It was a match of biblical proportions. Cabrini College women’s volleyball team crushed both Valley Forge Christian College and Philadelphia Biblical University 3-0 on Saturday, Oct. 23 as part of a tri-match at Philadelphia Biblical’s Mason Activity Center.
The Lady Cavs not only swept Valley Forge Christian College but also extended their winning streak in the Colonial States Athletic Conference to a jaw-dropping 23 games.
Junior Alexis Doss who had 10 kills on 23 tries led the charge against the Philadelphia Biblical Crimson Eagles while senior middle hitter Stephanie Recklau and first-year outside hitter Sophia Sokolovich notched seven and six kills versus the opposition.
Student-athlete of the week Courtney Abel contributed with a team-high 13 digs while Sokolovich recorded nine digs. Also scoring big from the Class of 2014 was middle hitter Michele Fitz who had eight kills on 14 attempts and setter Alaina Clark who picked up 36 assists.
“We played well together and everyone on the team got playtime which was very exciting,” Abel, junior libero, said.
In addition Recklau recorded five total blocks, including two solo blocks. The Lady Cavs won 25-20 in the first set and won 25-18 in the second stanza while finishing the third game with a 25-18 win versus Philadelphia Biblical.
The two wins puts the Lady Cavs overall winnings at 20 for the third-straight year under head coach Eric Schaefer who has coached for the blue and white for four seasons.
In addition, on Philadelphia Biblical’s side of the net, Rachael Calderon had 12 kills in 25 tries as the Crimson Eagles posted four total team blocks as compared to Cabrini’s five total team blocks.
“PBU was good competition,” Chris Abel, mother of junior libero Abel said, “So hopefully it’ll prepare them to go into the last round of sets and the playoffs.”
As for the first match versus Valley Forge Christian College, “Valley Forge was no competition.”
“For us to have won so many consecutive games in the CSAC shows we do not play down to anyone. As a team, we go out in every competition with the fight to win, the fight to remain perfect in the CSAC conference,” Sokolovich said.
“Well, I always look forward to the Cabrini game. They’ve been one of our top competitors in the four years that I’ve played volleyball here at Philadelphia Biblical. We have been very well matched every time that we’ve played them,” Carly Plank, Philadelphia Biblical University senior and outside hitter, said.
“For me personally, I wanted to come back strong after the loss from last season and pull out a win, but Cabrini showed up ready to play and we just didn’t have what we needed to win,” Plank said.
“But seeing how strong we both are and the potential that we have to be good in the next few years will be exciting, although as a senior I will now have to experience the match up simply as a spectator,” Plank said.
“Philly Bible is getting better every year and we knew that if we won that game we would have home court advantage throughout playoffs,” Recklau, senior middle hitter, said.
“Although Valley Forge Christian Academy wasn’t the best team we have played this year, it is absolutely essential for us to fight for every point throughout the remainder of the season,” Recklau said.
“It’s a huge deal for us to have such a large winning streak in CSAC play and I am extremely grateful and proud to be the start of what will hopefully be a legacy. Every year this team gets better and I don’t see why the streak couldn’t continue for the next 10 years,” Recklau said.
The Lady Cavs who are 20-5 overall and 10-0 in the CSAC are scheduled to face Neumann University next on Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Dixon Center and finish off the season in Haverford versus Haverford College on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 4 p.m.
“Every year the Neumann game is the one we have circled on our calendars. It’s a huge game and we all know that an undefeated conference season is at risk. We are going to approach it like a championship and hopefully make a statement,” Recklau said.
“The game against Neumann is going to be very exciting. It’s our last regular home game of the season and if we win this game it’ll be two undefeated seasons,” Abel said.
