Volleyball

A week away from competitive play allowed St. Mary’s to return dialed in and Phoenix was unable to slow the Crusaders Wednesday night as host St. Mary’s rolled to a straight-sets victory, 25-14, 25-8, 25-21.

Ada Bernard led the charge for the Crusaders (2-1) with 20 kills, while Emma Johnston added 12 kills and Noelle Thickett collected 21 assists in a strong showing.

Sydney Holdermann led the defense with 16 digs and was 13-for-13 from the service line, while Julia Hansen put up three stuff blocks for St. Mary’s.

“Our passing helped us be able to run the offense tonight with some big plays,” said St. Mary’s head coach Katie Miller, “but we were plagued by missed serves, totaling 15 for the match.”

ASHLAND 3, NORTH VALLEY 1: At Ashland, a slow start didn’t deter Ashland as the Grizzlies rebounded from a first-set loss to win the next three and halt a 20-match losing skid with a 23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-11 home triumph.

Ashland (1-2), which went winless a year ago, carried a different mindset into the final three sets to regain confidence. Flannery Lundgren helped pave the way with 17 kills and three blocks, while Lainie Carter added eight kills and 20 digs and Savannah Elster was instrumental on defense with near perfect serve-receive to go with 17 digs.

Kiera Kubiak had 21 assists, three aces and was 16-for-17 from the service line, while Stella Thompson powered home four of her seven kills against the 3A Knights (3-1) in the final set along with two blocks.

Girls Soccer

ST. MARY’S 5, LOST RIVER 0: Ketsia Carvalhaes recorded a hat trick and St. Mary’s got one goal and one assist apiece from Bella Mussio and Kendal Yazzolino to create a runaway win in its season opener at Lithia & Driveway Fields.

Carvalhaes scored her first goal on an assist by Yazzolino in the 21st minute, then tallied twice in the second half off assists from Bella Mussio and Elsa Lee for the Crusaders (1-0).

Yazzolino’s goal in the 31st minute came off an assist from Bri Cooper and helped St. Mary’s take a 2-0 lead into intermission. Yazzolino set up Mussio for her goal 18 minutes into the second half.

Defensive midfielder Carys Chamberland held down the middle for St. Mary’s, which features five freshmen on the roster this fall.