By Ryan Mink
rmink@digitalsports.com
It seems that every time Elizabeth Seton scored a victory this volleyball season, there was a humbling defeat right around the corner.
“in the beginning of the season we would win a game, lose a game, win a game, lose a game, win, win, lose,” senior Nydia Bryan-Green said. “It was kind of rocky, but now I think we’re taking off.”
The Roadrunners notched their fifth straight win Thursday, beating Bishop McNamara in Forestville in three games – 25-8, 25-11, 25-12. For the first time all season, Elizabeth Seton (10-5, 9-5 WCAC) feels like it’s onto something tangible.
“I feel like we’re climbing now,” said Bryan-Green, who notched seven kills and three blocks. “We started off a little slow, but now we’re climbing to be one of the top three or top four [teams in the conference].”
For Elizabeth Seton Coach Terri Kerley, the team’s inconsistency in the first third of the season was maddening. The team has six seniors, which Kerley feels should provide enough stable leadership to even out the teams’ play.
But the Roadrunners couldn’t together any streak. Like Bryan-Green said, each match’s result flip-flopped for 11 matches except one time when Elizabeth Seton beat Bishop Ireton and Bishop McNamara in succession.
“Great one day, bad the next,” Kerley said. “It’s the story of our life.”
On Sept. 29, Elizabeth Seton fell to St. John’s in five games at home. Elizabeth Seton topped St. Mary’s Ryken in three games on Oct. 1, but had a date with Bishop O’Connell, who is currently jockeying among the WCAC’s top teams, on the next night.
The Roadrunners finally broke their rollercoaster pattern on Oct. 2, beating O’Connell in four games behind 11 kills from Bryan-Green, 10 from senior Jasmine Williams and nine by Courtney Cooper.
None of the girls on the team had even beaten O’Connell, including a five-game loss to the Knights earlier this year. They hadn’t even beaten O’Connell in 2005 when Elizabeth Seton won the conference championship.
“It was really nice to finally beat them,” Bryan-Green said.
Elizabeth Seton came out strong against McNamara, using its athleticism to command the top of the net. Senior Taylor Allen was the difference-maker in the first game, serving during an 11-point Roadrunners stretch in which she nailed several of her 10 aces. Allen finished the night with a team-high eight kills and added seven digs and three blocks.
McNamara (2-12) lost junior outside hitter Tamara Weems for the rest of the match when she turned her ankle midway through the second game.
“It was very tough; she’s our captain,” McNamara senior Adrienne Davis said. “She’s not the heart and soul of our team, but she really encourages people and she’s our power hitter so it really was a tough blow.”
Elizabeth Seton won five of the next six points after the injury and never looked back. The Roadrunners opened the third game winning 13 of the first 15 points. In addition to Bryan-Green and Allen’s contributions, senior Rachel Hammer notched 24 assists and Williams had five kills and four digs.
“We’re in our rhythm now,” senior Beverly Keith said. “We’re playing better than we have all season.”
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