Girls volleyball: Carmel is quick to sixth straight against Libertyville

This is not the way to start a volleyball match.

That is, for very promising Libertyville freshman setter Peyton O'Brien, who injured an ankle before the match with Carmel even had started.

Libertyville was the underdog entering this nonconference match on Monday in Mundelein. That's because the home folks from Carmel Catholic had won five matches in a row, including knocking off unbeaten Lakes in a tourney at Lake Forest over the weekend.

Make it six in a row for Carmel.

The Corsairs (15-11) stopped the young Wildcats 25-18, 25-13.

Recall, this isn't the tallest of teams from the Carmel side. Maybe, Carmel's Mia Di Bartolo can explain what's going on with her Corsairs.

"Our defense is really strong,'' Di Bartolo said. "It's true that we don't have a lot of height. But mentally, we are strong. We have a lot of heart also."

Carmel never trailed on Monday night. On a pair of soft shots from Mya Mainzer (6 kills), the Corsairs soared to a quick 8-4 lead in set one.

"This is six in a row for us,'' said Carmel coach Dave Pazely. "That win over Lakes made a huge statement for us. We understand that we don't have a lot of height, so we have to play faster than other teams. We don't have that option."

Despite losing their starting setter before the match, Libertyville (8-13) rallied behind the efforts of its new setter, senior Kailey Christianson, and senior outside Madison O'Brien. The Carmel lead had slipped to 17-13.

"No doubt, we got a curve ball to start the match,'' said Libertyville coach Greg Loika. "Our offense still needs to play with more speed."

The Corsairs were on the brink of a first-set win on a kill from Eileen Tarcha. Another Libertyville freshman, Kellie Hopper, answered with a kill of her own before Mainzer closed out the first set.

"Yes, we are a young bunch,'' Loika said. "But I tell them to play with more risk."

Pazely was waiting for one of his servers to take over the match in the second set. And Tarcha raised her hand. She had help with a pair of Erin Taylor kills. Taylor led the match with 11 kills. Carmel was again up front by the score of 14-7.

"They got us out of system,'' Loika admitted.

Casey Needham was next up in the Corsairs' serving order. There was a very good volley involving both clubs, but again Taylor closed with two more kills and the Carmel lead was solid at 20-9. Carmel also had strong play from the left-handed Alyssa Dellert (6 kills).

"Yes, it's a good thing Alyssa is left-handed,'' Pazely said.

Libertyville had a balanced attack. Anna Valente led the way with 5 kills.

Both Christianson and Hopper added 4 kills each. Amanda Reinhart led the Wildcats with 3 blocks, libero Morgan DeGregor notched 8 digs and Christianson managed 13 assists.

Carmel's improving setter Alyssa Donton notched 27 assists.

"Our setter play is coming along,'' Pazely noted. "We are still working on defensive ownership."