St. Ursula takes sole possession of GGCL with win over Ursuline

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It may not have gone a full five games like the first meeting between the Ursuline Lions and St. Ursula Bulldogs did, but the minimum two points decided two of the games in a battle for sole possession of first place in the Girls Greater Catholic League.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After the game, St. Ursula head coach Gretchen Krumdieck expressed gratitude the Bulldogs took care of business in three games by 25-23, 25-20, 30-28 scores knowing it was the first of two big steps the Bulldogs needed to take this week in search of their first outright GGCL title since winning the old Scarlet Division in 2003. St. Ursula (14-3) stayed undefeated at home with the win over the Lions (11-6).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Ursula is 6-1 in league play with Seton and Ursuline both one game back at 5-2. The Bulldogs travel to Seton on Thursday needing one more win to take the outright GGCL crown. A Seton win plus an Ursuline win over Mercy McAuley on Thursday would mean a three-way tie for the crown, which is what happened when St. Ursula, Mount Notre Dame and Ursuline finished 5-3 in 2021.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams have nice size so they both had their share of hard swings, blocks and touches at the net. The serving made a difference in this game. St. Ursula landed eight aces to just two for Ursuline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='152344' first='Emsley' last='Venard'] had another solid all-around game serving, passing and setting for the Bulldogs. Junior Emma Freitch once again displayed her smooth digging skills with [player_tooltip player_id='176096' first='Molly' last='Creech'] recording a big game passing and smacking balls. The 6-3 [player_tooltip player_id='227797' first='Gabby' last='Semona'] and [player_tooltip player_id='152055' first='Nia' last='Jones'] landed a number of big kills in the game. Teammates Penelope Bollinger, [player_tooltip player_id='480820' first='Lola' last='Waleskowski'], [player_tooltip player_id='403535' first='Maddie' last='Cho'], Lauren Dorger and [player_tooltip player_id='480821' first='Masie' last='Jones'] did a number of the little things that led to the St. Ursula win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ursuline put up another great effort despite missing one of the main offensive threats in [player_tooltip player_id='176087' first='Katie' last='Gielas']. Gielas dressed, but did not play because of an injury. The Lions tried to make up for that production as a team with a number of hitters after [player_tooltip player_id='195856' first='Lindy' last='Radaszewski'] and [player_tooltip player_id='434971' first='Jillian' last='Forrest'] including [player_tooltip player_id='412615' first='Anna' last='Beerman'] and Ellie Hudepohl. Senior setter [player_tooltip player_id='482519' first='Addy' last='Franz'] did everything she could trying to help the Lions to the win, but the Bulldogs outexecuted them when the dust settled.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs scored the first three points in the first game. Ursuline kept trying to catch up, but did not do so until Radaszewski landed three straight kills including one on a block to put Ursuline up 18-17. The Lions led 23-22 before Waleskowski had two kills and an Ursuline hitting error gave the Bulldogs the first game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Venard started the second game serving darts. Venard landed three aces and Semona had two kills as the Bulldogs scored the first seven points in that game. The Lions burned one timeout down 5-0 and the second of the game down 11-3. The Lions fended off game point three times before [player_tooltip player_id='152055' first='Nia' last='Jones'] had a block to finish it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Knowing the Lions could come back and make a game of things, the Bulldogs started off the third game strong going up 8-3 after a Creech kill. Ursuline surely enough did rally and go up 24-21 after a [player_tooltip player_id='492656' first='Mackenzie' last='Higgins'] kill, but the Bulldogs scored three straight to tie the game at 24 on two [player_tooltip player_id='480821' first='Masie' last='Jones'] kills and a Semona tip kill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two teams battled back and forth trying not to give one inch. Tied at 28, the Bulldogs finished the game on an Ursuline lift and hard Creech kill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stat Leaders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kills</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='227797' first='Gabby' last='Semona'], St. Ursula - 16</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='195856' first='Lindy' last='Radaszewski'], Ursuline - 11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='152055' first='Nia' last='Jones'], St. Ursula - 9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='176096' first='Molly' last='Creech'], St. Ursula - 9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='412615' first='Anna' last='Beerman'], Ursuline - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='434971' first='Jillian' last='Forrest'], Ursuline - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ellie Hudepohl, Ursuline - 6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='480820' first='Lola' last='Waleskowski'], St. Ursula - 5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assists</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='152344' first='Emsley' last='Venard'], St. Ursula - 33</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='482519' first='Addy' last='Franz'], Ursuline - 26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Digs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='204230' first='Emma' last='Frietch'], St. Ursula - 26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='176092' first='Rainey' last='Weidman'], Ursuline - 26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Creech - 15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Franz - 13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Venard - 11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aces</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Venard - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='403535' first='Maddie' last='Cho'], St. Ursula - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blocks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Radaszewski - 5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forrest - 4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Franz - 3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Semona - 2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Performances</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["204230"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":697402,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66fcce7abd0ee"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Not enough can be said of the consistency Frietch brings each night with the two and three-star passes. Even if it means stretching her arms and legs or diving hard, Frietch does whatever she can to make crisp passes. She kept countless plays alive using her raw athleticism in the game. Frietch said that has been a mentality of hers. She said players do not know if they can get to balls if they do not try.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["227797"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66fcce7abd143"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Semona took advantage of her size and leaping ability in this win. She helped form solid double blocks at the net and powered balls down in the middle and the pins. She pulled back and tipped balls over defenders if she saw the opening. Semona made some mistakes, but Semona said she's been growing mentally as a player so they do not affect the next play. Semona agreed it is important for players to change things up if one thing is not working.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["152344"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66fcce7abd18f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Venard once again used her experience to help the Bulldogs come through with the clutch win. Venard made the necessary sets to put the hitters in position to succeed against a tough Ursuline defense. Venard also excelled on defense including net coverage. Venard even set the tone in one game landing low line drive serves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["403535"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66fcce7abd1cd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cho (pictured) gives the Bulldogs quality rotations in the back. Teammates can rely on her to make sound passes. She landed some big aces in the second game to help St. Ursula pull away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["480821"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":697409,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66fccff9ece3a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jones has continued to improve as the season progresses, adding to St. Ursula's depth. Jones had two big kills as St. Ursula rallied from down game point in that third game. Jones is also good at squaring her arms up on balls to make nice passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["176096"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66fcd3e22f170"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Creech made a lot of sound digs to start the game before getting into a good offensive groove. Creech is as tough as any power hitter in the area, especially her strong left side. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["482519"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":697410,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66fcd3e22f1c3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Franz did everything she could in this game trying to keep Ursuline's chances of victory alive. That included setting balls to hitters she might not have as much in the past because the Lions did not have one of their top hitters available because of injury. Franz always gives a great effort expected from senior leaders and that remained consistent in this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->