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Aces Check Perry Pirates in a Sweep for the Volleyball Cats

By Joe Ginley '12 , 04/18/19, 9:30AM EDT

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On the Wednesday evening before the start of Easter break, the Saint Ignatius volleyball program outmatched the Perry Pirates.

The Wildcats cruised past the Perry Pirates in a 3-0 sweep – 25-3, 25-6, 25-10.

Domination from the service line ensured a quick victory for the Wildcats, though the Pirates did play a spirited game, heartily celebrating every point and small success.

Perry did not have much success in the first set, as the Wildcats proved to be too dominant at the service line. Phil Catanzaro, Alex Bender, and James Thoma all enjoyed long, successful stretches at the stripe. When Perry did manage to return the ball, the Wildcats' front line held an answer. Eric Larsen and Alex Heath supplied several dynamic kills in the front lines. The Wildcats ended the first period on a lengthy run, earning a 25-3 victory. 

Perry took a slight early lead to start the second, but the Volleyball Cats adjusted. Aidan Monroe and Alex Bender supplemented a growing lead with aces and strong serves. Resting a few starters on the bench, the Wildcats still played disciplined and strong volleyball. Thoma tallied a number of digs, Holzheimer often provided perfect sets (and a few kills), and the front line found openings in the Perry defense. The Wildcats walked away with a 25-6 win in the second stanza.

The Pirates managed more points in the final set, finding more cohesion for stretches of the set. However, the Wildcats' domination at the service line, with pinpoint accuracy targeting a young Perry backline, spelled the visitors' doom. Monroe continued to stand out in the third set, serving up great saves and adding a couple kills, too. Teddy Koncelik finished off the Pirates with a legnthy stretch at the service line, adding a couple kills to his name, too. The Wildcats walked away with a 25-10 win.

Despite the deficit in talent, Perry had no lack of heart. A student-led club team, the Pirates showcased plenty of love for the game and plenty of sportsmanship. After the game, Perry invited the Wildcats to join them in grabbing dinner from Wendy's. 

The victory sets the Wildcats' record at 8-4 on the year. The squad has won eight of nine contests dating back to the start of April. 

Next up is a matchup with a strong foe on Tuesday. The Wildcats will play fellow North Region power Massillon Jackson in a 7 pm road matchup.

JV Cats keep rolling

The JV Cats added another win on Wednesday, sweeping Perry, 25-19, 25-11. The Wildcats have now won six straight dating back to March 23, with a 7-1 overall record.

The JV squad will also face the Polar Bears, with the start set for 6 pm on Tuesday.