Trinity Lutheran volleyball coach Janet VanLiew said most of the time when she called for a change in strategy Monday night, Floyd Central did a good job of matching those changes.

“There’s a good reason Floyd Central is ranked No. 3 in Class 4A,” she said after the Highlanders won 25-22, 25-19, 25-21 in the Bollinger Athletic Complex.

‘The way they handled what we gave them they are probably the best team (we’ve faced),” she said. “Their setter (Carly Fonda) is phenomenal. She really is good and runs an excellent offense and is a very active part of the offense, and we had to make adjustments to that.”

The Highlanders (24-3) led 8-2 in the first set before Carson Bowling made three attack kills in a 5-0 run for the Cougars. A kill by Madison Keith left Trinity down 14-13 before Bowling had an attack and a tip for back-to-back points that gave Trinity its first lead at 17-16, but the Highlanders went on a 6-0 run to seal the win.

Trinity got off to a fast start in the second set as a kill by Rachel Bonde put Trinity on top 8-3. Floyd pulled even at 11-11. The last tie in this set came at 16-16 before the visitors went on a 4-0 run to lead the rest of the way.

The Cougars fell behind 4-0 in the third set and trailed all the way. A kill by Addison Darlage left Trinity trailing 9-6 before the Highlanders went on a 6-0 run.

Trinity trailed 19-8 before closing the gap to 22-20, but they were unable to tie the score.

VanLiew spoke on the effort from the team.

“I thought we stayed in the match,” she said. “I think they had too many runs on us, but I thought we stayed in the match, and I thought it was a good effort. Did it always equal a point? No, but I thought we gave a good effort.

“We needed to win some of those rallies. I made a comment at the start of the third set that we had won any of those rallies.”

Bowling led the Cougars in attacks with 19-25-14, and she was 11-11-1 in serving.

Bowling said, “We definitely need to work on being able to cover whatever the setter dumps. We really haven’t faced a lot of that this season, and Floyd really tested us.”

“She said she was pleased with her attack,” Bowling said. “Addie and I have a good setter-hitter connection. We’ve been playing together for six years. We played club volleyball together.”

Bowling said the Cougars need to have hard, quality practice.

“We’re going to have to make sure we keep our energy up, and play together, which we generally do a good job of, so I’m not too worried,” she added.

The Cougars (19-7) will play at New Albany Thursday night and will close the regular season Saturday in a tournament at Columbus East.

VanLiew said she wanted her team to face tough opponents here at the end of the season on preparation for the tournament.

Trinity will host a 1A sectional next week.

“(Floyd) tested us and we didn’t respond in certain places, and we’ve got to respond to those.”

Floyd Central 3, Trinity Lutheran 0

Floyd Central def. Trinity Lutheran def. 25-22, 25-19, 25-21

Trinity serving leaders: Zoey Dulaney 11-13-2, Maddie Adams 13-14-2, Laura Roeder 6-7-1, Carson Bowling 11-11-1

Trinity attacks: Bowling 19-25-14, Rachel Bonde 15-17-5, Addison Darlage 9-9-4

Assists leaders: Darlage 24, Roeder 4

Digs leaders: Roeder 10, Darlage 10, Dulaney 11

Trinity record 19-7

Junior varsity

Floyd Central def. Trinity 17-25, 25-18, 15-12

Trinity serving leaders: Marley Warren 8-8-2, Emmy Price 11-12-1, Bella Blayklee Hancock 8-8

Trinity attack leaders: Emmy Price 15-17-7, Sammie Brown 16-18-4, Emerson Warren 9-11-4

Trinity record 13-2

C Team

Trinity def. Floyd Central 25-23, 21-25, 17-15

Trinity serving leaders: Liv Holle 7-8-1, Clara Rubin 13-13-2, Addie Burcham 9-9, Brinley Schepman 8-8-1, Emmie Whipker 7-7

Trinity attacking leaders: Holle 15-16-6, Rubin 14-16-2, Burcham 18-22-3, B. Schepman 7-7-1

Trinity record 5-4