Trinity’s first volleyball title in 30 years in reach

TRINITY — Trinity High School has steadily built its volleyball program over the years, but with standouts Southwestern Randolph, Randleman, Uwharrie Charter Academy and Wheatmore during its hey-day, often joining the Bulldogs in the same conference, a league title has been elusive.

Even when Trinity joined the new Central Carolina Conference in 2025, teams like West Davidson and Providence Grove were still major hurdles to climb if the Bulldogs were to accomplish a league championship, something that hasn’t been achieved since 1996.

But that long drought should certainly come to an end this season as THS needs just one more league win — the Bulldogs were scheduled to play West Davidson Tuesday and Wheatmore on Thursday this week — to clinch at least a share of the CCC regular-season title. A win over WD on Tuesday would earn the Bulldogs sole possession of first place and a pair of wins this week would solidify the first unbeaten conference season since anyone can remember.

“I just got cold chills and the sweats,” THS coach Kathryn Vaden said when told it’s been 30 years since THS captured a league title. “It gives me chills because the girls have worked so hard. One of their goals was the conference championship because we knew it hadn’t been done for so long, just didn’t know how long. I don’t think there are words to express it.”

It’s not as if the Bulldogs, who are 17-3 and 8-0 in CCC action, had been struggling. The team went 14-13 last season after two straight years of finishing 17-9.

But the conferences the Bulldogs have been a part of have featured incredible volleyball programs. Now the Bulldogs are vying for that type of recognition.

“It’s really a multiple of things,” Vaden said of this year’s success, which has featured wins over McMichael, Mount Airy, Central Davidson, Asheboro, Randleman and Providence Grove.

“Not only have they been playing together since the seventh grade, I started coaching this group in middle school and as they have grown, I have grown in coaching them. There is a lot of mutual respect for each other.”

The Bulldogs have played a tough non-league schedule to get ready for CCC play. After finishing second to West Davidson last year — the highest finish they had in a conference since 2013 when that team also finished second — and recording a first-round state tournament playoff win over Owen, the Bulldogs held a meeting prior to the start of this campaign.

Trinity opened this season with 11 wins in their first 12 matches with the lone blemish a 3-1 loss to Southwestern Randolph. The only other losses this season have been five-set setbacks to Randleman and Asheboro.

“We had a full (discussion) of what we wanted to accomplish this year and I think that really got us off on the right path,” Vaden said. “We came to understand the team’s goals and each individual’s goals and what each person could do to help us reach those goals. This is a very special group that loves each other and they hold each other accountable.”

The Bulldogs have had a total of six five-set matches, winning four of them.

“After we beat Owen in the first round last year, I think some of our girls started to regret some of the season,” Vaden said. “We should have done this earlier, we should have done that earlier. Should of, could of, would of. They don’t want to walk away with any regrets.”

The Bulldogs have a wealth of players enjoying incredible campaigns. Seniors Mya Hooker and Ari Pinkston along with junior Dakota Odell have recorded 181, 176 and 171 kills respectively heading into action this week. Senior Hayli Cox has added 160 and freshman Addison McCoy has added 132. Pinkston has recorded 62 blocks.

Senior setter Avalynn Johnson has continued an incredible career that has seen her register 2,866 assists; she is averaging 8.4 assists per set this season. She’s done this while missing time after sustaining a concussion.

The NCHSAA record for assists in a career is Marvin Ridge’s Adriana Jordan with 4,010 (2015-18) with the Randolph County record held by Providence Grove’s Lia Johnson with 3,296. Those records may be out of reach, but a goal of 3,000 career assists is still possible, a number registered by very few setters in NCHSAA history.

In CCC play heading into the week, the Bulldogs have used contributions from players such as Cadence Mortensen, Charlee Phillips and Bryn Holden, to go 24-4 in set wins, giving up two sets to PG in two wins and two sets to East Davidson in two wins. Vaden said all 13 girls on the roster have contributed to the Bulldogs’ success.

“Even when we were dropping sets to East Davidson and Providence Grove, those are the sets we are growing most in,” Vaden said. “It was still a win, but we’re asking questions like what were the decisions we made? Why didn’t we start faster? Why did we take our foot off the pedal when we had a lead? This team wants to continue to improve.”