WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Catholic volleyball team went on the road for the first time in conference play on Friday night to take on Lycoming, looking to make it three wins in its last four matches. Despite falling in the first set, the Cardinals bounced back quickly, taking each of the last three sets to take down the Warriors, 3-1.
The Warriors took the opening set 25-22 with an impressive offensive showing, hitting .333 with 14 kills in the frame, both of which were match-highs for Lycoming. The Cardinals responded with an impressive attacking set of their own, hitting .382 with 15 kills. A 6-1 run for Catholic gave it a 10-4 lead early in the second set where
Alejandra Garcia,
Anna Maria Carella and
Julia Raab all picked up kills. The Cardinals got ahead 20-14 and took five of the last six volleys, with Raab recording three straight kills at one point, to wrap up the second set 25-15.
Catholic fell in an early hole in the third set as Lycoming scored six straight points in the early stages to storm ahead 7-1. The Cardinals swung momentum back in its favor however with six straight points to even the set back up at nine. The frame was turned completely on its head when Catholic went on another 7-0 run to take control of things, ahead 16-10.
Vivian O'Brien and
Erin Faughnan started the run off with kills and
Alani Rivera Diaz added one as well.The Warriors fought to pull the score to 23-20 in closing moments of the set, but the Cardinals prevailed on a kill from
Caroline Welsh and a block from Rivera Diaz and O'Brien.
The decisive fourth set remained competitive throughout, but Catholic opened up its largest lead at four midway through the frame after a Welsh kill and an ace from Faughnan put the Cardinals ahead 14-10. A 4-1 run from Lycoming pulled the set even at 22 with a chance to force a fifth set. The Cardinals once again stayed poised and took the last three volleys on kills from
Julia Turchiano and Raab and Turchiano closed the match out with an ace to give Catholic a 3-1 win. The Cardinals are now 3-0 in Landmark contests and 7-10 overall on the season.
Raab led the team with a career-high tying 17 kills, the second time she has reached that number this season. She was also the team leader in digs with 13, giving her her third double-double of the season. Turchiano also recorded double-digit kills for the second time on the season with 11 while Faughnan and O'Brien each added nine.
Kate Berra finished with her season-high in assists, 27 to lead the team while Carella recorded 20.
Garcia and
Tanya Sichling also finished with double-digit digs with 11 each. Welsh had a career-high in blocks with three.
The Cardinals play in a tri-match tomorrow at No. 5 Juniata beginning at 12 pm. Catholic will play the Eagles and Messiah at Memorial Gymnasium.
