Bishop Guertin's Annie Hammond hits a return against a waiting Windham's Riley Sawyer (6) during Wednesday night's Division I match at the Colligadome. (Telegraphy photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Bishop Guertin High School girls volleyball coach was wondering how his Division I contending team would react after losing a tough match to defending champion Pinkerton earlier this week.

Wednesday night, he got his answer.

The Cards used a 25-10 first set win to help propel them to a 3-1 win over the tough Windham Jaguars at the Colligadome, improving their record to 10-2.

“I think they responded very well,” Erb said. “I said ‘Guys, we’re a good team, we’ve got to go out and prove it. We lost a tough road game in Derry, so we’ve got to go back and defend our court and we did that.

“I told them after that first set that was the best 0 to 25 game we’ve ever played. In a game to 25, all the way through, we executed very well.”

Guertin got by in a much closer second set, 25-22, and nearly pulled off a comeback in the third set before falling 25-23. The Cards had not lost a close-out game this season until last night.

However, in the fourth set, they pulled away for a 15-10 lead. But after the Jags had gotten to within 16-15, the Cards went on an 8-0 run before winning the set and match 25-20. The Jags were called for delay of game on match point after violating the five-second time to get a serve off due to confusion over multiple whistles.

“I said ‘Guys, this team is too good to sweep'” Erb said. “So we’ve got to go out, prove we can continue, put our foot on the gas and close out. … They did just that.”

In any event, besides key play from hitter Caitlin Harrington and blocker Thalia Drapeau, the Cards got key points from outside hitters Annie Hammond and Phoebe Feliciano. Feliciano didn’t play in the Pinkerton match because Erb due to matchups, but she made the most of her opportunity last night.

“It’s going to be hard not to play her any more,” Erb said. “She hit very, very well. She was awesome.”

Drapeau was key in neutralizing Windham’s best player, Riley Sawyer, at the net when possible.

“Sawyer, she’s unbelievable,” Erb said. “Toward the end end we got a couple of key stops on her.”

The tone was set, though, in the opening set.

“I think for us we tend to be a slow build on that,” said Windham coach Kelsey Higgins, whose team is 9-6 after this and five-set loss Monday at contender Nashua North. “We made the in-match adjustments that were necessary to let us carry out further, so we’re super happy with that.”

But not with the final result. Erb is, because, as he said, the Cards want to keep winning to ensure home court in the first two rounds.

“We never give up, we’re mentally tough and ready to compete at all levels,” Erb said. “We’re not taking any team lightly.”