Chantilly Keeps Moving Forward

Chantilly outside hitter Jamie Gorman's final point landed softly on the opposite side of the court last night, leaving Hanover's players leaning over with their hands on their knees and covering their eyes.

If there had been any lingering doubt about the Chargers' legitimacy as a state title contender, it was erased as Chantilly's fans poured from the bleachers and onto the court to join in a jubilant celebration.

The seventh-ranked Chargers had overwhelmed the visiting Hawks, 25-21, 25-21, 25-23, in the Virginia AAA quarterfinals, thumping a team that featured Kristin Carpenter, Virginia's finest player. Chantilly's resounding victory boosted the Northern Region's hopes of finally crowning a state champion in volleyball.

"They're just beautiful," said Hanover Coach Wendy Wadsworth, a 20-year veteran. "We couldn't stop them. This team is definitely a state contender. We lost to and beat Deep Run, who was the defending state champion, and this team stacks up with them very evenly. I expect Chantilly to do some things in the state."

Chantilly (26-1) has won 25 matches in a row and advanced to the AAA semifinals for the first time. The Chargers will face Northwest Region champion Albemarle, which beat Cox in another quarterfinal, tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Siegel Center in Richmond.

For Northern Region teams, success in the state tournament is rare. Since the Virginia High School League began its AAA volleyball tournament format in 1993, no Northern Region team has won a state championship. Langley's appearance in the state final last season -- it lost in three games to Deep Run -- marked the first time a team from the region had advanced that far.

Chantilly, boasting a lineup filled with size up front, quickness along the back row and hitters from top to bottom, is in position to break the trend. The Chargers had their way with Hanover (22-4), a team featuring two NCAA Division I-caliber players and another who will play Division I basketball next year. The Hawks hail from the Central Region, which has produced the past three state champions.

"It just gives us the confidence that we can compete with any other team," Chantilly Coach Charles Ezigbo said. "That's one of the things we really needed to get, was that confidence."

"Anybody's who still in it now definitely has a good chance" at the state title, said Chantilly outside hitter Samantha Reeves, who had a team-high eight kills.

The Chargers flustered Hanover and Carpenter, who has orally committed to Penn State. Chantilly middle blockers Allison Williams and Jessica Cooper forced Carpenter into consecutive hitting errors in the third game, helping to seal the match.

"I mean, it's awesome," Williams said. "Their whole team was amazing, but we really, really wanted it." . . .

In other AAA quarterfinal action, Northern Region runner-up Westfield traveled to Central Region champion Mills Godwin and upset the Eagles, 25-21, 25-16, 25-22. The Bulldogs will play Landstown tomorrow at 3 p.m. in the AAA semifinals at Siegel Center.