They were good, and they were close to being much better. Cathedral High School girls volleyball also improved dramatically during the 2022 season, which set the stage for future Irish teams. That made ’22 a successful season. It made it an important one, too. “We were trying to form a culture of family and being a good teammate to the person next to you,” Karrie Quenichet said following her first season as the Irish’s girls volleyball coach. “I feel like progress was made there and I’m proud of that.” ...

Karrie Quenichet likes what she sees so far. That’s not just true on the court for 2022 Cathedral High School volleyball. It has been true in all areas of the program early in Quenichet’s first season as head coach. This is a new regime, a new era. And the transition has been smooth. “I’m very excited at the prospect of working with these girls,” Quenichet said in late August. “They have a lot of talent. I think this season they’re going to surprise some people. They’ve already done that to some ex...

Girls volleyball head coach Mary Ording '09 Hemer has decided to step down from her position to focus on her family. The volleyball program has won three consecutive sectional titles and two City Championships including a program sweep in 2021. "I am honored to have spent the last 3 years as the head coach of such a historic program & to have spent so much time working with many of our remarkable student-athletes," Coach Hemer said about her time as head coach. "While I will miss the girls dearly, I am also extremely excited abo...

The progress continues, and so does the building. That was the theme for Cathedral High School girls volleyball in 2021 – a season in which the Irish again navigated one of the state’s toughest schedules on the way to a solid showing in the postseason. That didn’t necessarily mean a satisfying season in Mary Hemer’s third season as coach. It did mean a successful one. “In all positions around the court we made huge progress,” Hemer said. The Irish, long one of the state’s top high school girls voll...

Mary Hemer feels great about 2021 Cathedral High School volleyball. “I feel like this team could really surprise a lot of people,” she said. Hemer, entering her third season as the Irish’s girls volleyball coach, said while the Irish may not have Central Indiana’s biggest names – or a slew of players from big-time club volleyball teams– entering 2021, that may not matter. What the Irish have is a tight-knit, focused coachable group led by a solid core of experienced players. The Irish also have speed and athle...

The 2020 season was about beating adversity. Specifically, it was about sacrifice and overcoming injury. Cathedral High School girls volleyball did both in 2020 while taking steps forward under Head Coach Mary Hemer – and Hemer said all that made it hard to see the season end. “It really was a full team – and even program – effort,” Hemer said. The Irish (12-14), playing one of Central Indiana’s toughest schedules, lost two key players – including senior leader/outside hitter Sarah Casper. Despite that, ...

In the second match of the Three Way Meet at Noblesville on Saturday, September 19, Cathedral Varsity and JV volleyball teams squared up against the Cougars of Greenfield-Central. Cathedral quickly established the upper hand as the Irish built and held a lead throughout set one, but Greenfield-Central fought back to knot the score at 20-20. The Irish were on the verge of dropping the opening set as they found themselves on the bottom side of a 23-24 score but stormed back with two kills and a service ace to take the set 26-24 over the Cougars. Set two...

Cathedral Varsity and JV volleyball teams travelled to Noblesville High School on Saturday, September 19, to square off against two opponents in full matches in a single-day format that mimics tournament action. The Irish faced the Millers of Noblesville and the Cougars of Greenfield-Central as the season moves closer to IHSAA Sectional Tournament play. In the first match of the day, the Irish were slow out of the gate in the first set and suffered a loss 13-25 to the Millers. After wiping the sleep out of their eyes, Cathedral came to life in the sec...

Cathedral volleyball was in action against Perry Meridian on Thursday, September 17, with all three Irish teams taking on the Falcons. It was an exciting evening in the WAC and MIMMS with all three matches going the maximum number of sets. In the Varsity match, the Lady Irish jumped out quickly on the Lady Falcons in the first set and never trailed on their way to an impressive 25-11 win. The second set saw the Falcons score first and maintain a lead until the Irish knotted the score at 21-21, but Perry Meridian pulled square in the match as Cathedral...

Cathedral volleyball honored five seniors on Tuesday, September 1, as the Lady Irish hosted the rebranded Roncalli Red Devils in the Welch Activity Center. Senior players Sarah Casper, Lucia Corsaro, and Mia Finn and senior managers Kimmie Mattingly and Gabe Keltner were recognized prior to the match. The Irish came out swinging and were never threatened on their way to a first set win 25-17. The Irish were on the verge of staking themselves to a two-set lead, but the Red Devils stormed back to even the match by stealing the second set 25-27. Cathedra...

The Irish scored a program-wide sweep of the Warriors on Wednesday, August 26, when Cathedral traveled to Warren Central to square off against their Freshman, Junior Varsity, and Varsity volleyball teams. The Varsity won in three sets (25-9, 25-13, 25-17) to even their season record at 2-2. The Irish attack was led by junior Erica Barnhisel who connected on 10 kills against the Warrior defenders. Junior Kelsey Bailey and sophomore Mallory Dills handed out 14 assists each, accounting for 28 of the team total 33. Junior Caroline Kubacki stepped up with ...

The Cathedral Irish came out swinging in the Welch Activity Center in their victory over the Center Grove Trojans. The Irish offense found its mark consistently while the defense was relentless against the Trojan attack. On the evening, the Irish scored 41 kills while the defense recorded 62 digs. The Irish jumped out to a quick lead in the first set with senior Lucia Corsaro thwarting attack after attack from the Trojan hitters and pulled away from the Trojans on the way to a 25-14 win. Center Grove found their footing somewhat in the secon...

The goals are simple and real. Yes, Mary Hemer wants improvement for Cathedral High School girls volleyball in 2020 – her second season as head coach. And yes, the state tournament is always a program goal. But Hemer said another goal must come first. “Our biggest mindset is always, ‘We’re going to fight,’ ” she said. “We’re going to go out there and put our best effort on the floor. We’re going to work as a team and play to everybody’s strengths, and cover each other’s ‘not...

The Cathedral Lady Irish captured the IHSAA 4A Sectional 10 volleyball championship on Saturday, October 19, in dramatic fashion defeating the Lawrence North Lady Wildcats in the championship match for the second straight year. Finding themselves down 1-2 after three sets and in a win-or-go-home situation, Cathedral overpowered Lawrence North in the final two sets to defend their title by a match score of 3-2 (25-15, 20-25, 19-25, 25-18, 15-7). The Lady Irish won the first set in convincing fashion with an unrelenting offensive attack and unfaltering ...

Cathedral defeated Heritage Christian in dramatic fashion on Thursday, October 10, to win the Indianapolis City Alliance Tournament. The Lady Irish squared off against the Lady Eagles in the Championship match for the second straight year. With the win the Lady Irish improve their season record to 14-12 and enter post-season play on a positive note and 3-game winning streak. Cathedral won set one by a comfortable margin 25-18 to establish an early 1-0 match lead. Cathedral delivered strong performances in sets two and three only to be turned away by H...