Mars girls volleyball passes early test with WPIAL win over Armstrong
-
The Mars Fightin’ Planets defeated the Armstrong River Hawks 3-1 in a girls volleyball game on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Mars High School. Photog/Butler Eagle
-
The Mars Fightin’ Planets defeated the Armstrong River Hawks 3-1 in a girls volleyball game on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Mars High School. Photog/Butler Eagle
-
The Mars Fightin’ Planets defeated the Armstrong River Hawks 3-1 in a girls volleyball game on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Mars High School. Photog/Butler Eagle
-
The Mars Fightin’ Planets defeated the Armstrong River Hawks 3-1 in a girls volleyball game on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Mars High School. Photog/Butler Eagle
-
The Mars Fightin’ Planets defeated the Armstrong River Hawks 3-1 in a girls volleyball game on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Mars High School. Photog/Butler Eagle
-
The Mars Fightin’ Planets defeated the Armstrong River Hawks 3-1 in a girls volleyball game on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Mars High School. Photog/Butler Eagle
-
The Mars Fightin’ Planets defeated the Armstrong River Hawks 3-1 in a girls volleyball game on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Mars High School. Photog/Butler Eagle
-
The Mars Fightin’ Planets defeated the Armstrong River Hawks 3-1 in a girls volleyball game on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Mars High School. Photog/Butler Eagle
-
The Mars Fightin’ Planets defeated the Armstrong River Hawks 3-1 in a girls volleyball game on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Mars High School. Photog/Butler Eagle
-
The Mars Fightin’ Planets defeated the Armstrong River Hawks 3-1 in a girls volleyball game on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Mars High School. Photog/Butler Eagle
-
The Mars Fightin’ Planets defeated the Armstrong River Hawks 3-1 in a girls volleyball game on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Mars High School. Photog/Butler Eagle
-
Mars senior Ella Nicotra spikes the ball over the net during a game with Armstrong to contribute to a 3-1 win in a girls volleyball game on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Mars High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle 08/26/24
-
Mars Senior Ella Nicotra leads a cheer after scoring during a game against Armstrong in a 3-1 win in a girls volleyball game on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Mars High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle 08/26/24
-
Mars freshman Gabi Weidemann returns the ball during a game against Armstrong to contribute to a 3-1 win in a girls volleyball game on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at Mars High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle 08/26/24
ADAMS TWP — Lesson learned, then applied.
In a 3-1 season-opening WPIAL win over Armstrong on Monday night, a deep Mars girls volleyball team demonstrated its ability to absorb a situation.
After downing the visiting River Hawks 25-22 in the initial game, the Planets began the next by racing out to a 5-0 lead that ballooned to a 17-7 edge before a River Hawks (0-1) timeout. An Ella Nicotra block and Cecilia Christy kill helped make it 21-8 before the guests drew close with a 10-1 run.
Mars (1-0) escaped that set 25-19, but the impetus from the prior game helped Armstrong to a 25-21 triumph in the third.
“I think sometimes it takes them to push us for us to go 100%,” Planets senior outside hitter Lily Javor said. “I think we started off really strong and kind of were complacent. ... As soon as they showed us a little bit of them fighting back, we (wanted) to shut it down right away.
“We did fight back a little bit in the third set, but it was too late. We started off the fourth set right on top of it and got the job done.”
Mars never trailed in the final set and won 25-16. Javor had two kills, a block and an ace in the final 13 serves of that one.
“I think they started to press when momentum was shifting towards Armstrong,” Planets coach Tami Caraway said. “They were trying to finish with one swing instead of being smart. They’re all capable of doing a lot of different things, so it’s just (about) choosing the right moment. ... What a great lesson (the) first match of the year.”
The hiccup in the second set frustrated Caraway, who still remained confident in her cast.
“It’s trying to be patient with them and letting them work that out themselves,” Caraway said. “Just helping them calm down, take a step back and be ready to keep fighting. ... They didn’t let them creep up and to stay there.”
Javor said the team needs to be more consistent in its mindset. She’s part of a quintet of offensive threats that also includes Rylee Woolridge, Kate Southwell, Nicotra and Christy. Junior defensive specialist Alaina Graham was a steadying force as things started to get bumpy.
“We shouldn’t think about who’s on the other side of the net,” Javor said. “In practice, we play people just as good as their side of the net no matter what. I think no matter the opponent, we (need to) start strong and play our game.”
Caraway said she has bench players who would’ve started any other year. As the team works on its identity, she’s figuring out how to share the workload between her players and allow them to get into the rhythm of a match.
“What I appreciate most is each girl prepares herself her own way,” Caraway said. “A lot of them play club, they were in nationals through July, and still got their mindset turned toward Mars.”
