Lady Mikes win in front of the loud home crowd
CARMICHAELS — For the third year in a row, the Carmichaels volleyball team captured a postseason victory after a 3-0 sweep of Quigley Catholic in the first round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs Wednesday night in front of a boisterous, home crowd.
The Lady Mikes (12-3) won by scores of 25-15, 25-10, 25-12.
“Being a four seed and hosting a playoff game was huge for us,” Carmichaels coach Ashley Shoemaker said. “But, the girls knew that they had to be prepared and ready for tonight. Anything can happen in the playoffs. We just had to focus on us.”
This is the second straight season that Carmichaels advances to the quarterfinal round. The Lady Mikes defeated Avella in last year’s opening round match-up and fell to eventual Class A champion Greensburg Central Catholic in the round of eight.
The Lady Mikes will face a familiar foe in the quarterfinals on Tuesday in Section 2-A rival California. The teams split the regular season meetings with each winning 3-2 on the road. The time and site for the quarterfinal showdown is yet to be determined.
“Our section was so tough this year and you really couldn’t take a night off,” Shoemaker said. “Competing in this section really helped us and I think will be big for us in the playoffs. Those games helped us become more mentally stronger.”
Senior Aubree Ferek had a stellar game for Carmichaels with 21 service points, 14 digs and five kills. Senior Jadyn Barnish finished 11 digs and 10 service points, while junior Grace Kerr dished out 20 assists and junior Micaela Ricco added seven digs.
Carmichaels was especially dominant at the net, led by senior Kristina Aeschbacher (5 kills, 5 blocks), junior Meighan Spishock (10 service points, 6 kills) and sophomore Taylor Christopher (9 kills, 2 blocks).
“It’s such an honor and an amazing achievement for us to host a playoff game,” Aeschbacher said. “Being in this gym one last time is very special and the fans were awesome tonight. This section made us tougher as the season went along. Knowing we had that competition gave us that drive to play our best every night.”
The Lady Mikes jumped out to an early 6-0 lead over the Lady Spartans (10-4) in the first set, but the visitors rallied back and trimmed the lead to 13-12.
Carmichaels responded with a 6-1 spurt and then scored the final five points of the set go up 1-0. Ferek and Kerr was both steady for the fourth seed at the service line in the set.
The Lady Mikes grabbed a 12-4 lead in the second set and ended the set on a 13-6 rally behind some strong kills from Christopher, Aeschbacher and Spishock.
“It’s a great feeling to sweep a playoff game at home,” Spishock said. “We had to play our game and block any negative energy away when we are on the court. We are a complete team and it showed tonight. It was a total team effort.”
Quigley started the third set with three quick points, but Carmichaels answered back with nine consecutive points.
After the Lady Spartans cut the lead down to 13-10, the home team countered with a 7-0 run that was led by kills from senior Madison Pratt, Kerr and Ferek.
“We were really aggressive at the net tonight,” Aeschbacher said. “Any time you can get a kill that turns the momentum is an awesome feeling. I get pumped whether I get the kill or one of my teammates gets the kill. We are a deep team and we have the confidence.”
An ace by Spishock made the game 21-10 and Carmichaels wrapped up the first round sweep with five of the final seven points.
“It has definitely been a progression for this program,” Shoemaker said. “Eight or nine years ago, I think we’d be happy to be in the playoffs. Now we are in the quarterfinals for the second year in a row. It’s been a blessing to have these girls and these girls now expect to win in the playoffs.”