Volleyball: Five Area Teams One Win Away From States

(Nov. 10, 2010) - Loudoun County -- which brought home AA and AAA state titles last year from Richmond -- has once again staked its claim as the top area in the state for girls volleyball with five teams rolling to regional quarterfinal wins on Tuesday, leaving Broad Run, Freedom, Heritage, Loudoun County and Stone Bridge all just one win away from qualifying for States.

All the regional semifinal action will take place Thursday night.

In Region II, three of the four remaining teams are from the Dulles District as Broad Run will host Freedom and Loudoun County hosts Kettle Run in the other semifinal. Kettle Run is the only team to beat the 23-1 Raiders this season. That loss came only minutes after County had beaten handed Stone Bridge (24-1) its only loss in an early season tournament.

Freedom (16-9) and Broad Run (17-7) tangled twice in the regular season with the Spartans winning both times in five games. Both teams needed to come-from-behind Thursday to win quarterfinal games on the road.

In the Northwest Region, Heritage (21-2) will host Western Valley District power Patrick Henry-Roanoke on Thursday in a 6 p.m. semifinal.

In the Northern Region, Stone Bridge will play in the second game of a semifinal doubleheader at Centreville against Robinson.

Northern Region
Quarterfinals
Stone Bridge def. South County, 25-16, 25-11, 25-20
Dan Sousa reports from Ashburn:
One day after a bit of "Monday blues" in a first round win over Herndon, it was all Stone Bridge smiles Tuesday as the Bulldogs looked every bit of a 24-1 team as they rolled to an easy straight set win over the Stallions.

"We came out a little more fired up tonight, a little more focused," said Stone Bridge coach Jill Raschiatore.

Amanda Miller had her hand in just about every Bulldog point as the senior setter -- who missed last year's regional run after a devastating ankle injury -- had 37 assists and 13 service points, including four aces.

"Amanda did a nice job of mixing things up," said Raschiatore.

While Stone Bridge eliminated South County -- the defending AAA state runner-up -- and their all-region first teamer Simone Antwi, the Bulldogs must now face Robinson in Thursday's semifinal at Centreville High School (start time 8 p.m.) and their region Player of the Year Susi Murach.

On Sept. 13, Stone Bridge swept Robinson.

"Our girls all know their big hitter," said Raschiatore. "At this point in the playoffs it comes down to whoever brings their "A" game is going to get it done."

SB Stats vs. SC:
Christine Beckham 10 kills, 2 digs, 2 blocks, 5 service pts, 1 ace
Amanda Miller 37 assists, 3 digs, 13 service pts, 4 aces, 2 blocks
Amy Christensen 15 digs, 22 service pts, 7 aces
Ryan Ackermann 13 kills, 1 dig, 1 block, 5 service pts, 1 ace
Alex Heyn 8 kills, 2 blocks
Vanessa Paige 5 kills, 1 dig
Haley McClure 2 kills, 1 block

Robinson def. Yorktown, 3-0
Hayfield def. Fairfax, 3-0
Langley def. Lake Braddock, 3-2

Northwest Region
Quarterfinals
Heritage def. Albemarle, 25-9, 25-13, 25-15
Owen Gotimer reports from Leesburg:
Tuesday night, in the quarterfinals of the Northwest Region tournament, the Heritage Pride looked like real state qualifying contenders.

Heritage defeated the Albemarle Patriots, who won the state championship in 2008, in three games; 25-9, 25-14, 25-15.

The Pride commanded the entire match largely driven by freshmen hitter Sydney Busa (7 kills, 6 points, 2 aces). Heritage’s offense was also supported by senior Lian Bernett (7 kills, 6 points) and junior Stephanie Yokoyama (1 kill, 16 points, 2 aces, 25 assists).

Heritage will take on Western Valley District powerhouse Patrick Henry this Thursday at 6 p.m. at Heritage in the Region Semifinals.

Pride stats vs. Albemarle:
Lian Bernett- 7 kills, 6 points, 1 assist, 8 digs
Sydney Busa- 7 kills, 1 solo block, 1 assisted block, 6 points, 2 aces, 7 digs
Madeline Fowler- 3 kills, 10 points, 3 aces, 5 digs
Kelsey Hrebenach- 5 kills, 1 assisted block, 6 points, 1ace, 3 digs
Emma Le Maitre-10 digs
Rachel Runyan- 1 dig
Stephanie Yokoyama- 1 kill, 16 points, 2 aces, 25 assists

Colonial Forge def. Loudoun Valley, 22-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-17
Patrick Henry-Roanoke def. Forest Park, 25-12, 25-16, 25-18
Osbourn Park def. Franklin County, 25-17, 25-13, 25-18

Region II
Quarterfinals
Loudoun County def. Briar Woods, 25-13, 23-25, 25-21, 25-16
Raider assistant coach Jarod Brown reports:
Loudoun County came back after falling in the second set to defeat Briar Woods 25-13, 23-25, 25-21, 25-16 on Tuesday night in region quarterfinal action.

The Raiders were victorious over the Falcons for the third time this season, and move on for a rematch with Kettle Run on Thursday in the Region II semifinals Thursday night. Loudoun County is hoping to avenge their only loss on the 2010 season when they face the Cougars of Kettle Run.

Leading the Raiders to victory were Jenna Strange (16 kills, 16 digs, 14 points, 4 aces, 3 blocks), Taylor Huewe (11 kills, 2 blocks, 2 digs), Sammy Dormio (10 kills, 6 digs, 4 points, 2 aces), Maggie Phillips (7 kills, 2 assists), Rachel Harrison (6 kills, 1 assist, 1 dig), Katrina Kirby (5 kills, 1 block, 1 dig), Colleen Bowlds (33 assists, 6 digs, 3 aces, 2 kills), Jordan Leiter (16 assists, 11 points, 7 digs, 5 aces), Gabby Serafin (21 digs, 8 points), Kathleen Horvath (13 digs, 11 points, 5 aces), Rachel Arigo (2 digs, 1 block).

The Raiders improve to 23-1 on the season and extend their winning streak to 19 matches.

Broad def. Sherando, 21-25, 24-26, 25-23, 25-20, 15-9
The Spartans were down 2-0 on the road, after losing a huge 19-8 lead in game two, but the Dulles District runner-ups rallied to beat the Warriors and advance to Thursday's semifinals where they will host district rival Freedom.

Spartan coach Betsy Scudder reports:
BR stats vs. Sherando
Kills:
Emily Sears 23
Jess Feddersen 18
Mallory Brickerd 14
Hannah Waller 4
Amanda Swanson 1
Blocks:
Jess Feddersen 5
Amanda Swanson 4
Hannah Waller 4
Brenna Sullivan 2
Molly Maloney 1
Emily Sears 1
Digs:
Mallory Brickerd 7
Emily Sears 6
Melissa Miles 5
Michaella Dalusung 5
Jess Feddersen 4
Amanda Swanson 1
Set assists:
Molly Maloney--26
Brenna Sullivan--26

Freedom def. Western Albemarle, 22-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-21, 15-10
Read the Daily Progress account of how the Eagles rallied for the win.

Kettle Run def. Monticello, 3-0