Joliet Cathlic holds ground against Bolingbrook

With nagging injuries limiting the team, Joliet Catholic has only been able to play its expected strongest starting lineup once through nine matches.

Looking for a positive out of an early season negative? The Angels have persevered through the injuries, and with Thursday’s 25-18, 25-16 win at Bolingbrook sit at 10-0.

“We keep playing and going after it,” Joliet Catholic coach Christine Scheibe said. “We’re 10-0, which is a great way to start the season. To start this way a quarter of the way in is a credit to the depth we have on this team.”

Morgan Reardon (9 kills, 2 blocks) and Emily Schoenstedt (7 kills, 10 assists, 2 blocks) led Joliet Catholic. Mallory Mangun (10 assists) and Jillian Hickey (7 digs) also contributed.

Ciara Hill had four kills and Krissa Gearring added three for Bolingbrook (1-7).

A two-game win was anything but easy for the Angels, though, as Bolingbrook led in both, the excitement of a possible upset building early in the match.

“It’s tough to be in this position at times because it feels like everyone plays a little better when they play you,” Reardon said with a laugh. “Occasionally, we have to check ourselves and say ‘We’ve got to go right here.’ ”

The Raiders bench came alive when Joliet Catholic fell behind 14-12 in the opener, but the Angels quashed any momentum. Reardon, Hailey Pennington and Gianna Lincoln all had multiple kills in a 13-5 run that closed the first game.

“Once we started playing we ran a quick offense,” Scheibe said. “That made the difference.”

Overcoming some sloppiness in the second game (11 errors for Joliet Catholic, nine for Bolingbrook), Reardon helped spark a run of seven straight points to open up an 18-11 lead.

After coming through with the necessary kill all match, Reardon’s service ace brought home the win.

“Bolingbrook came out ready to win,” Reardon said. “We needed to pick our game up a little bit, but we pulled through.”

For a Bolingbrook squad looking to get on a roll, an encouraging loss is something to build on.

“We’re trying to find our groove again after a good summer,” Raiders coach Andrea Bercot said. “I feel satisfied like we can move forward. We played well; it just boiled down to our mistakes.”

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