Trojans sweep St. Charles 3-0 after shaking off early rust

Tree of Life Christian School opened its return to match play with a 3-0 victory over St. Charles on Tuesday night, pulling away for a straight-set win, 25-20, 25-18, 25-22, in Columbus. After two weeks away from competition, the Trojans needed a little time to settle in, but once they found their rhythm, they controlled the night with steady offense, tough serving and timely finishes at the net.

The slow start did not last long. Tree of Life regrouped in the opening set and turned early uneven play into a 25-20 win, then built on that momentum in the second. The Trojans were sharper in serve receive and more decisive in attack as the match went on, and that showed in a comfortable 25-18 second-set result. By the third set, St. Charles kept things tighter, but Tree of Life answered the pressure and closed out the sweep, 25-22.

Calvin Spitznagle led the Trojans' attack with 10 kills, providing a dependable finishing option throughout the match. Micah Smith made the most of his opportunities with an impressive .667 hitting percentage, a sign of just how efficient Tree of Life was when its offense got in system. Those performances helped power several key rallies, especially once the Trojans began extending points and turning defensive work into clean swings.

Tree of Life also got a big lift from the service line. Pascal Geiss did not miss a single serve, a valuable contribution in a match where pressure from behind the line helped keep St. Charles from getting comfortable. That consistent serving allowed the Trojans to stay aggressive, and that steadiness helped shape the flow of all three sets.

For a team coming off a two-week break, the response was encouraging. The Trojans did not panic after the sluggish opening stretch, and instead pieced together the kind of composed, connected performance that can build confidence as the season moves forward. A sweep on the road is always worth celebrating, and Tree of Life earned this one by fighting through the early rust and finishing each set with purpose.