WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Catholic volleyball team hosted Stevenson for its 2026 home opener at
Franny Murray Court on Tuesday evening. The Cardinals went toe-to-toe with the Mustangs throughout the match but ultimately fell, 3-2.
Stevenson opened the scoring with a service ace from Logan Burge. Catholic quickly responded with a point from
Mariana Roman Cruz.
The Mustangs held the Cardinals at 10 points as they began to narrow the gap, going on a five-point run to tie the score. Catholic battled back, going on a six-point run of its own to make the score 17-12. The Cardinals continued to extend their lead, going up by nine points over Stevenson. The Mustangs attempted to regain the lead, but the Cardinals took the set, 25-19.
Catholic took the first point of set two, establishing dominance early. The teams went back and forth, but the Cardinals solidified their advantage with a six-point run, giving them a lead they would hold onto for the remainder of the set. Catholic took the set, 25-21.
With two sets under their belt, Catholic looked to secure the victory in set three, but Stevenson was still in the fight, going up 7-2 early in the set. The Cardinals kept close, tying the score on numerous occasions. Stevenson managed to pull away, going up by as many as seven points over Catholic and ultimately taking the set, 25-19, to send the match to set four.
The Cardinals took the first point in set four, but Stevenson carried its third-set momentum into the fourth. The Mustangs remained in rhythm, taking a lead over Catholic. The Cardinals evened the score at 16, but were unable to regain the lead, dropping the fourth set, 25-18.
It was anyone's match heading into the fifth and final set. Stevenson took the first point, and Catholic responded with two points of its own. The Cardinals soon took a five-point lead over the Mustangs, but Stevenson battled back, tying the score at eight. The set was neck-and-neck from there on out, but Stevenson took the final point, winning the set, 18-16.
Julia Raab led the squad with 16 kills and three service aces, finishing the match with an attack percentage of .256.
Maddie Wilkey followed with nine kills and an attack percentage of .333. She also anchored the net with five blocks.
Laci Freitas also recorded nine kills in the match.
Marin Stensrud had 15 digs in the match, while
Anna Maria Carella followed with eight. Carella led the assists category with 21, while
Kate Berra was close behind with 14.
Up next, Catholic will head to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, for two matches. The Cardinals will first face host Dickinson at 12 p.m. Catholic will then match up against Misericordia at 2 p.m. in the Kline Center.
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