McAuley bounces back to top Lockport

Updated: August 30, 2011 9:13PM

Mother McAuley coach Jen DeJarld has seen it before and most likely will see it again.

What is it with the Mighty Macs and early season struggles?

“I don’t know, but it’s that beginning of the year stuff in traditional Mother McAuley style,” DeJarld said. “They’re overanalyzing their play instead of talking, having fun and playing.”

Playing in just the team’s second match, Mother McAuley trailed in both games of Tuesday’s nonconference match at Lockport but was able to come back in both, winning 25-18, 25-13.

“We were a little frazzled,” McAuley’s Ryann Arundel said. We were overplaying and in overdrive. We just needed to calm down.”

Arundel had six kills and 11 digs for No. 6 Mother McAuley (1-1) to go with efforts from Bridget Powell (18 digs), Courtney Joyce (27 assists), Gabrielle Ennis (seven kills) and Sydney McPhillips (six kills).

Lockport (0-1) was led by Christina Wilson (13 assists, eight digs, six kills), Aubrey Ficek (five kills) and Anna Bryniarski (five digs, three kills).

It was Lockport who took control in the opener, holding a 12-9 lead. McAuley rattled off six straight points, including two Porter errors to regain control and cruise to the win.

Taking the lead again in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, Lockport looked ready to force a third game with a late 22-21 lead.

Ennis tied the game with her seventh kill, and the momentum was back on the side of the Macs. A Lauren Grady kill gave McAuley the lead with Arundel and Grady combining for a block at the next on the next possession.

Arundels sixth kill closed the books when her attack hit the floor untouched.

“We pulled it together when we were down instead of doing it from the beginning,” Arundel said.

For the Porters, a good performance was wasted late, but the potential is there.

“In the second game, McAuley came through when we didn’t,” Lockport coach Julia Hudson said. “For a first match against McAuley though, there are positives.”

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