Carson High's Cami Larkin deposits a kill against Galena Thursday evening. Larkin and several other upperclassmen are expected to play big roles for the Senators in the shortened fall sports season.
Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage
Morse Burley himself may not have been able to fathom the steps it took to get volleyball back inside the gymnasium named in his honor.
Thursday night, Carson High volleyball welcomed Galena for one of the first NIAA-sanctioned contests to be held at a high school gymnasium across the state.
Dusting off the cobwebs was something both teams battled through as Galena snuck of the Senators’ home gym with a fifth-set win (25-9, 19-25, 25-19, 21-25, 15-11).
After dropping the opening frame 25-9, the Senators shot out to an 8-1 lead to open the second set behind a pair of aces from Emily Bell.
Galena trimmed the margin to two, 19-17, late in the set before two more aces came from the serve of Camille Kordonowy.
Fellow senior Cami Larkin helped close the set out with a kill.
Galena took the third set and started the fourth with an 8-0 run.
The Senators showed tenacity in their first contest of the season, battling back to win the fourth set 25-21 after winning 15 of the final 21 points.
In the fifth, the Grizzlies once again jumped out to an early lead. Carson as able to et as close as two points, 12-10, but Galena closed out the match with a 15-11 win in the final set.
“I thought we should have been better as a passing group with so much seniority on the team,” said Carson High head coach Robert Maw. “We have moved our team around, so we are trying to get some connection there.”
Season expectations
Even in a regular-season opening loss, there are still plenty of reasons for the Senators to remain optimistic.
With six seniors donning the royal blue and white, Maw knows the talent to compete is within his team.
Larkin, a George Mason volleyball signee, has been moved over to the right side hitter after being a middle blocker her entire career.
The future Patriot isn’t the only collegiate commitment on the team as Bell, Kordonowy and Pulver are also planning on pursuing the sport at the next level.
With an influx of youth as well, Maw thought it was the time to put one of his hardest hitters in a position to be fed as often as possible.
Shannen Vonduering returned to the lineup this season, giving the long-time Senator coach more flexibility to run a 6-2 formation.
The two setters on the floor remain the same as last year as Olivia Smith and Abby Lemburg split roles with a mixture of Chloe Vasquez as well.
“I have the option of running a 5-1, but I want to stick to the 6-2 and try to keep as many hitters up front as I can because we’re powerful hitters,” said Maw.
Freshmen Anna Turner and Sarah Miller both put together solid minutes in the season opener and Maw doesn’t anticipate that changing.
“They’ve been working really hard. I knew if I ran Cami outside, I had to do something in the middle,” said Maw.
Dayna Myrehn is the third freshman on the roster, who will be continuing to learn the libero position behind Kordonowy.
Carson gets to open with three contests at home, which differs from the usual slate of preseason tournament to find form.
The Senators get right back to action out of the weekend, welcoming Douglas on Tuesday and hosting Senior Night March 11 against Bishop Manogue.
Schedule
Thursday, March 4 – v. Galena (L, 3-2)
Tuesday, March 9 – v. Douglas
Thursday, March 11 – v. Bishop Manogue
Tuesday, March 16 – @ Reed
Wednesday, March 17 – v. Spanish Springs
Tuesday, March 23 – @ Damonte Ranch
Thursday, March 25 – @ McQueen
Thursday, April 1 – @ Reno
Varsity roster
Abby Lemburg, Anna Turner, Grace Turner, Gabriella Green, Camille Kordonowy, Dayna Myrehn, Shannen Vonduering, Emily Bell, Olivia Smith, Quinn Pulver, Cami Larkin, Sarah Miller and Chloe Vasquez.
