Volleyball: Seven Area Teams Play in Regional Quarterfinal Action Tonight

(Nov. 9, 2010) - There are no second chances tonight as seven area teams take to the volleyball court in regional quarterfinal action. A win would advance teams not only to the semifinals but put them within one win of making their respective state tournaments and a loss would mean the end of their seasons.

In AAA Northwest Region, No. 1 seed Heritage hosts Albemarle at 7 p.m. while Loudoun Valley is at Colonial Forge.

In AAA Northern Region, Stone Bridge hosts a tough South County team, AAA state-runner up to champion Valley last year, at 7 p.m.

In the AA, three-time defending state champion Loudoun County hosts Dulles District foe Briar Woods at 7 p.m. while Broad Run is at Sherando and Freedom travels to Western Albemarle.

Monday's Scores
Northern Region First Round
Stone Bridge def. Herndon, 25-19, 25-20, 22-25, 25-12
South County def. Stuart, 3-0
Lake Braddock def. Edison, 3-0
Robinson def. TJ, 3-1
Langley def. Oakton, 3-0
Hayfield def. Woodson, 3-0
Yorktown def. West Springfield, 3-2
Fairfax def. Chantilly, 3-2

Region II First Round
Broad Run def. Fluvanna, 25-18, 25-19, 25-15
Freedom def. Fauquier, 24-26, 26-24, 25-15, 25-16
Briar Woods def. James Wood, 23-25, 25-14, 25-12, 25-21

Bulldogs Try and Shake Off Monday Blues
The Stone Bridge girls volleyball team at times Monday looked like the 23-1 squad that they are against Herndon and at other times they looked like a squad that could be headed for an early exit in the regional tournament. The past three years the Bulldogs have gone out in the semifinals, one game short of making States, and this year's senior class wants to end that streak.

In order to advance they will have to play well against South County and their star player Simone Antwi.

"We had that Monday look," said Stone Bridge coach Jill Raschiatore. "We will definitely have to play better Tuesday. We need better communication and play a little bit more together."

After Herndon took the third game Monday, just Stone Bridge's 10th game dropped all season in the 23 matches, the Bulldogs found themselves tied 8-8 in the fourth when something clicked, and with a big home crowd cheering the team on, SB went on a 14-1 run to all but end the evening.

During that run, junior Alex Heyn was big in the middle and sophomore Mariah Brantley had a nice service run.

SB Stats
Christine Beckham 13 kills, 18 digs, 7 service pts, 2 aces
Amanda Miller 44 assists, 8 service pts, 3 aces, 2 kills, 12 digs, 2 blocks
Amy Christensen 22 digs, 10 service pts
Ryan Ackermann 20 kills, 6 digs, 7 service pts, 1 ace, 1 block
Alex Heyn 12 kills, 5 blocks
Mariah Brantley 7 digs, 16 service pts, 3 aces