By RICHIE HALL
sports@readthereporter.com
NOBLESVILLE – It’s been a busy time for the Guerin Catholic volleyball team, but the Golden Eagles are figuring thins out as they go along.
The Guerin Catholic team took on diocese rival Lafayette Central Catholic Wednesday at the Eagles Nest in what was an exciting, well-played match. The Knights won in four sets, but they were close sets: 25-23, 19-15, 25-22, 25-22. There was not much difference between the two teams.
“We had a good effort,” said GC coach Hailey Brown. The coach said that her team never pursues a ball without giving 100 percent effort.
“We’ve been going off of a week without a practice because we’ve had games back to back to back, so we’re trying to fix thins in the middle of sets and matches, which is tough. So the effort’s never really a question, but we’re just trying to figure out what’s on our side.”
The Golden Eagles gave LCC all it could handle in the first set, which was close the entire time. Lucy Caltrider served a late ace, and Claire Castor hit two big kills to keep Guerin Catholic close. The Knights eventually took the set on a winning tip.
But the Golden Eagles had some momentum, and they used it in the second set. After getting down early, Guerin began to pull away slowly, taking an 8-7 lead and holding it for the remainder of the set. Caltrider made a block and Leah Sheng made a tip shot, then Castor put down three kills.
Castor and Caltrider are the Golden Eagles captains this season.
“They do an amazing job, vocally as well as on the court physically,” said Brown. “They have great leadership skills and the team definitely looks to them in a time of need.”
Ally Downey, another senior, served an ace during a five-point run that got GC ahead 15-10. Guerin Catholic stretched its lead to 22-14, and held several set points at 24-16. The Knights made a push, but Paige Mascari smacked a kill that leveled the match at one set all.
The next two sets were close. Central Catholic started the third set with back-to-back aces, but the Golden Eagles soon came back. The Knights stayed in front for most of the set, although an ace from Castor tied the set at 20-20, then the score was tied again at 21-21. Central Catholic won four of the next five points to take the set.
The Knights threatened to run away with the fourth set, going up 14-7, then 18-11. But Guerin made a big push of its own, winning nine of the next 12 points to get within 21-20. Castor hit three more kills during the run, while Ella Murphy and Sheng teamed up for a successful block. The Golden Eagles were still within 23-22 late in the set, but LCC got the next two points and the match.
“It’s good,” said Brown. “We’re trying to figure out things here and there, just like every other team does. It’s hard playing on a Tuesday-Thursday and only getting a couple practices a week, but we make what we can.”
Castor hit 14 kills for the Golden Eagles, who totaled 40 kills as a team for the match. Castor also collected 26 digs, while Downey had 20 digs; Guerin Catholic had 94 as a team.
Hailey Lytle handed out 20 assists, and Castor dished out 16 assists. Sheng, Castor and Downey all served two aces, with Sheng making two blocks.
The Golden Eagles are 5-10 for the season and host Covenant Christian on Tuesday.
CUTLINES
Reporter photo by Richie Hall
The Guerin Catholic volleyball team celebrates after winning a point during the Golden Eagles’ match with Lafayette Central Catholic Wednesday at the Eagles Nest.