STANTON VOLLEYBALL ADVANCES TO GATEWAY SEMIS
FABRIZIO GOWDY | OCTOBER 6, 2020 | SPORTS
The Stanton College Preparatory School Blue Devils are moving on to the Gateway Conference Semifinals after sweeping the Sandalwood High School Saints 3-0 at home Tuesday night.
In the game immediately before the Stanton-Sandalwood game, Sandalwood won the right to play Stanton with a win over the Englewood High School Rams. If the Saints were tired from playing a doubleheader, it did not show.
The first set consisted of several scoring runs. Stanton jumped out to an early 7-1 lead, only for Sandalwood to rally and tie the game at 10. The Blue Devils responded with a 9-1 run, garnering a 19-11 lead. Senior libero Leah Christie recorded a team-high 15 digs and made several play-extending hits, while Stanton's bigs had several blocks to rebuild the Blue Devil lead.
Photo by Fabrizio Gowdy
However, down 24-13 and facing set point, the Saints managed to score five straight. Senior outside hitter Kyleigh Castengera, who led Stanton in kills, tapped a well-placed ball over the outstretched arms of two Sandalwood defenders and into the front court, securing a 25-18 victory in the first set for the Blue Devils.
“I thought we served well, especially in the first set,” said Stanton head coach Tangela Ennis. “We got on two long servers' runs and that helped propel us to victory.
The contentious second set included four lead changes. Neither team led by more than two points until another 9-1 Stanton scoring run helped the Blue Devils pull away. Sandalwood managed to cut the lead to four on two separate occasions, but the Blue Devils hung on for a 25-19 win. Sophomore Caroline Rinaman recorded five aces, senior Victoria Rinaman scored on a momentum-shifting kill, Castengera added a pair of solid hits from the left side, and Stanton went up 2-0.
“Tonight I think we worked well on reading the ball and being on the correct lines for defense,” said Castengera. “It’s really exciting because that’s what we’ve been working hard to improve on in practice.”
Photo by Fabrizio Gowdy
In the final set, the Blue Devils once again outlasted the Saints. Sandalwood never led, and Stanton proved its ability to work its way out of difficult situations and extend plays. A 25-15 win in the third set wrapped up a clean 3-0 win and sent the Blue Devils on to the Gateway Semifinals.
“We’re going to have to do a lot better tomorrow if we are going to continue on in the tournament,” said Coach Ennis.
The Blue Devils will face the Mandarin High School Mustangs Wednesday night at Mandarin. In a matchup earlier this season, the Mustangs beat the Blue Devils 3-0.
This story has been corrected; Kyleigh Castengera led in kills, but not assists. Her sister, sophomore setter Alaina Castenger, led Stanton with 11 assists.