WILMINGTON – Neighborhood rivals got together on the volleyball court for the first time in the 2026 season, and Padua used a big first-set comeback as a springboard to a 3-0 sweep of Ursuline on Sept. 16. Set scores were 25-22, 25-16, and 25-18.
A full house was on hand for the tripleheader, which included a thrilling junior varsity match. After an even start for the varsity, the Raiders started to pull away. They led, 12-9, when freshman Anna O’Connor scored with a deep kill. That began a 7-1 run that included two more O’Connor kills, and an ace from Lily Logan that pushed the Ursuline led to 19-12.
Padua scored the next four points, and after the Raiders rebounded with two more points to take a 21-16 lead, it was more Padua. The Pandas went on a 5-0 run to tie it up, then took a 23-22 lead when SydneyPaige Huston sent an attack off the Raiders’ block. A service winner from Marah Ayotte sent it to set point, and Mina Nowroozi ended it with a block.
The Pandas came out firing in set two. Annamay Hendrixson (St. Mary of the Assumption Parish) was particuarly effective as the lead grew to 11-4, scoring on a tap, then delivering three straight aces while on the serve. Ursuline mounted its own comeback, scoring five straight, but the Pandas righted the ship. Nowroozi got the clincher with a smash, one of five kills for her on the night.
The third set was a tight affair most of the way. Hendrixson asserted herself early, scoring the initial point on a backhand, then adding a block and a big kill as the Pandas jumped to a 5-2 lead. The Raiders got it back to a one-point deficit at 9-8 when Logan served up an ace, but two unforced errors sandwiched around an ace from Huston restored a four-point Padna advantage.
Consecutive aces later in the set from Logann Roberts cut the Pandas’ lead to 18-14, but freshman Emma Cleveland continued a big night with a cross to end the threat. A hitting error brought the night to an end.
Julia Kelley (St. Ann Parish) led the Pandas with 10 kills, while Cleveland added nine. Cleveland also had 11 digs, tied with Huston for the team lead. Hendrixson served up four aces. The Pandas (2-0) travel to Saint Mark’s on Sept. 22 to meet the Spartans.
For Ursuline, O’Connor had 10 kills, and Reagan Randall had seven. Sarah LaFond led the way with 16 digs, and Logan had 11 assists. Roberts had five aces. The Raiders (0-2) face another tough opponent on Tuesday when Newark Charter comes calling.
Photos by Mike Lang.
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