A year ago Addie Darlage was finishing up her final season of volleyball at Sauers St. John’s Lutheran School.

What a difference a year makes.

Today, she is practicing for a match in the IHSAA Class 1A state championship after helping Trinity Lutheran defeat Bloomfield 25-10, 25-8, 25-14 in the Columbus East semistate this past Saturday.

“I am very excited,” she said after recording 43 assists and leading the Cougars in aces with 4 against the Cardinals. She was the setter for the Saints last year.

“Just to be a part of this is awesome,” she said. “I’m looking forward to winning (state). It’s going to take a lot of communication and a lot of teamwork.

“I feel on this team we have a lot of bonding together. We know each other very well and we trust each other. The seniors are very good leaders.”

Trinity takes a 30-4 record to Ball State University (Muncie) for an 11 a.m. Saturday match with Lafayette Central Catholic (26-9). The Knights defeated Kouts 25-15, 25-23, 25-11 in the Frankfort semistate Saturday.

The Cougars fell behind briefly in each of the first two sets before pulling away, and they went up 4-0 at the start of the third set.

The first set was tied at 9-9 when Ruthie Bingham pounded her third kill to put the Cougars in front to stay.

Bailey Tabeling had seven kills in the first set and her 7th gave Trinity set point.

Trinity took advantage of hitting errors by Bloomfield to open up a 7-3 lead in the second set.

After Bloomfield scored back-to-back points for a 7-5 score, Trinity went on an 8-0 run, then outscored the Cardinals 10-1 down the stretch.

Set point came on an attacking error by the Cardinals.

Darlage served back-to-back aces to put Trinity on top 4-0 in the third set. Trinity held a 10-6 lead before going on a 7-0 rally with a kill by Tabeling, making it a 17-6 score. Madison Keith had a kill for the final point of the match.

Darlage talked about the teamwork it takes to be successful.

“You have to have a good pass then I can make a good set so we can have a good hit,” she said.

“I just credit (22-match win streak) to teamwork, and the coaches. I really appreciate the coaches. I just enjoy volleyball. I just like running around, hitting the ball, diving on the floor.”

Cougars Coach Faith Wilder-Newland said, “They put a few short balls in on us, and then we had to make sure we were ready for those tips and rolls. After that I thought we did a really good job of communicating and staying ready to move.”

She credited Trinity’s defense for limiting Bloomfield to back-to-back points only five times in the first two matches, and not allowing the Cardinals to score three straight points until late in the third set when several of the Trinity starters were on the bench watching their younger teammates.

“Stella (Kleffman), Kamzi (Gross), Ruthie and Laura (Roeder) played some really good defense,” she said.

Tabeling topped Trinity in kills with 18, Bingham had 11, and Kleffman and Carson Bowling each had 8. Gross was the leader in digs with 13 and Kleffman had 8.

“Our blocking was better,” Wilder-Newland said as Tabeling had 5 block assists, Bingham had 3, Keith 2 and Bowling 1.

“It’s a wonderful feeling going to state,” Wilder-Newland said. “It’s a long road and we’re one step closer for the kids accomplishing their goals, and our goals as a team, as the coach’s goals.

“I was really pleased. We had some great ups on defense and good transition out of it, and got some big swings so that’s really nice to see.”