Volleyball team peaking at season’s end

Bishop Ireton seems to be finding a “groove” at just the right time. WCAC playoffs begin this week, Ireton, a 6th seed, travels to third-seeded PVI for quarterfinal action. But it was the final week of conference play that has raised the expectations for the Cardinals and their six seniors. Hosting St Johns on Senior Night the Cadets hoped to repeat a 3-0 sweep from earlier in the season. It was the not to be, however, as the inspired seniors led Ireton on a 3-2 rollacoaster ride Tuesday night before one of the season’s biggest and loudest crowds, in fact one could say the “gym was a rockin”!

All six seniors had outstanding performances , particularly setter Katherine Boyd and hitters Lauren Monroe and Courtney Connaughton. Losing the first set to St John’s 21-25, Ireton battled back and took the second set 25-18. Next two sets were split between the two team 26-24 and the final set went all Ireton’s way 15-7. Outside hitter Lauren Monroe and Libero Richelle Villa both felt like they had been in a fight. “It was a fantastic game that I will always remember,” said Connaughton. Seniors and D’Elia Chandler both felt that the team realized that when they work together they are capable of anything. It was the type of game that the Bishop Ireton Varsity players will remember for quite some time.

They maintained that momentum into the St Mary Ryken match in Leonardtown. The long drive had little impact on the Cardinals as they rolled to the match 3-1, emptying the bench and substituting liberally. The team took a detour to Sidwell Friends on Saturday, to participate in their homecoming activities. Between the weather and the pace, the team may have lost some focus, falling 3-2 in a match a disappointed Coach Kathy Gutmann remarked was certainly winnable. “We were up and could have put them away, but volleyball is a game of momentum. When we lost it, it was too much to overcome.”

The Cardinals get their chance to find that “mojo” and avenge earlier defeats at the hands of the Panthers. “This is a good matchup for us, we can win this” commented Gutmann. Gametime is 6pm in Panther Gym at Paul VI Tuesday.