Fatima’s varsity volleyball team battled through a challenging week against three strong opponents, highlighted by a five-set victory over Capital City on Thursday that demonstrated the Lady Comets’ ability to respond under pressure.

The varsity squad finished 1-2 for the week, defeating the Lady Cavaliers in one of its most competitive matches of the season while falling to California and St. Francis Borgia.

“We earned an impressive win over Capital City, showcasing our ability to compete at a high level and execute under pressure,” said Coach Ellie Crede.

Against Capital City, Fatima overcame two deficits in a five-set contest to earn a 20-25, 25-22, 21-25, 27-25, 15-9 victory.

After dropping the opening set, Fatima evened the match before Capital City reclaimed the advantage in the third. The Lady Comets answered with a narrow fourth-set victory, then controlled the deciding set to secure the win.

Voss delivered a strong offensive performance with 20 kills on 43 attacks, while Dickneite added 11 kills and Lehmen contributed eight. Wingrath finished with six kills as Fatima totaled 57 kills on 220 attacks.

Scheppers directed the offense with 45 assists, while the Lady Comets’ defense helped sustain several extended rallies throughout the five-set contest.

Berhorst led with 33 digs, followed by Camryn Muenks with 25, Leah Muenks with 24, and Lehmen with 23. Fatima finished with 153 digs, demonstrating the defensive effort required to overcome the Lady Cavaliers.

The Lady Comets opened the week Tuesday at California, where the Lady Pintos claimed a 25-16, 25-15, 25-19 victory.

Fatima recorded 27 kills on 93 attacks but committed 22 hitting errors, limiting its offensive production. Gracie Dickneite and Elizabeth Voss led the attack with seven kills apiece, while Addison Lehmen and Layla Wingrath contributed four each.

Emma Scheppers distributed 24 assists, and Kaylee Berhorst led the defense with 12 digs. Fatima finished with 32 digs and two blocks.

The Lady Comets returned to their home court on Friday against St. Francis Borgia, which claimed a 25-13, 17-25, 25-18, 25-9 victory.

After struggling in the opening set, Fatima responded with a 25-17 victory to even the match, but the Lady Knights regained control in the third and closed out the contest in four sets.

Dickneite led Fatima with nine kills, while Voss added seven. Scheppers recorded 16 assists, and Berhorst collected 26 digs.

The Lady Comets finished with 87 digs and 10 blocks, including six total blocks from Voss, but offensive inconsistency limited their ability to sustain the momentum gained in the second set.

Despite the two losses, Crede said the competition provided valuable opportunities for the Lady Comets to identify areas needing improvement.

“Throughout the week, the team continued to work on improving communication, staying composed in stressful situations, and building consistency on both sides of the net,” Crede said. “Each match provides valuable opportunities for growth, and the team is focused on carrying those lessons forward as the season continues.”

The junior varsity completed a successful week of its own, winning two of three matches before falling in three sets to St. Francis Borgia.

Fatima opened last Tuesday with a 25-20, 25-21 sweep at California, recording 26 kills and 72 digs in the victory.

Cecilia Kleffner led the offense with seven kills, followed by six from J. Hoskins and five from Cora Heckman. Lyla Riegel distributed 15 assists, while Bralynn Troesser paced the defense with 19 digs.

The JV continued its winning ways on Thursday, defeating Capital City 25-14, 25-15. Troesser led the defensive effort with 15 digs, while Kleffner added 10. K. Luebbering contributed eight assists, and Riegel finished with seven.

Friday’s meeting with St. Francis Borgia proved considerably closer, with the Lady Comets falling 25-22, 17-25, 15-10.

After dropping the opening set, Fatima rallied to win the second before the Lady Knights secured the deciding set. Troesser again contributed defensively with 17 digs, while Heckman recorded three blocks.

The C team also finished 2-1 for the week, beginning with a three-set victory at California on Tuesday.

After losing the opening set 25-21, Fatima responded with a 25-13 win before prevailing 16-14 in the deciding set.

Camille Dickneite and Alayna Royston contributed five kills apiece, while Brooklyn Otto distributed 17 assists. Kinlee Perkins added 12 digs to help the Lady Comets complete the comeback.

Capital City handed Fatima a 25-21, 25-23 defeat on Thursday in two competitive sets. Otto recorded three service aces as the Lady Comets remained within striking distance of the Lady Cavaliers throughout the match.

The C team closed the week on Friday with another three-set victory, defeating St. Francis Borgia 25-23, 19-25, 15-13.

Dickneite led the attack with five kills, while Perkins added four and Royston contributed three. Otto distributed 15 assists, and Kaylee Muenks led the defense with 19 digs.

Across the three levels, Fatima collected five victories in nine matches, with the varsity’s five-set win over Capital City providing the week’s biggest highlight.