It wasn’t just the fact that the Bishop Ludden girls volleyball team won the Section III Class D championship. It was the way it was accomplished, and the opponent against which it took place, that made it infinitely more special.
Private-school rivals Bishop Ludden and Bishop Grimes squared off for the title Saturday afternoon at Fayetteville-Manlius High School, with the Gaelic Knights twice falling behind and twice coming back before taking over in the final set to prevail and earn the sectional banner.
They had met twice in the regular season within a 10-day span, splitting those matches as Grimes prevailed on Sept. 13 in four sets before Ludden rallied from a 2-0 deficit to pull it out in five sets on Sept. 22.
Six weeks later, with the sectional title at stake, another classic unfolded. Grimes took control late in a back-and-forth first set to claim it 25-20. Ludden started better in the second set and never let go of that advantage, prevailing 25-21 to pull even.
Moving to the third set, it was the Cobras’ turn to build a big advantage, as large as 18-10 before cruising to a 25-19 decision. Remembering its September comeback, the Gaelic Knights roared to a 20-8 lead in the fourth set and needed that cushion to withstand a Grimes charge and prevail 25-20 to take it to the wire.
That final set included several momentum swings and lead changes, but it was Ludden, clinging to an 18-17 lead, making the last and most important run, outscoring Grimes 7-2 to prevail 25-19 and lay claim to the sectional banner.
Throughout the match, Ludden got major defensive contributions from Meghan Wilkinson, who had 32 digs, and Bridget Brogan, who had 26 digs to go with five kills and four aces. Emma Catalano added 10 digs.
Natalie Fagan finished with 14 assists, three kills and two aces and Kari Plumridge added six assists, their passes often going to Aurora Deshaies, who got 13 kills and seven blocks. Nicole Noreault picked up six kills, eight digs, three aces and three blocks. Sarah Smith had two aces, two blocks and two kills. Josie Towne got four digs.
Ludden got its chance in the sectional final by getting through last Tuesday night’s semifinal against Living Word Academy. The Gaelic Knights won the first set 25-19 and then claimed the next two sets by equal 25-22 margins.
Meghan Wilkinson gained 22 digs, with Natalie Fagan getting 11 assists and eight digs and Kari Plumridge earning eight assists. Bridget Brogan added 12 digs as Aurora Deshaies got 10 kills, four blocks and four digs. Nicole Noreault had five kills. Sarah Smith contributed four digs and two aces.
