Trinity University is a small Division III program in San Antonio, Texas, but its volleyball program should have significant Aurora flavor next year.
Two volleyball players from city schools — Sarah Mullens of Class 5A state champion Grandview and Alex Cotner of semifinalist Regis Jesuit — each committed to Trinity over the weekend. The Tigers won the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season title and finished 30-10 overall with a loss to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the DIII Round of 16.
Mullens returned from injury to give a boost to Grandview, which was in search of another complimentary offensive weapon to Oregon commitment Haley McLaren and Naval Academy recruit Katie Patrick.
The 5-foot-10 outside hitter missed 15 sets for coach Patty Childress’ 22-7 team, but finished third on the Wolves with 146 kills and also led the team with 50 service aces. Mullens’ saved her best match for last, as she tied Patrick for the team best with 13 kills, while adding 10 digs and 3 aces, in Grandview’s sweep of Chatfield in the 5A state championship match Nov. 8.
Cotner’s Regis Jesuit team finished 21-7 and lost to Mullens’ Grandview team in the 5A semifinals.
For the season, Cotner — a 5-foot-4 libero — racked up 535 digs (third best in 5A) and played outstandingly on serve receive.
Trinity had one Colorado player — Castle View grad Katie Gillis — on its roster last season.
Both Aurora players expect to be part of larger signing ceremonies at their respective schools in February.
Via Twitter, Eaglecrest announced the commitment of softball player Alexa Romero to Division I Syracuse University.
As a junior, Romero, a left-handed pitcher, appeared in all 18 games for the Raptors in the fall and finished with a 7-6 overall record and a 3.36 ERA. To help herself offensively, Romero also hit .358, homered three times and drove in 21 runs, second-best on the 5A state tournament-qualifying team.
Eaglecrest also had a slew of soccer players commit in recent weeks.
Following winter break, Korena Perales — last season’s leading scorer for the Raptors — committed to Metro State.
In December, the boys soccer team announced that first team All-Centennial League selection Garrett Dickey has committed to Colby College, while Sterling Barnes has committed to Midland (Nebraska) University and the trio of Ryan Anderson, Jacob Edwards and Carlos Ramirez pledged to play at Northwest Kansas.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
