Volleyball Defeats Southwestern in NCAA South Region Championship

Georgetown, Texas - The Trinity University Tigers beat SCAC champion Southwestern 25-19, 25-20, 25-17 Saturday in the NCAA Division III South Region Championship game at Robertson Center.

With the victory, the 18th-ranked Tigers (30-11) advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals Thursday, at University Heights, Ohio. Trinity will take on Juniata, ranked No. 1 in the nation. The semifinals are slated for Nov. 20-21, also in Ohio.

Led by 25th-year head coach Julie Jenkins, the Tigers are making their fifth trip to the quarterfinals. The last was in 2006, with Wittenberg beating Trinity 3-0.

In the South Region Tournament, fifth-seeded Trinity knocked off No. 4 Randolph-Macon, defending national champion and top seed Emory, and the hosts, the No. 2 Southwestern Pirates. Southwestern, ranked No. 12 in the nation, had beaten Trinity 3-1 in last week's SCAC semifinals, played in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Pirates edged the Tigers 3-2 in the 2008 regional semifinals.  But it was a different story on Saturday night as the Tigers, playing in their 18th consecutive NCAA Tournament, continued their magical run.

Senior outside hitter Amy Mittelstaedt of Phoenix (Xavier College Prep) led the Tigers with 10 kills and four aces, while tying for the lead in digs, with 14.  She was named the Tournament MVP for her performance over the past three matches.

Junior libero Alexis Edwards of Lincoln, Neb. (Pius X), also had 14 digs. Caiti Troyer, a junior setter from Atlanta (Wesleyan), produced 32 assists and 10 digs. Senior middle blocker Ginger Haley of Arlington, Texas (Temple Christian), accounted for six blocks in the match. Senior middle blocker Aly Hazelwood of Baytown, Texas (Barbers Hill), added five blocks.  Troyer and Haley also earned All-Tournament honors for the Tigers.

Tayler Malloy, a junior right-side player from Allen, Texas (Texas), had nine kills and three blocks. First-year defensive specialist Meredith Erwin chalked up 12 digs.