For The Dialog
WILMINGTON – Emily Jarome had 20 kills to lead No. 2 Padua past fifth-ranked St. Mark’s in a key Catholic Conference showdown on Sept. 20. Set scores wre 25-17, 22-25, 25-21 and 26-24 in a packed Padua gymnasium that had an electric atmosphere.
The Pandas got some help from St. Mark’s in the first set, thanks to five service errors. Jarome, Jessica Molen and Ella Welsh each had two kills as Padua took the set.
Erin Derick took over in the second set for the Spartans, pounding four early kills, and the team’s defense was strong as they jumped to a 14-11 lead. Jarome tied the frame at 19 with a powerful kill, but St. Mark’s regained the advantage with some solid defense and two kills by freshman Savannah Seemans, making it 23-21. The Spartans took the set on a Padua service error; it was the Pandas’ first set loss of the season.
The third set was back and forth, and Derick tied it at 10 with a kill. The Spartans then used some Padua errors and a kill from Genevieve Hughes to lead, 18-15. The Pandas responded by winning 10 of the next 13 points on a Molen kill, an Emma Lucey ace, and kills by Jarome and Lucey, who ended it.
“We were able to stay calm, and when people are making mistakes, we are able to keep our composure,” Jarome said.
The Pandas raced out to an 18-11 lead in the fourth, as Jarome was in a groove, and Taylor Valletti added a couple kills of her own. The Spartans bounced back for a 20-19 lead thanks to Hughes, and the teams needed extra points.
Jarome tied the set with one kill, then Lucey added one to give the hosts a 25-24 lead. Jarome finished the match with a fantastic kill, and Padua improved to 4-0.
The Pandas face archrival Ursuline on the road at 7:15 p.m., seeking to end a three-match losing streak against the Raiders. Jarome knows the Raiders will bring the defense.
“They graduated a couple of big hitters, but like St. Mark’s, they play great defense,” she said. “We have to find a way to put the ball where they can’t get it.”
St. Mark’s dropped to 2-1. The Spartans travel to St. Elizabeth on Thursday for a 7:15 p.m. match.
