With a sheepish grin and a shoulder shrug, Good Counsel’s Brighid Casey peered up at the referee, waiting for his call. The 5-foot-4 junior had just blocked a spike attempt by Maret’s 6-2 Langley King, but wasn’t sure she had accomplished the feat without breaking a rule.
When the referee awarded the point to Good Counsel, Casey applauded, exhaled, and set herself for the next point. Her determined work at the net typified the struggle for Good Counsel Monday night at National Cathedral in the Metro City Volleyball Championship where the Falcons came from two games down to defeat Maret, 21-25, 24-26, 25-21, 25-17, 16-14.
“Brighid doesn’t back down,” said Good Counsel coach Karen Kart. “That’s what I’ve known about her since she was a freshman. There’s something about her tenacity, her willingness never to quit. She’ll go up against anyone. That attitude carries over to the rest of the team.”
Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champion Good Counsel (28-2-1) needed every ounce of moxie it could muster against Independent School League champion Maret (18-3). Winning the first two games behind the play of setter Carolyn Bottelier and outside hitters Kelly Vershbow (28 kills) and Alexis Brown (23 kills), the Fighting Frogs appeared on their way to a second straight Metro title.
But trailing, 15-13 in the third game, Good Counsel turned the tide behind a strong defense on the back row and at the net. On one point, Vershbow slammed three spikes that the Falcons managed to return.
Taking over on offense was junior outside hitter Becky West (30 kills) who took advantage of strong sets by Casey. Good Counsel also got strong work from junior Lawryn Fowler (9 kills), senior Katie Brady (5 blocks), senior Jessica Garay-Ieano (10 digs, 16 service points), and senior Megan Henriksen (9 digs).
With the win, Good Counsel avenged a loss to Maret in the Metro final last year. It was the Falcons lone match loss in an otherwise perfect season.
“I wanted it so badly. I was willing to do anything to get it,” said West. “After the first two games, our coach just told us, ‘Go out and have fun. And win.’ We did what she told us.”
Game notes
» Former Georgetown basketball star Fred Brown, father of Alexis Brown, attended the game.
» Good Counsel will defend its title in the MD/DC Private School Championships this week.
