The ethos was simple for the Trinity University volleyball team. It was stripped of the complexities and reduced to the bare necessities.

Coming into this weekend’s Southern Athletic Association tournament, and following a regular season that yielded some uncustomary results, the Tigers went back to the basics. While a focus on the game’s technical aspect was a part of the process, the main point of contention was on the team’s mentality.

In the semifinals of the SAA tournament, against the team that ended its bid to win the event a year ago, Trinity rediscovered its identity. In control from start to finish, and having only to navigate one rough patch, the Tigers pounded Berry 25-11, 25-14, 25-23 on Friday in a showdown of NCAA Division III’s top 20-ranked teams at Calgaard Gym. Berry is No. 9, and Trinity is 20th.

Trinity (22-8) faces Centre College, ranked No. 4 and the tournament’s top seed, in the SAA final at noon Saturday.

“We all came into that game with the utmost determination to beat Berry,” Trinity senior setter Kendall DeRivel said after recording 16 assists and three aces. “You would look on anyone’s face on that court, and nothing would faze them. We chose to be aggressive today.”

And Berry (23-6) was helpless to stop the Tigers, who have won eight in a row and were near-flawless for two sets. Sophomore outside hitter Lilly Long tallied 12 kills, nine digs and four aces. Freshman outside hitter Amelia Payton had seven kills and two aces, senior middle blocker Lauren McCarthy had nine kills (.750 hitting percentage), two aces and two blocks. Senior outside hitter Connelley McWilliams had six kills (.417) and junior middle blocker Taylor Starr contributed 3 1/2 blocks. Freshman setter Emma Reeves had 18 assists in a “collective effort” that led to a .284 overall hitting percentage and 11 aces.

“We were so fired up to go into this game,” McCarthy said. “We definitely reached a flow state, if you will.”

Berry, on the other hand, managed to score consecutive points only 11 times through the first 2 1/2 sets. The Vikings used a 7-2 run to turn a 19-15 deficit into a 22-21 advantage. Trinity responded by reeling off four of the final five points.

“I think our team came out with the right focus, stayed dialed in from the beginning to the end,” Trinity coach Julie Jenkins said. “I think they were totally the aggressor. I think they did a super job of sticking to the game plan, what we were trying to do. I liked our poise after things went a little bit awry late in the third set. I think that’s a sign of pretty good mental toughness that we stayed the course and came up with the big swings when we needed it, big serves when we needed it.”

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