The first match of the Jacob Layden Era went smoothly from start to finish. 

In Layden's first contest as head coach, after assuming the reins from former coach Casey Marcelo in the offseason, the Saint Ignatius varsity volleyball team looked as dominant as ever.

Layden also has one key weapon from last season – Philip Catanzaro. 

The Wildcats' freak-of-nature junior looked like the LeBron James of volleyball on Friday evening. Catanzaro showed how sheerly unstoppable he is when he's hot.

With Catanzaro serving in the second set, the Wildcats ripped off 15 points in a row to down Brunswick, 25-11, and take the wind out of the sails of the Blue Devils.

The Wildcats won the first set, 25-17, and third set, 25-21 to complete the win. 

"I feel like I've done this before – last year was a good prep run for feeling comfortable on the sideline this year," Layden said of his first career win as head coach. "It's exciting getting the first win, but hopefully we keep it up.

"It was just a good game. We played well – Brunswick came out with a bunch of energy, expected after winning a state championship. I think we're going to see the best of most teams. We stepped up at the end of the first game, dominated the second game, and were able to close out the third game."

The first set indeed started off quite well. With Philip Catanzaro serving, the Wildcats tore off four straight points to begin the 2018 season. Catanzaro notched a pair of aces in the process, too. The Volleyball Cats stretched the lead to 11-3, showing exceptional communication and strong play at the net. The Blue Devils started to adjust, however, outscoring the Wildcats, 8-6, in the middle of the set, narrowing the deficit to 17-11.

But in the end, Wildcats' cushion proved too deep for the Blue Devils to overcome. Brunswick did narrow the gap to four points, 21-17, but a definitive Eric Larsen kill stopped the Blue Devils' rally in its tracks. The Wildcats took set one, 25-17. 

While the Blue Devils started off the second set by serving, it started the same as the first. The Wildcats grabbed an early 4-1 lead, beginning with confidence. Unlike the first, though, the Blue Devils responded by hardening up on defense. Brunswick's front line utilized some pesky shots at the net and efficient blocking to roll to keep it even. 

Brunswick snatched a 10-9 lead thanks to strong backline play. The Blue Devils negated a pair of attempted Wildcat kills and allowed a couple of Saint Ignatius hits to fall harmlessly out of bounds.

But then Catanzaro struck again. The master of the serve, Catanzaro fired off a trio of aces in a row, allowing the Wildcats to snatch the lead back, 15-11, before Brunswick called a timeout. But even after the break, the run continued. The Wildcats notched six more points with Catanzaro serving before Brunswick again called time to slow down the game. 

But this beast could not be contained. With the ball in his hands, Catanzaro helped the Wildcats notch four more points to cap off an incredible 15-0 run to win the second set. Not only did Catanzaro tally a number of aces, but contributed a couple thrilling kills. 

"Phil is floor captain as a junior," Layden said. "From a volleyball IQ standpoint and a skills standpoint, I think, without a doubt, he is the top player in the North region. He showed that today when he went on a run of 15 points."

Give credit to the visitors – the Blue Devils did not quit. Brunswick battled to a 6-6 tie to start off the third set. The Blue Devils even captured a 12-10 lead before the Wildcats battled back to recapture the lead. Brunswick took a timeout on the throes of an 8-2 Saint Ignatius run that granted the Cats an 18-14 lead. 

The Blue Devils fought back after the break to within two, 21-19, but a comeback was not in the works. The Wildcats finished the job with a 25-21 win in the third set to secure the sweep. 

"We got everyone on the team who was here into the game and they made positive plays," Layden said. "I think it speaks to the depth of the team and I think that will be a win for us through the year." 

Next up for the Wildcats is a home matchup with St. Edward on Tuesday at home. JV begins at 6 pm, with varsity starting afterwards at approximately 7:15 pm. The contest will be a CYO Night – all young volleyball players wearing CYO gear will get in for free!