When Holy Trinity really needed it, Julia Swalchick's sometimes thunderous right arm produced the critical kill shots.
Yet do not think Swalchick, a 6-foot- junior who is arguably the area's top scholastic offensive volleyball force, is just known as a fastball pitcher. Her work in the visiting Tigers' 25-20, 25-21, 25-22 Thursday night sweep of fellow small-school local power Merritt Island Christian displayed some of the variety she is adding to her attacks.
"Coach is practicing more on placing the ball rather than hitting it as hard as we can," said Swalchick, a Division I level recruit. "I'm able to hit a lot more spots."
The most important, of course, are the ones on the floor. Swalchick led all hitters with 13 kills, not an abnormally high number. Her timing, however, was impeccable.
In the second game, during which MIC (8-2) rallied from a 19-8 deficit with nine straight points, her right-side crosscourt kill at set point ended the Cougars' resistance. Finally, Holy Trinity was able to conclude the 66-minute match when, with the score 20-20, Swalchick hit three winners, including the one that ended the match.
"She's several inches taller than our girls," MIC coach Laurie Haines said. "The challenge is to teach them the timing on a player that's so good."
The victory by Holy Trinity (9-3) was also led by the work of junior setter Sonja Hamke (26 assists) and defense of junior libero Jessi Greenberg (19 digs). Despite the loss, MIC received strong all-around efforts from junior Stephanie Quinn (10 digs, eight kills, seven assists) and senior Kacie Paulk (11 assists, 10 digs).
Yet it was Swalchick and her improved near-net skills that mattered when the scores became close.
"We've done a couple of things to speed up her arm swing," first-year Holy Trinity coach Patrick Barrett said. "She hits a heavy ball and that's been the focus in recent years. We're helping with her jumping, quick sets."
"Our key," Haines said, "was we were so busy working on defense that our offense struggled."
The teams meet again next month in the final week before district play.