Pilgrim tops TG in volleyball tilt

Posted 9/16/14

In the first match of their renewed rivalry, the Toll Gate volleyball team lit an early spark when it rolled to a 25-13 victory in game one of Thursday’s meeting with Pilgrim.

But the spark …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Pilgrim tops TG in volleyball tilt

Posted

In the first match of their renewed rivalry, the Toll Gate volleyball team lit an early spark when it rolled to a 25-13 victory in game one of Thursday’s meeting with Pilgrim.

But the spark seemed to light a fire under the Patriots more than the Titans.

Pilgrim regrouped from the game one loss and out-lasted Toll Gate for a 25-23 victory in game two. From there, they cruised, winning 25-19 in game three and 25-9 in game four to take the match.

“It was just to pick up our level of intensity and realize that we were going to have to work for every single point,” Pilgrim head coach Kelly Harrington said of the message to her team after game one. “We had to come together and increase the effort.”

The Pats and Titans were meeting in a league match for the first time since 2008. Pilgrim moved to Division II the next year, while Toll Gate remained in Division I until this year.

The Titans came into the match with an 0-2 record but played their best volleyball of the season in game one. Combined with five Pilgrim service errors, it was a recipe for a decisive win, as the Titans pulled away. They led 10-9 before a kill by Taylor Payton sparked a run. Toll Gate won 11 of 12 points to go up 21-10. Brooke Casacalenda had four aces in the stretch, while Jamie Hopgood and Courtney Marsh each had a kill.

Pilgrim eventually stopped the run but never got closer than nine points.

“I thought we passed really well in game one and that allowed us to set things up in the middle,” said Toll Gate head coach Andrew Bevilacqua. “We played well there.”

The Titans seemed to be riding the momentum when they won the first three points of game two on a kill by Casacalenda, an ace by Payton and a Pilgrim hitting error. But an error by the Titans on the next point gave the serve to Pilgrim’s Jontu Nguon, who didn’t leave the line until her team was up 5-3. Nguon had an ace while Alexa Annotti had two kills.

Toll Gate came back strong and led as late as 17-15, but a block by Annotti put Pilgrim back in business.

Casey White then came off the bench to serve and dished out three consecutive aces to give Pilgrim a lead it never lost.

That was the beginning of a trend, as Pilgrim’s depth delivered time and again.

“I think it was a total team effort,” Harrington said. “Everyone on our team played tonight and when they did come in, they had key serves or key blocks. Casey, she’s a strong girl and she has a tough serve. I’m so happy she had that opportunity and had success.”

Toll Gate continued battling even after it fell behind. It trailed 22-20 before kills by Marsh and Casacalenda tied the game at 22-22.

But the Pats held on. A hitting error put them up 23-22 before a kill by Colleen Conti got them to game point. Casacalenda came back with a kill to make it 24-23, but a service error by the Titans ended the game.

“We took the first one and I thought we were looking good, but I knew Pilgrim would start making serves,” Bevilacqua said. “We had a tight second game and missed a serve at a key moment.”

In game three, Pilgrim took control with a run of eight straight points sparked by a pair of aces from Conti. Toll Gate made a late run to get within 24-19, but again committed a service error when Pilgrim had game point.

“You’re never quite satisfied until it’s over, but it was a good morale boost for our team to win game two and game three,” Harrington said. “We’re prepared to go four, five games, so we know that we just have to keep our focus throughout a match. We have to shake things off and get the next point.”

The Pats, who went to five games in a season-opening loss to Westerly, didn’t need five this time. They raced to a 12-3 lead in game four and never looked back. Conti had three kills in the game, while Ngoun, Annotti and Nancy Alvarez each had an ace.

“It just unraveled right before us,” Bevilacqua said. “They were frazzled. I try and get them to have that killer instinct – once you win game one, you don’t want to let them get the second game. If they do, then you fix your mistakes and you come back out. We weren’t able to do that, and I think that comes from not winning for so long.”

Conti finished the night with eight kills, while Annotti added five. The Pats still aren’t as strong on the attack as they’d like to be, but they’re getting there.

“That’s our theme this year, to increase our attack,” Harrington said. “Nancy, our setter, is tremendous and she has the ability to create the attacks that we want. We have potential there. We’re working on it.”

Thursday’s match had a little extra meaning for Harrington, who coached at Toll Gate for years before taking over at Pilgrim last season.

“It’s nice to welcome them in and watch them,” she said. “They’re a very competitive team. I worked with them in their younger days. To watch them as seniors mature into the great players that they are, I’m proud too.”

Pilgrim will return to action today when it visits East Greenwich at 6:30 p.m.

“First win, so hopefully that sets us down the road for some more,” Harrington said. “At least now, we know we can do it. That should take away any doubts.”

Toll Gate will host West Warwick tonight at 6:30 p.m.

Comments

1 comment on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • SuzieQ

    Proud Pilgrim parent here! I truly believe that the parents in the stands play an important role in keeping up the teams spirit and confidence. When you can clearly see their spirits lift when you're hollering in the stands, than you know you're making a difference! So this is my goal each and every time I'm there. I might get strange looks from quiet people in the stands but that's ok because it's not about them or their opinions, it's about THE WIN!!....& who doesn't want that!! BTW, Coach's Harrington & "Jay" do a spectacular job in coaching the girls. Jay, the JV coach is outstanding and I always see him at the Varsity games and I can't blame him because he coached about half of the team last year when they were on the JV team. He's the reason why they have excelled into the great players they are this year & he truly enjoys watching them progress. Last year, the JV team had a spectacular season finishing in 2nd place. Cudo's to you Jay!! GOOOOO PILGRIM!!

    Tuesday, September 16, 2014 Report this