Raiders End Perfect Season as State Champs
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Sunday, November 18, 2007
RICHMOND -- Throughout its undefeated season, star seniors Marguerite Hanna and Villanova-bound Morgan Petkovich had paced No. 1 Loudoun County's versatile offense, using powerful hits and dangerous serves to dominate opponents.
But on Saturday at the Siegel Center in Richmond, junior Shaylin O'Connell led the Raiders' offense and Loudoun County capped off its perfect season by defeating Grafton in five games, 28-26, 25-16, 17-25, 23-25, 15-12, to capture the Virginia AA state championship.
“It was different today. I was getting a lot of sets and I decided if I was taking the role I needed to put [the points] away and I did what Morgan does,” O'Connell said. “I wanted to play for my team and I wanted to win the points and so I just went out there and played and did what I could.”
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With the match tied at two games apiece, the teams traded leads in the fifth game, before O'Connell rose for a kill that gave the Raiders the win. The ball was originally called out, but the ruling was changed and Loudoun County celebrated as Grafton protested.
“It was definitely in,” Petkovich said.
O'Connell was Loudoun County's go-to player during the whole match, from the first game, in which the junior had the final three points in the 28-26 win, to the controversial last point.
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“Shaylin rose to the pressure,” Loudoun County Coach Jenica Matthias said. “When Shaylin went on it was 'Get the ball to Shaylin,' ”
In the first game, O'Connell slammed home several kills, but Grafton's Alison Blasingame, a 6-foot-2 senior who will play at Virginia Tech next year, answered each time. Then with the Raiders trailing, 26-25, O'Connell came through.
The Raiders used their momentum from the first game to dominate the second, winning 25-16. But Blasingame led Grafton back in the next two games, dominating the third game to pull Grafton to within 2-1 and slamming home the final two kills in the fourth game to even the match.
Unfinished Business: Loudoun County players said after the match that the victory was about redemption after losing in the state final last year to Cave Spring.
Protest: Grafton Coach Dena Montini protested to officials following the controversial final point, refused to accept the runner-up trophy and led her team off the floor during Loudoun County's trophy presentation.
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county rules baby!
grafton showed poor sportsmanship.
Posted by surban33 (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 12:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was happy for Loudoun County, but since I don't follow high school sports all that carefully I didn't know what sport this article was referring to. I finally inferred that it was volleyball, but I wonder if the writer and editors could please state the sport (especially if it's a lesser known one) in the body of the article (preferably at the beginning). Thank you.
Posted by vapensant (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 6:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go County! This was a great team win!
I read the article in the Newport News paper, the coach just won't give us any respect. "They had more weapons on offense and bigger blockers," Montini continued. "That was the difference. But I think inch for inch, we played a better game than them."
http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-spt_...
Walking off the court and refusing the trophy is just childish. There were close calls thoughout the match, none of which influenced the outcome.
Grafton's display of sportsmanship was just pitiful. Their offense is one dimensional, their defense was exceptional, but the leadership shown by the coach was awful.
What a great showing by the Raiders. Thanks to the school leadership and fans for the great support!
Posted by jed12345 (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations to Loudoun County High school on a wonderful season and to their fans for demonstrating sportsmanship.
A special thanks to John Brown and Dave McCandless for bringing the Volleyball programs all over Loudoun County so far so fast!!
Posted by maglennon (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 10:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
grafton showed they were undeserving of the state title with the way they reacted after the game. how rude of that coach to allow her team to walk off the court. county stood and clapped as her team were given their awards and she set a horrible example not asking her team to do the same. i'm so proud of the raiders!
Posted by Sunbrst22 (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations to Coach Matthias and the Loudoun County Raiders! You make us all very proud! Great Job!
Grafton and their head coach should be ashamed with the way they acted after the game. It was a great match and Grafton battled hard - it's too bad that the first thing people will remember about them is that they are sore losers.
Posted by ryanv (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congrats to the Raiders Women's Volleyball Team from a Raider sports alum!!!
Re Grafton Coach - what a terrible role model for developing talented young people. This coach missed a perfect opportunity to teach the words of Kipling, inscribed above the Centre Court entrance to Wimbledon: to "meet with triumph and disaster/And treat those two impostors just the same." to the players. I my opinion she should be disciplined, at the least, for her action.
Posted by vjhutman (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
O'Connell rules!!!!
Posted by steve78723 (anonymous) on November 19, 2007 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Shaylin O'Connell should be the MVP! She was just awesome!!
Posted by steve78723 (anonymous) on November 19, 2007 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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