After winning the first two games Tuesday, the second-seeded Shelton High girls volleyball team looked like it was poised to sweep seventh-seeded Mercy at home. However, Mercy had a lot left in the tank and proved how most of the teams in the SCC are close to each other talent.
In the end, the Tigers raised their record to 13 – 3 with a 3 – 2 (23 – 25, 20 – 25, 25 – 16, 25 – 20, 15 – 13) victory over the Gaelettes (16 – 3).
“We got a little too overzealous but as I told the girls, we were 6 – 12 last year and 16 – 2 in the regular season this year and brought home a banner for the wall and we have nothing to be ashamed of and a lot to look forward to,” said Shelton coach LeAnne Bianchine.
The Gaelettes should not feel like they underachieved because Mercy is well-coached under Duffy Lynch and there’s not much of a talent gulf among the teams that qualified for the SCC tournament.
“The SCC has some of the best teams out there,” said Bianchine. “All we can do is push from the start.”
Shelton led for most of the first game and its lead peaked at seven, 18 – 11, before the Tigers slowly crept back into the game. Mercy tied it 23 – 23 but the Gaelettes reclaimed the lead, 24 – 23, after Tiger junior Katie Nielsen’s service error. The final point was served by Shelton junior Sara Gramesty (13 assists, four digs, two aces) showed how competitive both teams were. Gaelette sophomore Kelsey Pendagast (two blocks) kept the point alive by winning a jump ball and subsequently clinched the point and game when she forced an error on the 12th return.
In the second game, Shelton led most of the way with junior Kelly Niland (21 assists) setting and serving well. Senior co-captain Jestelle Hanrahan (24 kills, 17 digs, three blocks) was tough at the net and produced a few kills for the Gaelettes. Sophomore Kathleen DiRenzo (15 kills, 14 digs, three aces) served six straight points, starting with an ace to break an 18 – 18 tie and give Shelton a 24 – 18 lead. The Gaelettes clinched the game on Mercy’s passing error.
The Tigers led for most of the third and fourth games and they were propelled by senior tri-captain Chelsea Wiese’s (32 digs) serves and defense. Shelton tied it 9 – 9 with senior Kelsey McDonnell (seven digs) serving two points. Hanrahan’s serves and DiRenzo’s kills also kept the Gaelettes in the game, but Wiese served five straight points to break it open, 17 – 11.
Junior libero Tina Tassitano (21 digs) helped Shelton on defense and gave the Gaelettes a 10 – 8 lead by serving four straight points. Niland set up Hanrahan kills on three of those points. Senior co-captain Erin Chuma (four assists, nine digs) also contributed on defense for Shelton.
However, the Tigers took over with senior tri-captain Jenny Carta delivering a few kills, classmate Morgan Thompson (15 digs) playing great defense and junior Amber Bepko (24 kills, 17 digs, six aces) doing everything from swatting the ball, to serving to the gaps.
In the fifth game, the Gaelettes took their first lead at 11 – 10 on Pendagast’s block. A Mercy error made it 12 – 10 but Bepko was lights out, producing kills on four of her team’s final five points to seal to victory.
“Bepko is a great player and gave them momentum,” said Bianchine.
Hanrahan said, “We tried very hard but we just didn’t have it. We’ll be back in States. I think we’ll come back with a vengeance.”
Although Shelton’s SCC run is over, it will begin its Class LL title quest next Monday. Seedings will be available tomorrow at casciac.org
“We have to work on our blocks and passing,” said Bianchine. “If we do it, we’ll be OK.”
Hanrahan said, “Passion [is the key]. When we want it, nothing can stop us. We didn’t have it tonight but we’ll have it at States.”
