Volleyball: Bumping Bearcats Special Olympics Team Takes Center Stage Before Raiders Latest Win

Three of the state title winning Bumping Bearcats Special Olympics volleyball team who all went to Loudoun County High School: Russell Turner,  Jamie Spiering, Joey Barnett


By Dan Sousa
VivaLoudoun Editor

Leesburg (Oct. 20, 2011) - The state champion volleyball players lined up at Loudoun County High School High School Tuesday night to a big round of applause and it wasn't the 4-time defending state champion Raider girls taking center stage but the Bumping Bearcats Special Olympics team which took home a state title in 2010.

Bumping Bearcats coach Joy Cavagnaro talks about the Special Olympics volleyball program

With players ranging in ages from 8 to 50, the Bumping Bearcats have been a force on the Special Olympics state volleyball level and even placed fourth at a national tournaments. One of the players that helps train the Bearcats on a weekly basis at Heritage High School is Raider senior Jenna Strange and she and her teammates presented the Bumping Bearcats with signed volleyballs before Tuesday's match with Park View.


Enjoy more photos by Richard Kirby from the Bumping Bearcats ceremony

Once the girls varsity game began it was all Loudoun County as the Raiders improved to 13-0 in the Dulles District and 17-1 overall on the season with a sweep over Park View (0-13, 0-19),  25-9, 25-11, 25-3.

More photos from the match

Fittingly enough, the Raiders were led on the night by by Strange with nine kills, 11 points, four digs, two assists and two aces.

Also for County: Maggie Phillips (6 kills, 5 points, 2 digs), Quinn O'Connell (5 kills, 2 assists, 1 block), Jane Feddersen (5 kills, 1 block), Kelsey Slack (5 kills, 5 digs, 2 points), Taylor Huewe (4 kills, 1 dig), Katrina Kirby (16 points, 4 aces, 2 kills, 1 block, 1 dig), Nicole Orndorff (8 points, 5 aces, 4 digs, 2 kills, 1 block), Megan Fox (25 assists, 5 points, 3 digs, 1 ace, 1 kill),

The Raiders also got contributions from  Mandy Powers (8 points, 5 assists, 2 aces, 2 digs) and Kelsey Anderson (1 dig, 1 point).

The JV Raiders kept to their winning ways with a 2-0 sweep (25-7, 25-3) to improve to 15-0 on the season. The County freshmen also swept the Patriots 2-0 (25-4, 25-6) to improve to 16-1 on the season.

The Raiders return to action Thursday as they host Briar Woods in a match for Dig Pink to raise money for Breast Cancer. A win by Loudoun County would clinch at least a tie for the regular-season district title for the Raiders.

Loudoun County volleyball senior Jenna Strange has helped the Raiders when three of the school's four straight state titles and helps train the Bumping Bearcats to their success!


Bumping Bearcats Roster
Loudoun Yellow (Gold Medal)
Joey Barnett
Matthew Davis
Christa Bluell
Ian Rodgers
Chris Kelly
Russell Turner
Jamie Spiering
Ian Pham
Joe Downs
CJ Kowalewski (Partner)
Emma Rodgers (Partner)

Loudoun Blue (Gold Medal)
Isabel Christomo-Rivera
Bob Heslin
Rebecca Hultin
BreAnn Champman
Greg Hicks
Ryan Korde
Shane McClintock
Jonny Curtis
Philip Coe
Megan Kowalewski (Partner)

Loudoun Red (Bronze Medal)
Joshua Huston
Billy Emley
Rick Weidner
Bill Mahood
Amy Joe Heying
Katrina Ciambruschini
Adam Bell
Kyle Allen
Philip Andrews
Kay Allen (Partner)