VENICE — Cardinal Mooney has been Venice’s kryptonite on the sand over the past few seasons, and that trend continued on Tuesday at Venice Beach.
Despite the loss of their best player and head coach midway through the season, the Cougars have been blazing hot.
Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Indians marked Mooney’s 15th victory of the season, handing Venice its first-and-only home defeat of the regular season.
“I’m frustrated, because I really wanted this one,” Venice head coach John Richards said. “I feel like a couple of our teams played a little scared out there. But, it’s best to do this now. I know we’re going to have a shot at them again at districts next week.”
The Indians (10-4) improved against the Cougars in the second matchup of the season between the two teams, picking up an additional match win after falling 4-1 at Mooney back in February.
Venice’s 1’s team of Brighton Ferguson and JaLynn Gardner won its second match of the season against the Cougars, grinding out a three-set win (21-14, 14-21, 15-6) over Mooney’s Zoe Kirby and Sydney Sparma.
The second victory came from Venice’s 4’s team — Jayda Lanham and Hilary Hupp.
Lanham and Hupp swept Mooney’s Kate Montesano and Kelsey Fisher in two sets, winning 21-17 and 21-11.
“Both my 4’s team and 1’s teams have been playing really well and have shown consistency,” Richards said. “It was big for them to come out and win against Mooney. We just need one more match to go our way when we see them again.”
The 2’s team of Taylor Orris and Addie Lariviere suffered a two-set loss to Izzy Russell and Helena Hebda (10-21, 12-21).
A lingering injury from Orris helped the Cougars control the pace throughout.
“A couple of matches ago, she bent her right thumb back trying to make a play,” Richards said. “She’s hurting right now, so I’ll probably rest her until districts next week.”
The 3 and 5 matches were missed opportunities, according to Richards.
The 3’s team of Ali Estes and Melissa Apolonio played a very competitive match against Mooney’s Riley Greene and Katie Powers, but ultimately fell, 18-21 and 19-21.
The 5’s team of Ali Schapley and Julia Westlake started off strong against Mooney’s Layla Larrick and Charley Hermann, leading 13-8 in the first set.
The Cougars would later mount a comeback, though, winning the opening set, 21-18, before handling the second set, 21-13.
“Both my 3’s and 5’s teams were close, but they just made too many little mistakes that cost them,” Richards said. “We’ll probably move things around a bit heading into next week, and see where we’re at once districts start. The big thing is getting everyone mentally ready and in the right mindset.
“I have a good feeling we’re going to get going when it counts next week. Again, if you have a choice between losing now or losing next week, you’d rather do it now. I would’ve loved to have won (Tuesday), because it would’ve kept us undefeated at home for the season. But, you know, things happen.”
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