It’s been an up-and-down season so far for the Fenwick girls volleyball team. But the Friars believe the early inconsistency will prove a beneficial learning experience down the stretch. In a match at home versus a strong Providence Catholic squad, Sept. 22, Fenwick provided several good moments of excellent play, even as the Celtics cruised to a 25-18, 25-16 victory.
“We’re a young team that’s still growing,” said Fenwick coach Tee Pimsarn. “Slowly, our injured kids are coming back. It’s been a long September with a lot of volleyball, but (there was) a lot of growth in this match in general, and I think it’s a right step forward.”
Fenwick (9-12) led 18-16 late in the first set, but Providence rattled off nine consecutive points to prevail. In the second set, the Friars again battled and trailed 18-15. But the Celtics ended the match by scoring seven of the eight final points.
Junior middle hitter Taylor Durham and junior outside hitter Maggie Hiller each had three kills. Hiller added 29 digs. Junior outside Emily Drumm had three kills, nine digs, an ace, and a block.
Fenwick bounced back on Sept. 23 with a 25-16, 25-23 victory at De La Salle. Drumm had a team-high eight kills along with six digs, with Durham adding five kills. Senior setter Hailey Bernahl had three kills, 14 assists and 13 digs, and senior middle Jordan Rossi had a pair of aces.
The Friars also defeated Morton 25-19, 25-21, on Sept. 24.
“I keep saying to our kids that we have to peak in October, and that’s our goal,” Pimsarn said. “We always look forward (to play) against good competition. That’s why we’re in the tournaments we’re in, to learn. All of this is getting us ready for October.”
Fenwick football falls to Providence
The Friars football team had spoiled one school’s Homecoming already this season, defeating Wheaton St. Francis 28-21 on Sept. 18. Friday night at Triton College, the Friars had their own Homecoming game against Providence in a Chicago Catholic League Orange Division showdown. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to make it two Homecoming victories in a row as they fell to the Celtics in a close battle, 28-21.
Providence (5-1, 2-0) struck first on a Brayden McKay 10-yard touchdown run at the 7:23 mark of the first quarter. With 3:37 left in the second quarter, Broden Mackert’s 3-yard score raised the Celtics’ lead to 14-0.
Fenwick (4-2, 0-2) got on the board just five seconds before halftime as Myles Hill hit Jonathan Pavalon on a 28-yard touchdown pass. But Providence responded on the opening drive of the second half as Dominic Vita threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to DeAngelo Coates.
Undaunted, Fenwick came right back as Hill’s 36-yard completion to Pavalon set up his 7-yard touchdown run with :51 to go in the third quarter.
The Celtics seemed to have put things away with 5:21 remaining when Vita scored on a 9-yard keeper up the middle. However, the Friars refused to yield. Hill found Jimmy Watts for a clutch 27-yard reception on a third down, then ran for 19 yards to the Providence 15 on the next play. Two plays later, Hill found Corey Griffin for a 9-yard score, making it 28-21 with 3:11 left.
Fenwick kicker J.P. Bordeaux-Walsh successfully executed an onside kick as the Friars got the ball back at the Providence 28 following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Celtics. On 3rd and 16 from the 34, Hill scrambled for 13 yards, but on 4th down, his pass to Noah Marshall, who came open over the middle by the goal line, sailed just out of Marshall’s reach and fell incomplete, creating a turnover on downs with 1:49 left to play.
Providence then sealed the game as Mackert ran 12 yards for a first down.
Up next for Fenwick is a trip to Brother Rice in Chicago, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m.