Bishop Ireton volleyball has started the fall with three straight wins, built around a strong group of girls that play to their strengths, says varsity head coach Kathy Gutmann. “We aren’t going to intimidate teams, but we play a very solid game, strong defense, technically sound. The first three matches have reinforced with the team what we are trying to do and the success we can have sticking to what we do best.”
The Cardinals opened the season in Frederick, Maryland, where they stopped a very good Maryland School for the Deaf 3-1. They returned home to overcome an athletic Bishop McNamara club in three straight. The biggest test of the season came with Elizabeth Seton visiting Father Godley Gymnasium on Wednesday.
Seniors Richelle Villa and Allie Sobral had sparked Ireton with an average of 7.5 and 8 digs per game while senior middle hitter Margaret Coyle is leading the Cardinals with an average of 4 kills per contest.
A pleasant surprise for Coach Gutmann has been the play of freshman setter Ashley Cabrera who has paced the team after the first two matches with 10 aces.
Ireton struggled past the Roadrunners in the first game 25-23, found some breathing room in the second game with a 25-20 win, then fought point by point in the third. With the game tied at 18, the clubs traded points as Seton attacked and the Cardinals countered with their trademark defense. Like clockwork, Ireton would take one point lead, Seton responded, Cardinals went up one, Roadrunner answered. Finally a fault on a serve at 23 all gave Ireton an opening but they could not capitalize until they scored two straight to go up 27-26. Following a timeout, Seton came back to bury a **** shot and Ireton made an uncharacteristic lapse to fall in game three 29-27.
The fourth contest wasn’t close. With Richelle Villa posting many of her match high 16 digs, the Cardinals broke to a 12-3 lead and cruised home to win the fourth 25-10, winning the match 3-1.
The freshmen won 2-0 over St Johns freshmen in the tipoff match while the JV stopped Seton 2-0 in their contest.
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