The "Baby" Senators gave it all they could and just fell short on Thursday at Manogue High.
Decimated by injuries and illness to three key seniors, the Carson High girls volleyball team depended heavily on three freshmen and three sophomores and pushed Manogue to the limit before falling in five games, losing in the fifth game 12-15. Carson won the first and third games to lead 2-1 before Manogue came back.
Among those leading the way for Carson were freshmen Nikki Keller, Shannon Earwood and Sandie Howard and sophomores Morgan Nuckolls, Courtney Katafias and Nicole Carlevato.
The Senators received an all-around outstanding effort from Katafias, who had 31 digs and 12 kills and an excellent defensive effort from Michelle Raponi, who had 36 digs. Also playing well for Carson were Lindsay Ford, who had 32 assists, three kills, 3 aces and eight blocks and Catherine Brekken, who had 11 blocks, six kills and two aces.
Carson will have to continue to do with three key seniors, Nicole Scott, Sandra McAlman and Alex McAlman.
Scott, who was hospitalized with a virus, has developed pneumonia and will be out for several weeks. Alex McAlman has developed chicken pox and will be out for several weeks. Sandra McAlman is out for the season with a knee injury.
"We were very young and played awesome for how young my kids are," Carson coach Shana Wilkins said. "They really stepped up. They played phenomenally.
"They played a lot better than I expected, than anybody anticipated. They worked their tails off."