Carmel keeps stating its case

Does this Carmel Catholic team have a chip on its shoulder? As if the rest of the world doesn't show this volleyball team much respect?

The third seed in the Glenbrook North sectional, Carmel is indeed marching towards another 30-win campaign.

Tuesday's victim was visiting Fenwick. Carmel's 26th win of the season came in two sets, 25-13, 25-22. Carmel was led by Gracie Schofield, who rang up 12 kills in the two sets.

Carmel was fresh off a tourney win over Crystal Lake South, which finished in the top four in the state a year ago.

"That was the biggest test of the season for us,'' Schofield said. "We wanted to play tonight and come out with high energy."

Carmel coach Dave Pazely could feel for the visitors in set one. He knows what travel is like in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.

"It's never easy to go on the road on a long trip,'' Pazely said. "And then you have to sit and watch the sophomore game go to three sets. For us, we just went into the chapel and focused on things we wanted to do. We were able to decompress."

Schofield already had 4 kills to her name as Carmel raced to a quick 12-4 lead. She even chipped in with a few serving aces as the lead expanded to 15-6.

"They came out strong,'' said Fenwick coach Kathleen O'Laughlin. "Carmel has a lot of firepower. This might be the best Carmel team I've seen."

Carmel (26-5) put the set away with Allie Wayland serving. Schofield and Cate Halverson chipped in kills as the lead went to 21-9.

Set two was entirely different. The Friars (7-15) clearly found their energy and gave the Corsairs a good fight.

"We found a little rhythm in the second set," O'Laughlin said. "And we were able to terminate the ball."

Schofield gave some credit to the Friars.

"They have some good players,'' she said. "They have a good libero (Jennifer Porad)."

Fenwick's lead never jumped above two points at 6-4. However, even after the Corsairs used 2 kills from Schofield and a serving ace from Sierra Kepski to take a 14-11 lead, Fenwick rallied to knot the set up at 14-14.

"In set two, we had three or four hitting errors in a row,'' Pazely said. "After they fell behind us by 10 points at the start, Fenwick really battled back. Fenwick is down in that area where there are so many good teams. That's brutal. They are in that regional with Nazareth."

Morgan Meade added 7 kills to the Carmel attack. Halvorson added 4 kills and Grace Butler added 3 kills.

"Grace had some good swings tonight,'' Pazely said.

Defensive whiz Kepski had 10 digs. Butler notched 16 assists and Meade had 12 assists in the two sets