Volleyball: Stone Bridge Rallies in Fifth Game to Defeat Herndon

By Dan Sousa
VivaLoudoun.com Editor

Ashburn (Nov. 11, 2009) - The Stone Bridge High School volleyball team only has two seniors on the roster and the Bulldogs, trailing 5-1 in the fifth game Tuesday against Herndon, were not about to let their careers end on the school's home floor.

Stone Bridge rallied, with senior Alexis Chism igniting a 5-point run with, not one, but two, monster solo blocks, and advanced to the AAA Northern Region semifinals with a thrilling 25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 12-25, 15-11 victory.

Down 5-1 in the fifth, Chism got the team fired up with two blocks sandwiched around a  Herndon error.

"That was one of those turning points. It ignited the rest of the team," said Stone Bridge coach Jill Raschiatore after her team moved to 23-2 on the year and within one win from making the state tournament. SB will face South County on Thursday at Centreville High School after Robinson takes on Langley at 6 p.m.

For good measure, Chism registered a kill to tie the match at 5-5 and then freshman Ryan Ackermann dropped in a service winner to put SB ahead. The Bulldogs would not trail again as the Hornets play became frayed in the final stages.

Stone Bridge Junior Christine Beckham who had 16 kills, 10 digs and nine service points, including an ace, in the regional quarterfinal win



Stone Bridge seniors Lindsay Gill and Alexis Chism ... please note the lousy job of focusing by the camerman (ahem!) ... yes, I did a great job of focusing on the wall behind them ... in real life the girls faces are in focus! Sorry Lindsay and Alexis!


SB Stats for the match:
Christine Beckham 16 kills, 10 digs, 9 pts, 1 ace
Lindsay Gill 31 digs, 4 pts
Alex Heyn 5 kills, 3 blocks
Alexis Chism 3 kills, 7 blocks
Ryan Ackermann 12 kills, 14 pts, 7 digs
Amy Christensen 3 kills, 8 digs, 8 pts, 1 ace
Vanessa Paige 38 assists, 3 kills, 5 pts