Chantilly Keeps Moving Forward

By Matthew Stanmyre
Special to The Washington Post
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

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.

Landstown, the Eastern Region champion, defeated Northwest Region runner-up Loudoun Valley, 25-17, 25-18, 25-21. It was the Vikings' first appearance in the AAA tournament since moving up from the AA classification four years ago.

Loudoun County Advances

Second-ranked Loudoun County was shaky at the start of its Virginia AA quarterfinal against Jamestown, struggling to stop the Eagles' powerful hitters and getting whistled for rotation violations as it trailed at home.

But the Raiders regrouped and used a balanced attack and constantly adjusting defense to defeat Jamestown (25-2) in four games, 17-25, 25-15, 25-23, 26-24, and advance to the state semifinals for a third consecutive season.

Loudoun County advanced to face fourth-ranked Chancellor in the AA semifinals on Friday at 1 p.m. at Siegel Center.

"I think that if you're going to win right now it's better for us to play a good team and play tight [matches]," Loudoun County Coach Jenica Matthias said. "Because we have to get used to that. We've got to get used to playing big when the score is close and not making unforced errors and mistakes."

Jamestown junior Krista Hughes finished with 28 kills and halted many of the moment-grabbing runs to which Loudoun County is accustomed. But the defending state champion Raiders (26-1) made several adjustments to defend Hughes and Eagles senior Cory Harris (13 kills), and they used strong performances from junior Emily Vandegrift (nine kills) and seniors Rochelle Latka (nine kills) and Shaylin O'Connell (10 kills) to advance. . . .

In another AA quarterfinal, Chancellor defeated Western Albemarle, 25-16, 25-15, 25-12, to earn their first trip to the state semifinals since 2001. Senior outside hitter Kelli Carneal the Chargers with 13 kills and 12 assists, and junior Seth Sullivan added seven kills and 17 assists.

"I don't think we could be playing any better than we are right now," Chancellor Coach Rod Crooks said.

A First for Flint Hill

Eighth-ranked Flint Hill defeated Liberty Christian on Saturday in three games to win the school's first Virginia Independent Schools state tournament and cap the best season in school history.

Setter Christie Fellows was named tournament most valuable player for the Huskies (31-2), and outside hitters Chelsea Overholt and Marilyn Peizer were named to the all-tournament team. Flint Hill also won its first Independent School League regular season and tournament titles this season.

Staff writer Paul Tenorio contributed to this report.