Cougars net regional win

NEW ALBANY

The Trinity Lutheran volleyball team defended its Class A regional title Tuesday night by defeating Christian Academy 27-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-11 on the Warriors’ floor.

“The girls had fun with it,” Cougars coach Chelsey Hackman said. “I tried to give them things to kind of keep their minds off the environment and just keep their minds on what they were doing while they’re playing out there. I think that’s what helps. I think when they get out there and they don’t clam up and freak out, it’s when they play their best, and if I can get their mind off of it, they do pretty well.”

The fourth set was tied at 2 before the Cougars went on an 8-1 run and remain on top the rest of the way. A block by Mallory Barker gave the Cougars a 12-5 lead; a kill by Haylee Barker set the score at 14-6, and a kill by Hannah Barker gave them a 21-10 lead. Match point came on a Christian Academy passing error.

“It was loud in here, obviously. I can barely talk. It was loud in here all night,” Hackman said. “That team had a lot of fight. They had some big hitters and good defense, too. They played well at the end of the season and really came into it.”

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