Our biggest fundraiser of the year is happening NOW! Make a tax-deductible donation to The562 during Long Beach Gives from Sept. 17-24. CLICK HERE to show your support for local journalism in Long Beach!
The St. Anthony girls’ couldn’t overcome Saint Joseph’s strong serving and solid play at the net in a 25-21, 25-12, 25-16 loss on Tuesday night in a Del Rey League battle.
The Saints (8-10) battled in the first set forcing a 19-19 tie, but the Jesters powered their way to win the opening set.
In the second set, Quinn Bell came up with a big block to give the Saints an early 4-2 lead. However, two kills from Sophia Gonsalves and Ashlynn gave Saint Joseph just the response they needed as they took a 8-4 lead.
Riley Jaklevick kept Saint Joseph’s offense moving with two of her own kills and Gonsalves pushed her total to four in the frame to give the Jesters a 10-5 lead.
Brianna Mbire had three kills of her own to lead the Saints in the set, but it wasn’t enough had a Gonsalves pushed her kills total to seven in the frame to give Saint Joseph a 25-12 win to take a 2-0 lead.
“I think these past couple of days have been really tough for us,” St. Anthony coach Monyea Barber said. “It’s been very sporadic, and they found a way to find that fast. So big props to them. I just feel like we kind of got in our own heads. It was a tough match.”
Saint Joseph (20-13) kept the pressure on the Saints as Sophia Galon had three aces to straight the third set and Jaklevick had two kills as the Jesters powered to a 7-0 lead.
St. Anthony didn’t back down as they went on a 3-0 run and after Saint Joseph pushed the lead to 10-4, Mbire had three kills as the Saints tied the set at 10.
However, the Jester responded with their own 9-3 run to take a 19-3 lead before eventually taking the set and the match with a 25-16 victory.
“I think our hitters did a good job of trying to stay aggressive, but they kind of gave St. Joseph that confidence. In a way, they gave their defense an easy opportunity,” Barber said. “We didn’t change it up enough.”
The Saints will be back in action on Thursday for a non-league contest against La Salle.
“I just really want to see them be aggressive,” Barber said. Take this (loss) and use it to fuel you in the next game. Don’t let that happen to you again.”
