It was just a couple of weeks ago when Cate’s boys volleyball team left Laguna Blanca’s Merovick Gym with a 5-set win over the rival Owls. Laguna got its revenge on Saturday, as Pascal Karam put down 18 kills and the Owls won at Cate, 25-22, 18-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-13.
“We played a great team, Windward, yesterday and struggled, but it prepared us for this game,” said Karam. “It felt like a much slower game today. It was great to come out here and play our best in their gym.”
Parker Lilly had 12 kills and Jack Stegall added seven for the visitors. JT Aubery served five straight points in the fifth set and also had a huge dig at the end of the fourth set that provided the Owls (6-6, 2-1) some momentum heading into the final frame.
Joe Gottwald once again put up huge numbers for the Rams, who will likely share the Condor League title with the Owls. Gottwald amassed 29 kills, 20 digs, seven aces and four blocks. Houston Bradley and Stu Engs each had nine kills, and Michael Castenda had four blocks.
The longtime rivalry got chippy at the end, and Cate coach Dan Terry said that the two 5-set matches on the season will ignite the matchup even more in years to come. He said that the Rams struggled due to the fact that they were missing their starting and back-up liberos, having to pull up a JV player. They also did not have any subs.
“I don’t remember when this wasn’t a rivalry. They’re the only team in the league that gives us a run for our money and vice-versa,” he said.
Laguna assistant coach Dillan Bennett was elated with the improvement his team showed in the match.
“When we played the the first time our intensity level was way down, and after a good practice on Thursday and a tough loss to Windward yesterday, they fired on all cylinders,” he said. “Everybody was on the same page. We ran some different plays and kept them in check, and the improvement is phenomenal.”
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