By DENNY DYROFF, Staff Writer

MALVERN — There were no big stakes associated with Wednesday night's volleyball match between Bishop Shanahan and host Villa Maria Academy. It was not a league match. There was no invitational tournament title on the line. It was just another nonleague encounter for the Shanahan and Villa squads.

Why then was there a playoff atmosphere inside the crowded gym at Villa?

It's because it's always a heated affair when Villa plays Shanahan in volleyball. Both programs are perennial District 1 Class AAA powerhouses. And many of the players were teammates a few years back in CYO volleyball. Bragging rights are always on the line.

The host Hurricanes, who were the decided underdogs with just four wins in their first 10 matches, hung tough with the powerful Eagles. But it takes more than just hanging tough to tag a loss on this year's Shanahan squad — a team that is currently ranked second in the state.

The Eagles posted a 3-0 win to return home with their 10th win of the season. Shanahan kept its record unblemished with the 25-20, 25-18, 26-24 sweep.

The visitors jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the opener and then maintained a three-to-five point gap for the remainder of the game. Shanahan put on a show of power and versatility at the net with a number of players registering kills - Susan Frick, Emily Carlin, Nicole Lott, Maria Ficca, Amanda Nickels and Julie Joyce.

"Bishop Shanahan had really good hitters -- a lot of really good hitters," said VMA's veteran senior libero Emily Tobia. "It's always good to play Shanahan. We came out really fired up. And we played a lot better than I thought we would."

In the second game, Villa hung tough - until the midway point. The score was knotted at 9-9 and still close when Shanahan held a 14-11 lead. But some solid serving by Frick and Ficca and some big swings at the net by Carlin, Frick and Nickels sent the Eagles ahead by eight. Summer Jaros finished it off with a well-struck kill.

"We saw the seams and we were able to put the ball where they weren't," said Carlin, who delivered crucial kills and key digs when they were most needed. "I thought they played amazingly well. They were definitely our toughest competition so far in a regular season match. We love playing teams that can hit the ball back over."

Lott said, "We came out and saw that they were small so we expected a good defensive team. But they were blocking well too."

The third game was back-and-forth from the opening point. The score was tied 17 times - the last of which was at 24-24. Then Carlin came through with kills on the next two points to seal the win.

"This is how a lot of our matches have gone so far this season," said VMA coach Joe Boland. "Bishop Shanahan is the best team we've played all year. I was proud of the way our girls hung in there with them."

Boland, who has been head coach at Villa Maria since 1993, was honored with pre-game and post-game activities in recognition of his recent induction into the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Shanahan coach Greg Ashman had to feel relieved at the conclusion of play. Heading into the match, he was concerned about how the wave of illness at the school would affect his lineup. He also knew how difficult it is to beat the Hurricanes in their own gym.

"There were 185 kids out sick at Shanahan today, so I didn't know who we'd have on the court," said Ashman. "Our goal was to just come out of here with a win."