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Aug 03, 2023

Mount Carmel tops Country Day after early challenge

Mount Carmel got off to a fast start against Country Day on Wednesday night, winning the first two sets. But the Cajuns bounced back to win the third set. That could have been a turning point in the

Mount Carmel got off to a fast start against Country Day on Wednesday night, winning the first two sets.

But the Cajuns bounced back to win the third set.

That could have been a turning point in the match or just a delay on the way to a Cubs victory.

Mount Carmel coach Taylor Ricaud was determined to make it the latter.

“She told us that we were playing four games and not five,” said Emily Caracci, who led the team with 10 kills. “She said, ‘You know how to finish this. You just have to do it.’”

The Cubs (2-0) did it by using an 8-0 run to take a commanding 21-11 lead on their way to a 25-13 victory in the fourth game.

“Country Day has won seven straight (Division V) state championships, so they’re always going to be great competition,” Caracci said. “It’s good to have setbacks along the way because they make you better in the long run.”

Caroline Harris had two kills as Mount Carmel took a 14-8 lead in the first game. The Cajuns (1-1) got within three points before Mount Carmel regained control, and Harris’ killed finished a 25-17 victory.

The second game was tied nine times, the last being at 24-all after consecutive points for Country Day. But consecutive kills by Harris and Giselle Estrada gave the Cubs a 26-24 win.

“We knew it was going to be a dogfight,” Ricaud said. “We came out with high energy and Country Day came out and played well. We were sloppy in the third game, but we cut out our own errors in the fourth.”

The Cajuns, who led by as many as two points just once in the first two games, scored three straight to take a 14-10 lead in the third game. Mount Carmel got as close as two points, but Country Day scored five of the final six points to prevail 25-18.

But the Cubs made sure the fourth game looked more like the first two.

“It was a competitive match,” Cajuns coach Julie Ibieta said. “We played a really hard, but we were a little sloppy. It’s the first week of the season and we have a lot to clean up, but it’s all fixable.

“Mount Carmel did a good job, but it was a long match and we lost our focus a little. I like the spirit we have and we play hard. It’s a great group. We had a lot of unforced errors, but as the weeks go by we’ll have fewer unforced errors.”

Country Day will host St. Scholastica on Thursday and Mount Carmel will host Vandebilt Catholic next Tuesday.

Country Day — 17 24 25 13

Mount Carmel — 25 26 18 25

Leaders — COUNTRY DAY: Emily Caracci 10 kills, Emma Richey 36 assists, Nola Sevin 12 digs, Brooke Darrah 2 blocks, Emma Richey, Mia Lopez 2 aces. MOUNT CARMEL: Gigi Dazet 10 kills, Maggie Schneider 31 assists, Addison Launey 14 digs, Lia Beverly 2 blocks, Addison Launey 2 aces.