Volleyball: Ideal Senior Night for Pride as Heritage Sweeps Battlefield

By Owen Gotimer
Heritage High School student journalist

Leesburg (Oct. 29, 2010) - Early this week the varsity volleyball team at Heritage High School clinched the Cedar Run District regular season title. Thursday night the Pride ended their regular season district play with an undefeated record (8-0 in district, 18-2 overall), defeating the Battlefield Bobcats in three games.

Heritage got out to an 8-1 lead early on in game one. After that it was smooth sailing for the Pride as they won 25-8.

A quick lead was once again established in game two as the Pride’s offense was becoming more and more dominant. Pride senior starter Lian Bernett lead Heritage’s attack with 8 kills, 3 points, 2 aces, 1 assist, and 5 digs. Assisted by teammates Kelsey Hrebenach (8 kills, 5 points, 1 ace) and Stephanie Yokoyama (17 points, 6 aces, 28 assists, 7 digs), the Bobcat’s defense could not keep up. The Pride won game two, 25-15.

There was a scare for Heritage midway through game three as they allowed Battlefield to crawl back into a 3-point game. Nevertheless, the determined Pride fought strong taking an overwhelming lead through solid defense and terrific service.

The Pride’s service game was lead by Yokoyama (17 points, 6 aces), freshman Sydney Busa (6 points, 3 aces), junior Christina Kamis (6 points, 3 aces), and senior Emma LeMaitre (6 points, 2 aces). Every Pride starter had at least one ace, combining for a team total 18 aces. Heritage won game three, 25-13.

And to think the night could not get any better; it was also Heritage’s senior night. This season the Pride volleyball team will graduate three seniors including outside hitter Lian Bernett, outside hitter Emma LeMaitre, and libero Rachel Runyan. In the fall, LeMaitre will attend Central Connecticut State, and Runyan will attend Radford. Bernett is undecided, but plans on attending either Coastal Carolina or the College of Charleston. Heritage’s Coach Keilty wishes the seniors the best of luck and added that all three girls will be greatly missed.

The winner of Monday’s game between Battlefield and Osbourn, at Stonewall Jackson, will play the tope seed Pride next Tuesday at Heritage at 7 p.m.

Game Stats:
Lian Bernett - 8 kills, 3 points, 2 aces, 1 assist, 5 digs
Sydney Busa - 5 kills, 4 assisted blocks, 6 points, 3 aces, 1 assist, 1 dig
Madeline Fowler - 5 kills, 6 points, 1 ace, 1 assist, 4 digs
Kelsey Hrebenach - 8 kills, 5 points, 1 ace
Christina Kamis - 5 kills, 1 assisted block, 6 points, 3 aces, 1 dig
Emma LeMaitre - 6 points, 2 aces, 1 assist, 7 digs
Dariel Montanez - 4 digs
Lesley Reed - 3 digs
Rachel Runyan - 1 kill, 7 digs
Stephanie Yokoyama - 17 points, 6 aces, 28 assists, 7 digs

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