Baylor Sweeps Two Nashville Teams In Volleyball Saturday

GPS Loses To Both Brentwood Academy & Pope John Paul II

  • Saturday, August 29, 2015
  • John Hunt
Pope John Paul II's Alayna Maslinskki punches one over the net as GPS defenders Gabby Hughes (15) and Hannah Kincer (14) attempt to block the shot. The Lady Knights defeated the Bruisers 25-10, 25-22 and 25-11. PJP's string would run out later in the day as Baylor took their measure rather handily.
Pope John Paul II's Alayna Maslinskki punches one over the net as GPS defenders Gabby Hughes (15) and Hannah Kincer (14) attempt to block the shot. The Lady Knights defeated the Bruisers 25-10, 25-22 and 25-11. PJP's string would run out later in the day as Baylor took their measure rather handily.
photo by Dennis Norwood

Volleyball teams from Brentwood Academy and Pope John Paul II have at least one thing in common on Saturday following matches with Baylor and GPS. 

They both headed back to Nashville with a win and a loss as both beat GPS and both lost to Baylor.

Baylor improved to 13-1 overall and 3-0 in region play with Saturday's two wins, including a 3-1 verdict over Brentwood Academy and a 3-0 sweep of the Lady Saints.

Pope John Paul is now 12-3 after beating GPS by a 3-1 final in the first match of the day before getting swept by the Lady Red Raiders.

The Lady Knights dropped the first set by a 25-23 final against GPS before winning the last three by scores of 25-20, 25-21 and 25-10.  Things didn't turn out so well at Baylor as the Lady Raiders prevailed by scores of 25-16, 25-14 and 25-13.

Brentwood Academy came out on the short end of its match with Baylor.  The defending state D-II champs won the first set by 25-13 before the Lady Eagles took the second by a 27-25 final.  The final two weren't close as Baylor prevailed, 25-5 and 25-11.

The Lady Eagles were able to head back West with a positive feeling after beating the Bruisers, 25-10, 25-22 and 25-11.

 Brentwood Academy coach Shari Christenson was feeling much better after the second match than she was after the first.

"Offensively, we were connecting as our setters did a good job of getting the ball to our hitters.  I was happy that we took a set from Baylor as they have a great team and we came over here and responded well, so I'm happy," she said following the win over GPS.

Pope John Paul coach Kim Shaver felt much better after the win over GPS than she did a couple of hours later after Baylor handed her team its third loss in 15 matches.

 "We have a lot of respect for GPS as they have an outstanding volleyball program, but I was proud of the way we came out and played with a lot of determination and focus.  This is a great way for us to begin our region play and we're excited to come away with a win.  I'm not so sure we're looking forward to playing Baylor," she admitted.

Baylor coach Sarah Lail was all smiles after her team won for the 13th time in 14 matches.

"It's always great to start off 3-0 in region play and I'm really pleased with the way we played today.  We're still trying to find consistency, but I felt like we passed well today as we allowed our offense to work. 

"Players in the middle did a great job and I was proud of Ally Craig as she had some nice kills.  But was a total team effort again, but I'm always looking at ways we can keep getting better," she added.

GPS coach Paul Brock wasn't the happiest guy in town Saturday morning after his team dropped its match with Pope John Paul.

"I think this is the first time we've ever lost to them in volleyball, but we just didn't pass well and we had no ball control.  It's hard to play well and win when it's like that, but we're still playing a lot of young girls.  We had a few highlights along the way, but we certainly didn't play our best volleyball today," he added.

Lilly Berger was one of the standouts for GPS as she finished the day with 15 kills and 25 digs.  Teammate Gabby Hughes had 30 assists in the two matches while Courtlyn Martino was credited with 28 digs.

Haven Bethune was again the leader for Baylor as she totaled 22 kills, 29 assists and 16 digs for the day.  Ashleigh Cook had 18 kills while Gabby Gray had 22 kills and 18 digs.

Steady Lilly Turner had 34 digs while Sarah Sumida finished the day with 47 assists.

GPS and Baylor both return to action on Thursday with the Bruisers going to Chattanooga Christian.  Baylor travels to Knoxville for matches with Farragut and Webb.  The Lady Spartans are the only team to have beaten the Lady Red Raiders this season.

GPS STATS VS. POPE JOHN PAUL:

Lilly Berger -- 10 kills, 1 ace, 1 block, 15 digs

Gabby Hughes -- 1 ace, 3 kills, 21 assists, 5 digs

Kate McVay -- 2 kills, 3 digs

Courtlyn Martino -- 17 digs, 1 ace

Reagan Long -- 3 kills, 1 dig

Allyce Buniak -- 10 kills, 3 blocks

Hannah Kincer -- 2 kills, 1 dig

Karly Benefield -- 3 aces, 2 digs

Charlotte Vance -- 2 digs

Haley Smith -- 1 kill, 7 digs, 1 ace.

GPS STATS VS. BRENTWOOD ACADEMY:

Lilly Berger -- 1 ace, 5 kills, 8 assists, 10 digs

Gabby Hughes -- 3 kills, 9 assists, 9 digs

Kate McVay -- 5 kills, 1 dig

Courtlyn Martino -- 1 ace, 11 digs

Allyce Buniak -- 3 kills, 3 digs

Hannah Kincer -- 6 kills.

BAYLOR STATS VS. BRENTWOOD ACADEMY:

Haven Bethune -- 3 aces, 14 kills, 14 assists, 9 digs

Ashleigh Cook -- 3 aces, 10 kills, 2.5 blocks, 3 digs

Jane Wilson -- 8 kills

Gabby Gray -- 11 kills, 1 ace, 11 digs

Lilly Turner -- 4 assists, 16 digs

Sarah Sumida -- 3 aces, 1.5 blocks, 28 assists, 15 digs

Ally Craig -- 1 ace, 9 kills, 1.5 blocks, 5 digs

Denver Rogers -- 1 dig.

BAYLOR STATS VS. POPE JOHN PAUL II:

Haven Bethune -- 3 aces, 1.5 blocks, 8 kills, 15 assists, 7 digs

Ashleigh Cook -- 2 aces, 8 kills, 1 dig

Jane Wilson -- 3 kills, 1.5 blocks

Gabby Gray -- 11 kills, 7 digs, 2 aces

Lilly Turner -- 1 ace, 1 kill, 2 assists, 18 digs

Sarah Sumida -- 1 ace, 1 kill, 19 assists, 7 digs

Eva Whaley -- 1 kill

Ally Craig -- 1 ace, 5 kills, 1 dig.

(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)

 

GPS' Kate McVay (9) goes for a kill against Pope John Paul's Savannah Brown (10) and Catherine Bagwell (12).
GPS' Kate McVay (9) goes for a kill against Pope John Paul's Savannah Brown (10) and Catherine Bagwell (12).
photo by Dennis Norwood
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