By: Ross Van De Griek
CLEARWATER- It was senior night at Clearwater Central Catholic before the match where they honored their two seniors libero Briana Scully & outside hitter Linsey Harrison before the match tonight.
Clearwater Central Catholic topped Bishop McLaughlin for the second time this season, but this time it took 4 sets (26-24, 25-23, 12-25, 25-21) & improved to 15-3 overall on the season, while Bishop McLaughlin dropped to 20-3 overall on the season.
The host Marauders came into tonight's action, ranked the #1 team in the Tampa Bay area & the #4 ranked team in all of Class 3A. Bishop McLaughlin came into tonight's action as the #2 ranked team in the Tampa Bay area, as well as #8 in all of Class 3A.
Clearwater Central Catholic jumped out of the gates & started the match on a 6-1 run, that was all started by an ace by junior opposite hitter Kylie White. Bishop McLaughlin would not go away quietly, as they would rally back & tie things up at 12-12. Clearwater Central Catholic quickly responded with a 5-1 run to retake a 17-13 lead in the first set. Bishop McLaughlin responded with a run of their own to re-tie it at 19-19 & again at 24-24. The Marauders would hold on & take the first set, 26-24.
The second set would start a little back & forth, as both teams traded points for the first several points. Freshman Maddie Snider had a key kill for the Hurricanes that tied things at 6-6. That was quickly followed up by consecutive aces by sophomore Victoria Hensley that gave the Marauders an 8-6 lead. The match would continue to go back & forth until it was 20-20 & then it became 22-22. The host Marauders would get three of the next four points & take the second set as well, 25-23.
Bishop McLaughlin would control the third set right from the opening serve, as they would start the set on a 6-0 run, that would later become an 8-1 run. The host Marauders would provide a little rally, by Victoria Hensley & Linsey Harrison to make things 16-9 Hurricanes, but Audrey Koenig was too much in the third set. Koenig, would provide 7 kills in the third set alone, as the Hurricanes took the set, 25-12.
The fourth set would start off similar to how the third set started, as Bishop McLaughlin started the set on a 6-0 run. The Marauders crawled back into the set, making it 16-10 CCC, which would later become 17-11 CCC. Bishop McLaughlin provided a mini rally, that made it 18-15 CCC. Later in the fourth set, Bishop McLaughlin made it even closer as it was 23-21 CCC late. The host Marauders capitalized with the next two points & took the fourth set, 25-21 & the match 3-1.
Bishop McLaughlin Team Stats: Audrey Koenig (23 kills, 8 digs, 3 blocks), Ali Waldon (12 kills, 2 serving aces, 5 digs), Maddie Snider (10 kills, 7 digs)
Clearwater Central Catholic Team Stats: Linsey Harrison (8 aces), Brooke Green (9 kills), Kasey Singer (8 kills)
The road ahead for Bishop McLaughlin: 10/3 @ Carrollwood Day
The road ahead for Clearwater Central Catholic: 10/8 @ Northside Christian
Comments