Carroll settles in, claims second league title
ASTON » For the first few minutes of the 2017 Catholic League girls volleyball championship game at Neumann University Sunday night, things weren’t going very well for defending champ Archbishop Carroll.
Patriots coach Brian McCann had to call a timeout.
“I think the nerves set in,” senior co-captain Morgan Silks said. “(McCann) told us we’d have to pick up our game and work harder.”
It wasn’t long after that that the Patriots (18-2) asserted their dominance over Archbishop Wood. Carroll, which has won 30 consecutive matches against Catholic League opponents, claimed its second league title in a row with a 3-0 decision, winning by scores of 25-12, 2511, and 25-12.
Carroll will play for the District 12 crown against the Philadelphia Public League’s top team Friday night, then it will take part in the PIAA Class 4A championships, which begin Tuesday, Nov. 7.
“Back to back (titles) and 30 straight,” McCann said. “We have so many people who do so much for us. Morgan knows what we want to do and brings everyone along. Gina (Custer, the other co-captain) is such a great passer and digger. And Audrey (Jones, a sophomore in her first year at Carroll) makes things happen. I’m very happy with what they’ve done.”
Carroll has won 11 matches in a row. Its only losses this season have been to Bishop Shanahan and Mount St. Joseph, the top two seeds in the District 1 Class 4A playoffs.
After the Pats fell behind in the first set, 5-1, Jones (18 kills) started putting points away at the net. Sophomore Amelia Painter chipped in with a service ace, and soph Paige Monastero (14 kills, 11 digs) helped the Carroll lead grow.
Carroll scored nine of the last 10 points of the set, and Jones had a hand in almost all of them.
With the second set even at 4-4, the Pats ran off six points in a row, thanks to Monastero and senior Molly Masciantonio (five kills). Junior Abigail Riehman contributed a service ace and Jones and Monastero helped Carroll close out the set with the last nine points.
The third set was over almost before it began as the Patriots rolled to a 12-2 advantage behind hits by Jones, Monastero and Masciantonio. Jones had the honor of putting the ball away for the point that ended the match.
Custer, who made 18 digs, said Carroll’s 3-0 decision over Wood earlier in the season set the tone for Sunday’s match.
“We knew they’d be coming out and giving it all they had when we started,” she said. “(McCann) told us we needed to play like we could and get back into it and have some fun.”
McCann coaches Custer and Silks when they play for the East Coast Power club team.
“We played a lot in the summer, and even went to a beach volleyball tournament,” said Custer, who hopes to play at Cabrini University next year.
“When I’m out there, my job is to pass the ball, concentrate, and make sure everyone is doing their job. It’s been great having (Jones) on the team with us. She’s learning, but she’s getting there.”
Silks chipped in with 34 assists as well as nine digs.
“I had a sprained ankle and couldn’t play the first time we played Wood,” she said. “We thought they might give us a tough time today. Gina and I know we have to be good leaders and direct the team and keep everyone playing smart.”
The captains can take plenty of satisfaction in the fact that this Carroll team kept the school’s volleyball winning streak in the Catholic League alive.