Coming into Monday night’s contest against Rochester undefeated, the Triton volleyball team was tested in every way possible. The Lady Trojans responded to the adversity well, answering almost every challenge that was put in front of them. But in the end, the Lady Zebras’ big win in a crucial fourth set gave them a 3-1 victory at the Trojan Trench.
The start was a little sluggish for the Lady Trojans, and a couple of unforced errors allowed the visitors to score the first three points of the match. Even after a few points scored by the home team, Rochester continued to add on to its lead, forcing Triton to take a quick timeout trailing 6-2.
Senior Mya Davis was able to put the team’s first kill on the board following the break. Even with the big play, the ladies in blue struggled to stack points together, occasionally getting on the board on a Rochester serve that went short and into the net. The Lady Zebras were scoring two points for every one scored by the Lady Trojans, and the scoreboard reflected this as the visitors led 14-7.
The Triton deficit reached double digits after another long Rochester run. Davis continued providing a majority of the offense, but could only do so much. Head coach Derek Eveland called his second timeout of the game trailing 21-11, needing a spark soon.
It came after the short pep talk, as Triton scored the next three points to get a little closer. After giving one up to the Lady Zebras, the home side was able to string together another run to cut the Rochester lead in half at five. After four straight Lady Trojan points, the visitors called time with their lead shrunken down to 22-18.
The break was just what they needed to get back on track, as the Lady Zebras scored three of the next four points to finish off a 25-19 set one victory.
Triton enjoyed a much better start to the second game, with junior Avery Viers putting together some fantastic serves and tough digs to get her team out to a quick 4-0 lead that saw Rochester burning a quick timeout.
It didn’t take long for momentum to switch afterwards, as the visitors scored four of the next five points to get within one. Triton was quick to answer though, and a booming block by senior Kenadee Howard got the home side’s advantage right back to four. As was the case earlier in the set, Rochester was able to form an answer, trimming the deficit down back to one at 9-8.

    Triton head coach Derek Eveland watches from behind as junior Sierra Hawley goes low to make a dig...Nieter

Things stayed tight as the game saw its first tie since 0-0 at 11-11 a few points later. The Lady Zebras took their first lead at 12-11 on a scary play that saw Triton junior setter Clara Doll hit her head on the court. She’d head back to the locker room, but returned to the game a few points later.
Meanwhile, a game that had started out with both teams trading runs had become a much tighter affair, with the two sides now trading points. Each team had their fair share of the lead as points on the scoreboard started to stack up. Eventually, Rochester was able to find a rhythm once more, scoring four straight to go up 19-15.
As had been the case all game long, one team went up, the other had the answer. Triton scored three straight points to make it a one-point contest once more, keeping things close as the 25-point threshold kept getting nearer. Rochester burned its second timeout of the game with things tied at 22-22, anyone’s game to win.
Looking to avoid trailing two sets to none, the Lady Trojans activated an extra gear in the final few points, with an ace by Davis giving the team a 25-23 win to tie things up.
After two straight games of one team getting out ahead big right away, the trend was bucked as the two sides began game three by trading points. It wouldn’t last for long though, as seven straight points by the Lady Zebras saw the visitors get out to a 10-3 lead as they tried to get back in front. The burst would lead to a timeout.
It didn’t help much, as the visitors continued to stretch their lead, getting it as high as eleven at 16-5. Viers’ second ace of the game as well as some timely hitting by her team helped Triton shrink it down to seven, but the Lady Zebras were not messing around in game three, cruising to a 25-12 victory to go up 2-1.
Looking for a quick start to try and push things to five, Triton scored three of the first four points of the game to go ahead early. But, as they had done all night long, the visitors had an answer, scoring the next eight to take a commanding lead of their own.
Triton got right back to work afterwards though, going on a run that saw the advantage shrink down to just four points. But with Rochester now a single-digit amount away from victory, a much longer run had to occur.
It would. With Viers serving well once again, the Lady Trojans were able to get to within two. After an exceptionally hectic sequence that saw Davis attempt four different kills on the same point, the home side had tied things at 17. A point later, Triton was on top.
Rochester was able to regroup, keeping Triton from continuing to pull away. Once again, the two teams resumed trading points and slowly climbing toward winning the set. The Lady Zebras went back in front at 21-20, then scored another to really put the pressure on. The home side responded well, scoring the next two to tie it up again.
Things would remain tied at 24, with Triton picking up a crucial point at the end to force the win-by-two situation. In the end, Rochester would pick up the final two points of the set to win game three 26-24 and the match 3-1.
Triton (5-1) plays Tuesday night at home against Bremen.