Volleyball: Stone Bridge Sweeps Into AAA State Semifinals

By Dan Sousa
VivaLoudoun Editor

Ashburn (Nov. 17, 2010) - Four years ago a group of Stone Bridge High School girls volleyball freshmen set their sights on making the state tournament and then proceeded to come tantalizingly close for three straight years, falling one game shy each time of clinching a State bid. This season Stone Bridge finally advanced to the AAA state tournament and the Bulldogs want the full experience as they swept Princess Anne Tuesday to secure a spot in the semifinals Thursday at VCU's Siegel Center in Richmond.

"Since the time we were freshmen we have been talking about going to States," said Christine Beckham, one of five senior starters on the Stone Bridge squad. "We want to keep on going and make it all the way to Saturday."

Saturday is championship Saturday, a day when Loudoun teams have made themselves at home in Richmond with Loudoun County winning three straight AA state titles and Loudoun Valley taking the AAA state title last year. There is no reason that Stone Bridge (27-1) can't become the next local team to raise a state championship banner. First they must get by Atlee on Thursday in the semifinals at VCU at 5 p.m.