Cardinal O’Hara’s Passing Game Struggles in Loss vs. Rival Archbishop Carroll
SPRINGFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA – After losing the first two sets of Thursday night’s match against Archbishop Carroll, Cardinal O’Hara’s volleyball team huddled before the start of the third set. However, one person was missing.
Archbishop Carroll senior captain Emily McCann tips the ball over the outstretched arms of two Cardinal O’Hara blockers Thursday Sept. 17. - PSD Photo
Head coach Bill Collins was not in his usual place in the center of the huddle, instead standing a few feet away talking to his assistant coaches as his players ran the discussion.
“Sometimes it is just another voice,” Collins said. “Sometimes they get tired of hearing me trying to impart the same stuff on them so I let the players run the huddle.”
The Lions played with more energy to start the third set, winning the first four points. Carroll’s head coach, Brian McCann, called a timeout to slow O’Hara’s momentum, but the Lions stretched their advantage 6-2 after the timeout.
The Patriots then regained control of the match, going on a 4-0 run to make the score 6-5 and prompt Collins to use a time out. Collins regained control of the huddle, but O’Hara could not regain control of the match, losing the final set 25-11.
O’Hara’s Maddie Noble attempts to attack past the block of senior outside hitter Emily McCann and freshman defensive specialist Abby Wright.- PSD Photo
The straight sets win for Carroll is its fourth, as the team remains undefeated. The Patriots have defeated the Lions for the second year in a row after losing the previous three matches, partly because of a new attitude, explained McCann.
“We’ve turned a corner on how we go about our business,” McCann said. “Girls just go out there and play their game. We don’t worry about who is on the other side of the court anymore. If we take care of our business we’re pretty tough to beat.”
Carroll will put its undefeated record on the line Monday at Mount Saint Joseph Academy. On the other hand, Collins is looking to have productive practices on Sunday night and Monday to get his team back on track, especially focusing on improving the team’s passing.
“If we can’t pass, we can’t win,” Collins said. “We can’t even compete if we don’t pass. The word on the street for O’Hara now is ‘serve tough, because they have trouble passing.’"
Patriots junior outside hitter Hannah Wright takes a swing on the attack during Archbishop Carroll’s win Thursday Sept. 17.- PSD Photo
O’Hara will have tough opponents next week as it faces Little Flower at home Tuesday night and Ridley High School, who recently beat the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur on Sept. 4. who also defeated the Lions earlier in the season.
Collins is confident his team can overcome its early struggles to improve its 3-2 record and win its sixth Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Division XII title in just eight years.
“With the leadership and experience we have, we’re going to get it done,” McCann said. “I don’t have a doubt we’ll get it done. It will just be a little painful getting there.”