Photos by Jim Marczesky Cardinal Newman's Erin Zander goes for the spike. The Cardinal Newman volleyball team travelled to Hammond Tuesday, September 23 and came away with a hard- fought and important 3- 2 victory over the Lady Skyhawks in SCISA Region I- AAA.

The first game started with both teams feeling their way around, with neither team grabbing any momentum on serves until the end of the rotation, when the Lady Cardinals won seven straight points on serves by Meredith Mann. That gave Cardinal Newman (7- 2, 4- 0) enough of a cushion to trade points until the end of the game, which they won 25- 21.

Hammond (5- 3, 3- 2) took the second and third games, both by scores of 25- 16, by capitalizing on Cardinal Newman mistakes. Seniors Kaki Smith and Sarah Prickett did much of their damage in these games, with Smith setting up Prickett for many of her team- high 10 kills. Near the end of the third game, Cardinal coach Bob Watson called a time out and challenged his team to play with more passion. It certainly seemed to work, as the Cardinals scored a game four win, 25- 17, leading to the winner- take- all fifth game.

Hammond's Sarah Prickett spikes the ball. The Cardinals, buoyed by the momentum of winning the fourth game, cruised to a 15- 9 score and the victory in the match.

Mann led the Lady Cardinals with four aces. Denise Jeanmougin and Nazley Wilson had two aces each. Jeanmougin led Cardinal Newman with 19 kills, and Alex Watson dished out 40 assists. Erin Zander led the team with 10 blocks. For Hammond, Smith led the team with 38 assists, and Prickett had 10 kills and four aces.

Cardinal Newman hosts Pinewood Prep on Thursday, September 25, while Hammond hosts region rival St. Joseph's that same day.

Hammond's Elaine Epting (r) blocks Cardinal Newman's Denise Jeanmougin. Cardinal Newman's Alex Watson sets the ball for a spike.