Girl's Volleyball: Ponaganset Runs Into the Mountie Buzzsaw; MSC wins 3-1

Mount St. Charles added another win to their undefeated season, beating Ponaganset 3-1 in a Division I girl's volleyball match on Thursday.

The Chieftains were coming off a tough loss against East Providence in a five game match, in which their star setter Taylor Stevens suffered an injury. Stevens was injured diving for a ball, on which she landed on her back and head. She did not suffer a concussion but had serious discomfort in her neck and upper back going into this match against the Mounties. Ponaganset Coach Sue Stevens kept her other setters ready, unsure of how much her player would be hampered by the injury. 

The first game was taken handily by the Mounties, who were solid in all phases of the game. Stevens, who is an effective server, had to be served for due to her neck injury. MSC won game one, 25-12.

Game two was the game of the match. Both teams were playing clean volleyball at a high level with very few errors. The fans responded to the long rallies, and the intensity was almost palpable in the packed gym. 

The game was tight from the start, with neither team separating itself on the scoreboard. Ponganset got some big blocks from Erica Blais, and Sarah Gates had a huge block to make it 20-14 and open up a four point lead for the Chieftains.

Ponaganset then made some mistakes and allowed the Mounties to get back into the game. MSC got a big spike from Kelsey Gainor around two blockers to help the Mounties draw within one point. They responded with a service error, one of several in the latter part of the second game for the Mounties. Danielle Lippacher then stepped up for the Mounties with a few big kills and the Mounties gained a one point lead at 24-23 on their serve. The serve went long and the score was tied at 24. A few points later the Chieftains put the game away on an ace from Laura Wardwell. Ponaganset wins game two, 27-25.

MSC opened up the third game with good serving, accompanied by sloppy play from the Chieftains, and secured an early five point lead. But some defensive breakdowns and service errors by the Mounties allowed Ponaganset to climb back into the game. Ponaganset won a spirited rally to make it 13-11, MSC. But the bleeding would stop there, as the Mounties recovered and pushed their lead back up to six. had two aces in the run, on a night in which she provided a lot of big hits offensively as well, and also found the corner on a broken play to finish off the game three victory for MSC, 25-15.

Taylor Stevens had to come out early in the fourth game due to the pain in her neck and back. But the Chieftains played a tough game and hung in there without her. Missy Previte played a nice fourth game for the Chieftains but the Mounties were just too much to handle, as the big hitting continued, this time from Meaghan Walsh. MSC won the fourth game, 25-17, and won the match 3-1.

The setter is the the lynchpin of a volleyball team. It is not a glory position, as a good setter goes unnoticed to a casual volleyball fan. A setter is the player whom each play is supposed to go through, and therefore is highly important to the success of a volleyball team. Playing with a limited Taylor Stevens, and eventually playing without her, was a tall task for the Chieftains.

"She could hardly move and she couldn't jump for anything," Coach Stevens said after the match. But she was pleased with the way the rest of the team stepped up in her stead.

"It's nice to see that we can sub some players and they can step up to the plate," said Stevens.

"I'm happy with the way they played, considering the circumstances I think it was respectable," Stevens added.

For Mount St. Charles it was more of the same, as they were able keep they're undefeated season going and move to 5-0. Coach Josh D'Abate was happy to see some of his other hitters step up, with Ponaganset paying a lot of attention to Mounties outside hitter Kelsey Lace, who still managed to have a great game with good serving and powerful hitting.

"Everybody kind of keys on Kelsey [Lace] so that gives us opportunities in other areas," D'Abate pointed out.

"Dani [Danielle Lippacher] came up with some huge points defensively with her blocking, and had a couple big kills late in games," D'Abate continued, "And Meaghan Walsh had two kills in the first two games, but had five in the fourth game alone. So I'm glad to see when the pressure is on them, everybody steps up and there is no fear in them."

"I like our chances. I like what we are doing. We've just got to get a little more consistent defensively. If we can get our defense up we are in good shape," D'Abate commented, on his team looking towards the rest of the season.

MSC travels to Ponaganset for a rematch on Thursday October 20, which is sure to be another high octane, high intensity volleyball game, featuring two of the best teams in the state.