Bishop Guertin girls volleyball remains unbeaten with sweep of Bedford

BEDFORD - Something different was going on with the Bishop Guertin High School girls volleyball team at the start of Wednesday's matchup with Bedford.

Fortunately for the Cardinals, they were able to figure out how to finish.

Bishop Guertin overcame a slow start and pulled out a narrow win in the first game against the Bulldogs, and then built up enough of a lead in the second and third games to withstand a Bedford comeback for a 3-0 in Division I action. Scores were 25-22, 25-19 and 25-20, as the Cardinals (6-0) remained undefeated and have yet to lose a game this season.

"Energy was a little low," Bishop Guertin coach Abby Rosen said. "I felt that. My energy was low. I don’t if it’s the week, or the weather, or the early start. It was just different. We have four games this week, so it’s tough to keep that energy up. We had one practice this week on (Tuesday). I think it makes it a little bit harder. We had a couple of girls out, so we had to make adjustments. But overall, they’re playing together well as one."

With the lineup changes, the Cardinals had two constant contributors out there in Julia Pascucci and Mariana Gomez.

Pascucci had 10 kills, 10 assists and eight aces for Bishop Guertin while Gomez added 13 kills and 10 digs, as neither came off the floor until late in the final game. Rita Dow also had four kills, four blocks and two aces for the winners.

"That’s critical, too, to have some consistency," Rosen said of Pascucci and Gomez. "We can change things, but once you take out some key players, those type of things, it’s important to have that consistency. The younger kids, if they get nervous, they can look at someone and have (someone steady the team)."

Bedford (4-4) got solid play from Sophia Guerra, Ramou Taal and Jordan Starace, and had a chance to get out in front of Bishop Guertin in that first game.

"That first one gives every team momentum into the second game," Bedford coach Anna McGann said. "When we win that first one, it normally helps us as a team. It just stinks and it’s no excuse, but you’ve got to find a way to play the other two, even when you go down two."

The Bulldogs still had enough momentum left to keep the second game close, taking a 10-9 lead. But with Neena Vassil serving, the Cardinals took five straight points, and after Bedford got a few back, Pascucci served seven in a row, as Bishop Guertin went up 21-12.

The Cardinals led 22-14 when the Bulldogs won five in a row behind the serving of Taal, but Bishop Guertin was able to hang on for the win.

Any momentum Bedford had from that first game was gone at the start of the third, as the Cardinals jumped out to an 11-3 lead. The Bulldogs chipped away to get with five points at 14-9, but with Pascucci serving again, Bishop Guertin pushed the lead to 20-9.

It was 24-14 when Bedford won six points in a row, cutting the lead to four and forcing the Cardinals to take a timeout.

"You relax when you know you have to, when there’s one point left," McGann said. "Every point should be game point. You should play that way the entire game. We’re close, once we find a way to fine-tune these little things."

Bishop Guertin finished off the match on the next point.

The Cardinals will play two more matches this week, as they play at Salem on Thursday and host Alvirne on Friday. Bedford is off until it travels to face Concord on Sept. 25.