Triton’s Brooklyn Bitting has been a big part of the team’s run to regional. (Photos by Mike Deak)

BOURBON – The dust had barely settled on Triton’s victory parade back to Bourbon as the 2015 Culver Volleyball Sectional champions Saturday night. The school’s athletic Twitter account already had #rematch on its freshest Tweet, announcing Fort Wayne Blackhawk was next up. The chance for redemption is on, as Blackhawk is still fresh in the minds of many from the Trojan volleyball family.

Blackhawk ended Triton’s run last season in the regional, sweeping by a 3-0 count in Fort Wayne. For the Braves, this will be the fifth straight regional appearance for the club that sits at 27-3 overall and ranked No. 8 in Class 1-A. Led by the frontline power of Madison Byrd and Casey Bunner, the Braves have impressive wins against fellow 1-A regional mate Pioneer and 3-A power Leo.

Quinn Downing is the defensive leader for Triton.

Triton needed a couple prayers answered to escape through the Culver sectional, but in a format of survive and advance, the Lady Trojans will Hail Mary and move on. Escaping a five-game thriller against South Central (Union Mills) in the semi-finals, Triton then rolled past North Miami in the finals to reach the regional at 19-13 overall. Triton will be seeking its first regional win since 2002, when the team made the Class 2-A state finals.

“Yes, their record and rank is daunting, and we know they will be a tough team,” started Triton head coach Samantha Willsey. “But any team who just made it through the sectional round is a good team, including us. It’s still high school volleyball, and anything is possible on any given night.”

The formula in the tournament has not changed from the early trials of August. As Jaela Meister and Nicole Sechrist go, so go the Trojans. Meister and Sechrist are the point scorers, holding 78 percent of Triton’s total team kills this season (357/456) and typically generate the momentum at the net. Meister is the heart of the team, and Sechrist has become a dual threat with her defense improving greatly from the beginning of the season.

Emma Ross has been a spark of late for Triton.

Add in the defensive work of libero Quinn Downing – who leads the team in digs – and some handywork at the net from Brooklyn Bitting and Courtney Jennings, and Triton is clicking at the right time. Hannah Wanemacher has become a very reliable setter and Emma Ross has given Triton a boost on the back row, as well.

Asked about keys to Tuesday, Willsey noted, “Control the ball on out side, be aggressive with an attack, and deliver consistent pressure.”

Noting home court advantage was a key for Fort Wayne a year ago, Willsey is excited for a chance to turn the tables. “We’ve practiced our skills and fundamentals all season, we’re now counting on our fans to show up and feed us with the energy we need to win a regional championship.”

The one-game regional will begin at 7 p.m. at the Trojan Trench. Tickets are $6 at the door.

The winner at Triton will face either No. 7 Pioneer (26-10) or No. 6 Morgan Township Saturday in the semi-finals of the Caston Semi-state. Pioneer has advanced to the regional round in each of the past 10 season and Morgan Township won its first sectional since 1998.

Elsewhere in volleyball regionals around the area, No. 10 Elkhart Memorial is back on the big stage, taking its 25-7 record to LaPorte to face the Slicers (22-16) in the Class 4-A tournament. The winner there will meet either No. 5 Fort Wayne Carroll or No. 8 Fort Wayne Concordia at the Plymouth Semi-state.

In the 3-A tourney, No. 4 South Bend St. Joseph’s will host Maconaquah (27-7) and NorthWood (21-14) will play in the regional for the first time since 2010 in hosting No. 17 Leo (27-8). NorthWood upset Fairfield in the semi-finals at West Noble, ending Fairfield’s 11-straight sectional title run and four straight in Class 3-A after a dominating run in Class 2-A. The two winners will meet Saturday at the Twin Lakes Semi-state.

Westview (29-5) is excited to be back in the regional after winning its fourth-straight sectional title at Central Noble. The No. 9 team in Class 2-A will host South Adams (23-11) Tuesday, looking for a chance to meet either No. 7 Covington or No. 10 Rochester (34-1) at the Bremen Semi-state. The Rochester Regional will be held Wednesday at 7 p.m. as Rochester won its sectional title Monday night over Southwood.