Mentor didn’t have an ideal start in the first set Oct. 3 against Strongsville. The Cardinals trailed by four points midway through the frame. But they started to chip away and pushed the set to extra points to complete the comeback. The Cardinals controlled the following two sets for the sweep and improved to 14-5 and 10-0 in the conference. PHOTOS: Mentor vs. Strongsville volleyball, Oct. 3, 2024 Mentor's slow start in the set was compounded with miscues like players going into the net or over the line. But the players kept swinging and ate into the deficit. As the set continued, both sides began to run low on their substitution numbers, forcing players to stay on the court and break normal rotations. Mentor sent Audri VanHuss to the service line with the game tied at 27-27. She isn't a part of the normal service rotation, but the sophomore came through. Back-to-back aces completed the comeback and coach Sam Weaver knew she was ready for the moment. "It's fantastic and highlights what we preach in this program," Weaver said. "All 16 girls on varsity have to be ready. On Monday (against Hudson) all four of our juniors went down with injuries but that was another next-man-up situation. They know that and are prepared. It was good to see it pay off because she's been working a lot on her serve." The attack continued its strong showing from the end of the first set into the second. Kayden McKinney and Anna Cassidy had five kills each in the second set, and Melody Garrett had four. McKinney and Garrett's play has been well-documented over their past two years, but they've been instrumental in the growth of Cassidy this season. She gives the team options along the front row instead of just going from pin to pin. "Anna is a really good player," McKinney said. "She's tall, she can jump really high, she doesn't settle at all. She's always striving to do better and that's a great addition for us. Mel and I push her to be the best that she can be and she's really stepped up and done her part of the job." Cassidy wasn't the only player to step up in the attack. VanHuss also had strong play in the middle, with Claire Kovell and Grace Kiggins also stepping up. McKinney said the versatility will make the Cardinals a tough out in the postseason. "Our depth of this team is really great," McKinney said. "Knowing that we're not the only ones, everybody has done a great job of stepping up and doing their part. None of it is easy, everyone is doing their part. It's great to see that happening." Mentor continues to dominate the GCC, having not lost a conference game since Sept. 19 of last season and are one match away from clinching at least a share of the conference title for a second year in a row. Weaver knows that their work during the nonconference slate of the season prepares them for the challenges of conference play. With teams like Brunswick and Strongsville on their heels, Weaver knows the stage isn't too big for Mentor. "We played Gilmour and went to Columbus all for this moment," Weaver said. "They know that. They've played the best of the best and are going to continue playing the best of the best. There's no pressure for them right now. That comes with the nature and mentality that all 16 of the girls have" Strongsville was led by Payton Beard with eight kills and Anna Painter with four, including her 500th career kill. Mentor has a chance to lock up a share of the GCC title when it travels to Medina Oct. 8.