MATCH PHOTOS: http://smu.gs/2xIVbji
There are several certainties in life — death, taxes and a five-set volleyball match between Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin and Lake Catholic.
Needless to say, when NDCL and Lake get together on the volleyball court, there is a pretty good chance the match will go five sets.
Last week, the Lions and Cougars got together once again and not surprisingly, played five sets, as Lake topped NDCL on Oct. 12.
With the win, Lake Catholic (11-11, 5-5 WRC) clinched third place in the North Coast League Blue Division. NDCL (13-9, 4-6) finished fourth.
The win ensured Lake coach Rich Severino, in his 29th year as a head coach, would not finish with a record below .500. In all his years as coach, Severino’s teams have at least finished with a .500 record or better.
The key to the win was the fast start by Lake.
The Cougars took the first two sets thanks to excellent net play.
The Lions, behind the play of Alexis Zienka and Sally Sterkel came roaring back to take the next two sets and force a fifth and decisive set.
Both Sterkel and Zienka said the Lions faced a gut-check, down by two sets and they didn’t want to let their teammates down.
Zienka felt Sterkel’s power volleyball play helped change things up in the third set.
“She brings power to the team,” said Zienka.
Sterkel, credited Zienka for stepping up her game when the team needed her the most.
“Alexis, when we needed her, she stepped her game up,” said Sterkel.
“We were down eight points and didn’t give up,” said NDCL head coach Tom Ray. “If we don’t dig holes, all of the sudden, it’s a different match. In the first two sets, we played a little flat, which we’ve been doing lately.”
Behind the play of the junior and senior, the Lions forced a fifth set.
In the final set, Lake jumped out to a big lead early and went on to secure a win.
In the grand scheme of things, this game was a tune-up for NDCL.
“This game was a chance to prepare ourselves for the upcoming postseason,” said Sterkel.
Zienka said she and her teammates need to have more fun in games such as this one.
“We were so serious and focused on our rival,” she said, “but we have to have fun, stay relaxed and play as a team.”
She said playing Lake Catholic gave the Lions the opportunity to play better as a team and make the adjustments that will help them be successful come postseason.
If things play out the way they should, there is a good chance both teams will face each other in the postseason.
MATCH PHOTOS: http://smu.gs/2xIVbji