Published on November 9, 2026 8:49 am
Last Updated on November 9, 2026 8:49 am
Members of the team are, front row, left to right, Adalynn Jones, Kessler King, Brielle Friese, Alexandra Hampton and Peyton Manhart. Back row, left to right, Katie Durbin, Brilynn Durbin. Tatum Kaufman, Anna Zacha, Alli Manhart and Tammy Manhart.
The Trinity Lutheran Cardinals competed in the Lutheran Schools State Tournament over the weekend and finished as the champions. Sixteen teams competed starting with pool play Friday and Saturday morning. The top eight teams entered bracket play Saturday afternoon and the championship was played Sunday afternoon.
“We had a terrific weekend,” said Trinity Lutheran Coach Tammy Manhart. “The girls worked hard winning the championship without dropping a set all weekend. We had some close ones and I am super proud of the way the girls stayed in the game mentally and just continued to play our game. We are not a flashy team, we are just good at the fundamentals. I would say our strongest skill is our serving and passing. This team is so coachable and did a great job of executing different strategies this weekend which lead to a lot of our success.
“The championship match was the toughest match all weekend. We came from behind to win both sets. In set one we were down 9-3. We tied it at 9-9 and then it was back and forth until it was tied at 18. We then pulled ahead 22-18 and then 24-20. They scored two more before we finished at 25-22.
“The second set was more of the same, tied at 7-7. They then pulled ahead 14-10 and 17-11 before we started climbing back in it. Next thing you know it was 17-11 them, then 19-14 them, 20-18 and then we got the lead 22-20 and won 25-22.
“I believed in these girls the whole way. I knew they could do it. They have shown me multiple times this season that they were not going to give up. They just stayed calm and did what they do best, take care of the ball and work together. I have to be honest this season has been a bit of a shock to me. After losing six eighth-graders last year I wasn’t sure what I would get from these players that have been waiting in the wings to get their chance and boy did they go for it. So proud of them!
“We had three players named to the all-tourney team — Brielle Friese, Adalynn Jones and Kessler King was named the MVP of the tourney.:
“For the season we ended 16-0 and didn’t drop a set in 16 matches.”
In Pool Play, Stewardson Trinity defeated Belleville, 25-1, 25-18; Chicago St. James, 25-12, 25-9 and Immanuel East Dundee, 25-6, 25-23.
In the final round, Mount Prospect defeated East Dundee, Good Shepard won over Yorkville, Stewardson Trinity downed Belvidere, 25-15, 25-11 and Marengo won over Edwardsilvle.
Trinity then defeated Marengo, 25-19, 25-16 while Good Shepard won over Mount Prospect.
In the championship, Trinity defeated Good Shepard, 25-22, 25-22. Mount Prospect was the winner in the third place match over Marengo.
East Dundee finished in fifth place with a win over Edwardsville and Yorkville was seventh by downing Belvidere.
LSA State Tournament
Pool Play
Stewardson Trinity Vs. Belleville, Chicago St. James, East Dundee –– Brilynn Durbin, 14 points, 9 aces, 9 kills, 12 assists, 2 digs; Adalynn Jones, 30 points, 16 aces, 6 kills, 15 assists, 2 digs; Kessler King, 5 points, 1 ace, 14 kills, 2 assists, 7 digs; Alli Manhart, 29 points, 13 aces, 6 kills, 1 assist, 5 digs; Tatum Kaufman, 20 points, 8 aces, 1 kill, 1 block; Brielle Friese, 21 points, 10 aces, 1 kill, 1 assist, 5 digs
Final Round
Stewardson Trinity Vs. Belvidere, Marengo, Good Shepard — Brilynn Durbin, 21 points, 9 aces, 5 kills, 30 assists; Adalynn Jones, 15 points, 4 aces, 19 kills, 5 assists, 4 digs; Kessler King, 11 points, 7 aces, 8 kills, 4 digs; Alli Manhart, 14 points, 1 ace, 2 kills, 2 digs; Tatum Kaufman, 27 points, 21 aces, 8 kills, 2 assists; Anna Zacha, 2 kills; Brielle Friese, 5 points, 4 aces, 2 digs
Three players were named to the All-Tournament team and they were Brielle Friese, Kessler King and Adalynn Jones.