OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Catholic volleyball team took a short trip on Wednesday night to play against Stevenson, trying to record back-to-back wins for the first time this season. The match was very closely played throughout three sets, with the Mustangs taking a 2-1 advantage, and they pulled away in the fourth set to knock off the Cardinals, 3-1.
After falling behind 11-9 in the opening set, the Cardinals used a 5-0 run to take the lead as
Julia Raab recorded back-to-back aces and
Anna Maria Carella and
Vivian O'Brien added kills during the stretch.
Mariana Roman Cruz and
Julia Turchiano picked up kills on consecutive volleys later in the set to give Catholic an 18-15 lead, but Stevenson fought back with a 6-3 stretch to pull things even at 21. The Mustangs went on to take four of the last five points in the set to edge out a 25-23 win to get ahead 1-0.
The second set also came down to the wire and the Cardinals used a 5-0 run in the early stages to gain an 8-6 lead. Turchiano started the run with a kill and it was completed by an ace from
Tanya Sichling. Catholic held Stevenson to its lowest hit percentage in a set during the match in the second at just .195. With a 23-22 lead,
Erin Faughnan and O'Brien delivered kills on the final two volleys to help the Cardinals pull back even with a 25-22 set two win.
Catholic had its highest hit percentage in a set in the third set with 15 kills while hitting .414 to once again force a competitive set. The Cardinals used a 6-1 run in the middle of the set to take a 17-15 lead, spurred by back-to-back kills from O'Brien. After falling behind 23-21, Raab and Faughnan picked up kills to pull the set back even at 23. The Mustangs however were able to take the final two points to take the lead back, 2-1.
Stevenson played lights out offensively in the fourth and final set, hitting .517 with 15 kills to close out the match 3-1, with a 25-16 win in the final frame. The Cardinals are now 3-6 on the season after the loss.
Catholic finished with its highest hit percentage of the season in the match at .300. The Cardinals also recorded their most kills as a team with 58.
Raab was once again the leader in kills for the Cardinals with 14, followed by O'Brien, who finished with a career-high 11, and Faughnan who recorded 10.
Kate Berra and Carella were the assists leaders with 23 and 22 respectively.
Alejandra Garcia finished as the digs leader with 12 and Berra finished with a double-double with 11 digs.
The Cardinals will celebrate senior day at their next home tri-match on Saturday, September 20. They will take on Mount Aloysius and Dickinson with the first match beginning at 12 pm.
