ALTON – There was a time not too long ago when the Marquette Catholic boys volleyball team might have wilted under pressure.
Times have changed, according to MCHS coach Mark Ellebracht.
Marquette faced city rival Alton on Wednesday night, and the first game was a back-and-forth battle. The Explorers won 30-28, and that momentum led to a 25-22 win in Game 2, paving the way for a 2-0 victory over the Redbirds on Senior Night at Marquette.
“I like playing with Olton,” Elebracht said.
“That's what we ate Wednesday night.”
This win not only made the Explorers' senior night more enjoyable, but also got revenge for the 2-0 Alton win earlier in the season.
“We lost to them in the opener, and today was our senior night,” Elpunraht said. “So the team was ready.”
Marquette sophomore CJ Stave had seven service points and freshman Cooper Morrissey had four service points. Marquette seniors celebrated on Senior Night were Ryan DeClue, Michael Hudson, Riley Jacobs and Joe Neugen.
“Scoring 30 points in the first set really helped show the players that if they stay focused and shake off their mistakes, they can compete,” Elebracht said.
In the season opener, Olton defeated Marquette 25-23, 25-20.
“At the beginning of the season, it seemed like if you were down five or six points, you lost some of that battle and you couldn’t get back on track.”
It was Marquette's third consecutive win. The Explorers enter Wednesday's game fresh off 2-0 wins over Granite City and Metro East Lutheran and are 6-10 on the season.
Olton is 5-13 after losing a tough 2-1 decision to Collinsville in the Southwestern Conference on Tuesday. The Redbirds play at Edwardsville on May 2nd.
Erebracht said his team, which plays at Father McGivney on Friday, is showing steady progress.
“We've been playing with more energy the last two weeks and playing better as a team overall,” he said. “I want to be more aggressive with my attack and more consistent with my serve, especially when we head to Father McGivney on Friday night.”