BOURBON - Call it guarded optimism. Triton head volleyball coach Gayle Perry has it. She realizes the potential of her volleyball team, ranked No. 10 in the state in Class A, and understands what it can accomplish this year.

"We need some strong competition to really make our game get better," Perry said. "We're thrilled to be in class volleyball. That's really good for us. In fact, it's given us a new outlook. Besides the conference, we have the sectional to look forward to. Michigan City Marquette is ranked No. 4 right now in Class A. They're a really good team, but I think we can compete with them in the sectional."

Perry showed off her team and that skill level on Wednesday as Triton hosted Knox. The Trojans dominated from the beginning, winning easily 15-2, 15-7.

Triton got on the board first in the opening game after back-to-back kills from Megan Sarber and Kendra Blackford made the score 2-0. Triton went up 8-1 after kills from Chris Scott and Sarber and a block by Jamey Bell. The Trojans extended that lead to 10-1 before Knox could score again.

After a sideout gave Triton the serve back, Sarber stepped back from the net and served back-to-back aces to ice the first game.

In game two, Triton once again put the game away early. Sarber opened the scoring with another ace and Jennifer Weissert had a pair of kills as the Trojans went ahead 9-2. From that point, Triton stumbled a bit until Jessica Kintzel got a kill to give her team a 14-7 lead, and Knox's Brandi Valenta hit the ball into the net to finish the match.

"I thought we started out strong and controlled the match," Perry said. "Knox is an improved team. I felt like we hit the ball well. We're still working with our rotation a little bit and our starting lineup. I'm not really happy with it, but we're getting better. I thought Jena Weissert had a pretty good game at the net. She did some jump serving. We just started that. She's a good passer. She's really steady.

"I thought Megan Sarber did a good job in the front row and our setter Heather Barron sets the ball all the way around and there isn't a ball that she doesn't get to."

Weissert led Triton with six kills and Kintzel and Scott followed with five each. Barron dished out 19 assists and Sarber had four aces on the night.

After the game, Perry talked about what it means to be ranked.

"I tell them you're as good as your last opponent," Perry said. "It's kind of new for us. We have to deal with that pressure. You have to win to maintain that ranking. So, that's a little different for us to deal with. But, we really don't talk much about it."

The junior varsity team also won fairly easily, defeating Knox 15-0, 15-12. Janell Salisbury served the entire opening game for the 4-1 Trojans.

Triton (7-3, 2-1) will be at Valley on Thursday at 6 p.m. The Trojans also host an eight team tournament on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Perry expects good competition at the tournament, the type that will help her Trojans improve over the course of the season. [[In-content Ad]]