Record-setting day for Sacred Heart’s Webster
RADNOR — As Jaycee Webster stepped on the court for Monday’s Catholic Academies League volleyball showdown with Villa Joseph Marie, the senior outside hitter from Sacred Heart Academy had no idea she was on the verge of history.
Webster entered the match needing one kill to break the school record of 815 she shared with 2018 grad Juliana Michniak, a freshman at Catholic University in Washington. Webster was still unaware after she set the mark early in the first set.
“I didn’t know I was one away,” Webster said, “until everyone came up to me and said, ‘Congrats.’ I said, ‘What for?’ I didn’t realize I was that close.”
Webster would go on to finish with 19 kills and 10 digs as the Lions snapped a three-game losing streak with a 25-19, 25-16, 25-19 victory over the Jems in Dooley Gymnasium.
“It means a lot, but it was a team effort,” Webster said of setting the record. “I need good passes, good sets and everyone came out and did their part.”
Most of those passes came from junior setter Hannah Martinson, who finished with 24 assists, seven digs and five aces. The two have a symbiotic relationship on the court and it shows in their play. Martinson didn’t have to look any time she wanted to make a pass to Webster.
“We have such good communication,” Webster said. “We’ve played together since Hannah was a freshman and we’re friends off the court. It works out well.”
“Me and Jaycee have a connection where if she asks me to do something else with a set, I know that she’s not coming from a mean place. I know that she just wants to get the next kill.”
And Webster, who now has 834 career kills, showed her court awareness to accomplish that goal. VJM had a pair of strong middle blockers in senior Katie McKee and junior Hunter Odias, who made it tough on Webster’s power game. Wherever she went, McKee and Odias were there for the double-team block.
Webster switched to a finesse game to get the job done. The record-setter didn’t come on a smash, but a well-placed shot along the sideline near the backline in the first set.
“She played her dink and dunk game today,” Sacred Heart coach Sam Moyerman said. “It’s funny, but I didn’t tell her (the media) was here because if she knew that, she probably would have taken a few more harder swings.
“I even made a joke with her that she just set the school record for kills on a tip to the deep line. Sometimes those are the games you have, like the knuckleballer or the junk pitcher going out and getting a bunch of strikeouts. She’s such a smart player that she knows exactly what she needs to do and then she goes out there and does it.”
Most of her attacks came from the back row, where Webster is quite comfortable and could be where she plays in college. That’s fine with her.
“I love back-row attacks, especially if it’s that sweet spot, right on top of the 10-foot line,” said Webster, who is looking at Manhattan College and Catholic University. “That’s perfect.”
The Lions weren’t perfect. They made their share of errors, but they were still too much for the Jems (5-6, 1-6). Five straight points at the service line from sophomore Eric Corcoran (11 digs, eight kills, two aces) followed a short while later by five service points from Martinson broke the first set open.
Corcoran had another five-point run in the second set to turn a 9-7 deficit into a 12-9 lead. Freshman Bridget McGuinn was at the service line for 10 straight points to put the set out of reach. Webster, who missed last Friday’s 3-2 loss to Radnor with migraine headaches, had several key kills in the third set, including the match point.
“We had a rough week last week,” Moyerman said. “Mount (St. Joseph) is always really good and then Hannah was sick and missed the (St.) Basil match and Jaycee missed the Radnor match because she was injured. We got everyone back, everyone cleared so we were healthy and ready to go and it was really, really nice to see them back together, smiling and enjoying themselves.”
Webster and Martinson returned to the lineup just in time. The Lions, who are ranked 10th in Class A by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association, visit Villa Maria Academy (10-1, 8-0), the No. 9 team in Class AAA, Tuesday. The Hurricanes pinned a 3-0 loss on SHA earlier in the season, but that did not seem to bother Webster.
“I feel great,” she said. “I’m ready to beat Villa.”
In Central League volleyball:
Garnet Valley 3, Marple Newtown 0 >> Gwen Clark recorded eight kills, three digs and two aces as the Jaguars won 25-16, 32-30 and 25-11 to remain undefeated.
Alana Hagerty added nine kills, four aces and two digs. Garnet Valley (10-0, 7-0) takes on Lower Merion Wednesday before Thursday’s showdown at home with undefeated Bishop Shanahan. The Jaguars are ranked third in the state by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association, while the Eagles are No. 2.
Strath Haven 3, Radnor 0 >> Gabby McGinn collected 10 digs and eight kills in the 25-13, 25-19, 25-21 victory for the Panthers. Hailey Blu added 19 assists, nine digs and three aces, while Ellie Fisher pitched in with eight kills.
Grayce Henderson (eight kills, four digs), Erica DiCarlo (14 assists, seven digs, three kills) and Sammy Scannapieco (12 digs, two aces) led the way for the Raiders.
Ridley 3, Springfield 1 >> Melanie June (28 digs, four aces), Angela April (14 kills, 11 digs) and Shannon Glacken (28 assists, three aces) helped the Green Raiders bounce back from a loss in the first set to win 16-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18. Riley Finnegan (11 digs) and Abi Herrin (nine kills, three blocks) also were major contributors. Junior Emily McGowan had a career-high 43 digs for the Cougars.
