Staff Reports

Trinity Lutheran’s volleyball team gets to stay home for the start of the state playoffs, competing in front of home fans this week as the Cougars’ quest for a Class 1A championship commences.

Although the Indiana High School Athletic Association Sectional begins today with a match between Medora and Rising Sun, the Cougars do not play for the first time until Thursday.

Trinity’s first-round match is against Oldenburg Academy at 5:30 p.m. that day. Crothersville joins Medora and Trinity as a third local team in this Sectional when the Tigers take the court Thursday immediately after Trinity’s match against Jac-Cen-Del.

The schedule calls for a 7:30 p.m. start for that contest.

Play resumes Saturday and the championship match is slated for 7 p.m. Trinity Lutheran, 25-5, is favored to emerge from the Sectional and advance to the Regional the next week.

The Cougars have waited a full year for this competition to begin. Players said they have aimed for another chance to win a title to make up for last year’s close-call loss.