Girls Volleyball: Joliet Catholic knocks off Providence
By Tim O’Brien For Sun-Times Media October 2, 2012 10:28PM
Joliet Cathlolic's Angela Vera and Providence's Haley Lahey try to control the ball. | John Patsch~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: November 4, 2012 6:18AM
Navigating through the loaded Asics Challenge and then facing Providence, defending 4A state champ Benet and Marist over two weeks might wear out most teams.
But for Julia Shemaitis and her Joliet Catholic teammates, they welcome the challenge.
Coming off a fifth-place showing at Asics over the weekend, the Angels on Tuesday started a brutal run in the East Suburban Catholic Conference by beating host Providence 25-20, 25-15.
“I can say 100 percent that we are having so much fun,” Shemaitis said. “This is the most fun I’ve had playing volleyball. The girls have been amazing.”
Shemaitis and Morgan Reardon (3 aces, 10 digs) had eight kills apiece for Joliet Catholic (19-2, 5-0), with Sarah Adler (11 digs), Mallory Mangun (20 assists) and Katelyn Seeman (5 blocks) also chipping in.
Reardon’s offensive showing helped the Angels pull away in the first set, the outside hitter slamming five kills as part of a 13-7 game-closing run that Shemaitis punctuated with a service ace.
Joliet Catholic’s momentum rolled over into the second set while Providence did itself in with errors. In falling behind 15-6, the Celtics committed nine errors. The Angels capitalized, going up as high as 24-13 after an Adler block.
“We got into a rhythm,” Shemaitis said. “Once we win that first game we usually take charge in that second game and try to get things over with fast.”
Providence (18-7, 1-3) was led by Krista Brakauskas (9 assists, 5 kills), Allie Marthaler (12 digs), Annie Cummings (5 kills) and Alyssa Maloney (6 kills, 4 blocks).
“I have six hitters (on the court) who can hit the ball, and I have diggers who can dig the ball,” Providence coach Rachel Ellingson said. “For some reason, the serve-receive isn’t there, and Joliet Catholic passed better than us.”
