark of 353-38 (.902) in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) competition since 1991. Coach Jenkins’ teams have won 30 or more matches in 18 seasons.

Opening Statements:
Julie Jenkins: I just think our team, We said all season long that the mental toughness on this team, was going to be a difference maker, they showed so much fight , and so much believes on themselves , it was an amazing match and it really came down to playing the big point well, stepping-up and doing what you needed to do and I couldn't be more pleased with the character that they showed in this match and just pure joy being able to finish the deal. 

With your leadership you have on your team, how much trust you have on them to ride that ship, maybe not necessary needing some advice from the bench and imagine and kind of figure out as a group ?

Julie Jenkins: Just 100%, every player on this team is strong leader. Every single player, nobody gets down they know they going to let the team down if they do. Everybody  carries their head high and they know how to bring out the best in each other and they know how to have each others back and everybody has such a high level trust in each other. The leadership is like no other on this team. It doesn't matter who it is, when they are speaking the team listen, they are so great input in and out of the court. 
 
Congratulation on the victory, Trinity women's volleyball team has a stellar  winning record under your tenure for around couple decades. 

How different is this year team from the previous years and how confident you feel to win it all this year (2021 NCAA Women's Volleyball Div III Title) ?    
Julie Jenkins: This team, I'm not going to compare teams, I've had  a lot great teams throughout my career, but they are the very top and they are right there at the very top. I think what sets us team apart is the fact that we are very truly  balanced offense , we can score in every position and when we started-off on this match, we weren't getting scoring on the right side and we never loss trust in our right-side attack and they came back around. This team is unique and we truly are balanced scoring and not just every position but every player both right-sides, both middle and both outsides. I would say that it sets them apart a little bit and then this team have a great leadership and seniors experience and that set them apart.This team are right at the very top and they are going to regroup here.We are so excited , we don't care who we play and  we are just ready to play in the next match. 

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With the victory today, the No. 2 Trinity Volleyball advances to the quater-final rounds to face Calvin next Thursday in St. Louis, Missouri and the campus of Washington University.

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Article & Photos By Marcello Cutti Jr.