There’s a reason why Providence’s volleyball team plays two classes above their school size.
The Class 4A No. 2 Pioneers — a program that has played in a state championship match every year since 2012 — brought all of their firepower to the Bollinger Athletic Complex Wednesday, sweeping Trinity Lutheran 25-10, 25-8, 25-12.
In the first set, the Cougars (10-10) took an early 4-3 lead on four kills by Hannah Sabotin.
The teams tied five times at the start until the Pioneers’ Marissa Hornung served eight straight winning points to help put Providence up 16-7.
Trinity quickly found themselves in a double-digit deficit, and couldn’t dig themselves out as they fell 25-10.
Providence didn’t let up to start the second set, winning the first four points before putting up a major advantage on the Cougars.
On serves from Ali Hornung, the Pioneers won 10 consecutive points to go up 14-1 before a kill from Sydney Jaynes snapped the streak.
The Pioneers limited the Cougars to just seven more points, building a lead as large as 16 points, as they claimed the second set 25-8.
Trinity kept it close in the third set early, trailing by no more than one point until the Pioneers went up 10-8.
The Pioneers distanced themselves at 21-11 before taking four of the final five points for the win.
Sabotin topped the Cougars with five kills and Chloe Criswell added four. As a team, the Cougars went 67-for-79 with 13 total kills.
“I think when we ran our offense, we were right there with them,” Cougars coach Chelsea Stroub said. “We saw some great things from our girls tonight.”
Courtney Barker had 13 assists and Criswell came up with nine digs for Trinity.
“They’re a great team,” Stroub said. “They have such a fast offense, and their passing is on point. They’re scrappy. Everything was getting to their setter, and their setter was amazing. Our first line of defense was a little bit of a step behind, which put everything else behind, too.
“I think it gives our girls encouragement for the other games. We’re not going to see anyone in Class 1A that’s that tough. It’s good for our girls to see.
Saturday, Trinity will host their annual Cougar Cup. The Cougars will play Jennings County at 9 a.m., Perry Central at 12:30 p.m. and Seymour at 2:50.